Testimony before Congress about abuses in residential treatment programs for troubled teens might result in new federal regulations of such programs.

This week the House Committee on Education and Labor received a report from the Government Accountability Office that included 1619 incidents of child abuse in "boot camps," wilderness programs, and therapeutic boarding schools. The Committee also gained access to thousands of incidents as recorded in lawsuits, state records and websites, and listened to testimony from three parents whose children died in residential treatment programs.

Most states do not license residential treatment programs. Jan Moss, executive director of the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs, said that the industry welcomes state regulations.

"Among our goals is the complete elimination of abuses and neglectful practices," Ms. Moss said. Her group represents 180 programs that serve 16,000 children.

Representative Buck McKeon, the ranking Republican on the Committee, said he does not like to expand the powers of the federal government but "there are some times when it has to happen."

Labels: regulations, residential_programs, treatment