Bill > H0030

This bill aims to improve the treatment of children and youth in the custody of the Department for Children and Families (DCF) by addressing the use of seclusion and restraint in residential programs. While the specific details of the bill are not fully visible in the provided XML, the government summary indicates that the bill seeks to reduce the use of seclusion and restraint, which are restrictive interventions used in behavioral settings where children are isolated or physically controlled. The bill proposes three main actions: first, defining seclusion and restraint in state law to create clear standards; second, improving data collection and reporting by residential programs to track the frequency and circumstances of these interventions; and third, requiring enhanced professional development for staff to teach alternative methods of managing challenging behaviors. By focusing on these areas, the bill aims to protect vulnerable children in DCF custody by promoting more humane and therapeutic approaches to behavioral management, with an emphasis on understanding and preventing the need for seclusion and restraint.

Health and Social Services

https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/H.30