Residential facilities providing religious, behavioral, and mental health treatment to children exist in all 50 states. Some of these facilities are known to be part of the Troubled Teen Industry, while others have not yet been verified. Any facility where children live and receive care requires additional oversight. This directory helps communities monitor local programs and advocate for accountability.
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Reporting abuse in Alabama
Alabama reports child abuse to the county Department of Human Resources or to local law enforcement rather than to a single state hotline, and the county has seven calendar days to begin investigating - immediately where there is immediate danger to health or safety. Complaints about a facility go somewhere else again, to the Child Care Services Division intake line.
The therapist's licensing board
Holds the individual clinician's licence and can suspend or revoke it.
Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling
Professional counselor
Licenses and certifies counselors in private practice in Alabama and disciplines unethical practice by licensed professional counselors.
Use this whenA licensed professional counselor in Alabama. The Board publishes a licensee search so you can confirm the licence first.
HowUse the Board's fillable complaint form, which it publishes alongside separate written instructions for filling it in.
Inspects the facility itself and can cite, fine, suspend or close it.
Alabama DHR, Child Care Services Division
Licenses child care and residential providers against Alabama's Child Care Minimum Standards and investigates complaints that a provider has breached them.
Use this whenA licensed provider - conditions, staffing, supervision, anything that breaches the minimum standards.
HowCall the intake line and ask for Child Care Intake, or email the licensing intake address.
Child protection, the Attorney General, and the criminal side.
Alabama child abuse and neglect reporting
Starts a county Department of Human Resources or law enforcement investigation. The county or the law enforcement authority must investigate within seven calendar days of the report, and immediately where there is immediate danger to a child's health or safety.
Use this whenA child at an Alabama program. Report to the county DHR office where the program is, or to local law enforcement there.
HowCall the county DHR office, local law enforcement, or the state line.
334-242-9500For reporting suspected child abuse anywhere in Alabama.
Bodies with a right to investigate, and advocates who can act for you.
Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program (ADAP)
Alabama's Protection and Advocacy agency, with federal authority to investigate abuse and neglect of people with disabilities in facilities, a right of access to them, and free legal advocacy. It publishes its own guide to abuse and neglect of people with disabilities.
Use this whenAn Alabama program where the young person has a disability or a mental health diagnosis.
