New York

Facilities in New York

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.

Reporting abuse in New York

New York has something most states do not: the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs, created by statute in 2013, with its own 24-hour register, its own investigators and the power to support criminal prosecution. It says every allegation is investigated to conclusion, and it provides advocates to victims and families during the investigation. If the program is a New York state-operated, licensed or certified facility, this is the strongest channel in the state.

Time limits in New York: a general guide

This was correct as far as we could tell when we checked it on 28 September 2026. Laws on time limits change often, sometimes every legislative session, so some of what follows may have been updated since. It is a starting point, not legal advice: please check with a lawyer before relying on any date here. A time limit on a lawsuit or a criminal charge is also not a time limit on telling someone, and most of the places listed below will still take a report.

Time limits for abuse of a child often run from the survivor's 18th birthday, or from when they came to understand what happened, rather than from the day the program closed. Many states have lengthened them, removed them for child sexual abuse, or reopened claims that had already expired. A criminal charge, a lawsuit and a licence complaint each have their own time limit, so one having passed does not necessarily mean the others have.

Lawsuits

Physical abuse or injury: One year for intentional harm: assault, battery and false imprisonment. Three years for negligence (for example, a program's negligent supervision or hiring). If the person who hurt you is criminally prosecuted, you get at least one year after the criminal case ends to sue them. N.Y. C.P.L.R. 215(3) (intentional torts, 1 year); 214(5) (personal injury/negligence, 3 years); 215(8)(a) (criminal-action extension)
If it happened before you turned 18: Yes. For a one-year claim (assault, battery), the time you were under 18 is not counted, so the deadline is your 19th birthday. For a three-year negligence claim, you have three years after turning 18 (your 21st birthday). The 10-year cap in this statute does not apply to minors except in medical malpractice. No general extended period for physical (non-sexual) child abuse. N.Y. C.P.L.R. 208(a)
If the program was run by or for the government: Less certain Against a county, city, town, village or school district: serve a notice of claim within 90 days and sue within one year and 90 days. Against New York State (Court of Claims): file the claim, or a notice of intention to file, within 90 days; then the claim is due within two years for negligence or one year for intentional torts. Minors get extra time under the tolling rules. N.Y. Gen. Mun. Law 50-e(1)(a), 50-i(1)(c); N.Y. Ct. Cl. Act 10(3), 10(3-b), 10(5)
Child sexual abuse: CSA: The civil SOL for CSA is age 55 for claims against all defendants. A 2-year revival window for expired claims of sexual abuse of children and adults that occurred in NYC is open until March 1, 2025. Trafficking: The civil SOL for sex trafficking is age 33 with a 15-year discovery rule. CSAM: The civil SOL for CSAM is age 55 for claims against all defendants. CHILD USA's summary

Criminal charges

Physical child abuse: Five years from the offense for felony physical abuse of a child (charged as felony assault). Endangering the welfare of a child is a misdemeanor: two years. The clock does not pause until the child is older for physical abuse; the age-23 rule applies only to sexual offenses, incest and child sexual performance. N.Y. Crim. Proc. Law 30.10(2)(b), (2)(c), (3)(f)
Assault: Five years from the offense for felony assault (first- or second-degree). Misdemeanor (third-degree) assault: two years. N.Y. Crim. Proc. Law 30.10(2)(b), (2)(c)
Child sexual abuse: CSA: There is no criminal SOL for first-degree CSA offenses. The SOL is either age 28, 33 or 43 for other felonies, and age 25 for misdemeanors. Trafficking: The SOL for trafficking is 5 years from the offense. CSAM: The SOL for CSAM violations is either age 28 or 5 years from when the offense was reported to law enforcement, whichever is earlier. CHILD USA's summary

The injury, assault and physical abuse lines are our reading of the statutes linked, as they stood on 28 September 2026. The child sexual abuse lines are CHILD USA's summary as it stood on 28 September 2026; their page may be more current than ours. In them SOL means statute of limitations, CSA child sexual abuse, and CSAM child sexual abuse material. "Less certain" marks a line where the law is unclear or where our reading has not been confirmed, so please treat it with extra care. Exceptions, court rulings and the details of what happened can all change which time limit applies, and some of these may be longer or shorter for you than they look here. CHILD USA's statute of limitations tracker, updated as each state changes its law. A lawyer can tell you which time limit applies to you, and many offer a free first consultation.

The therapist's licensing board

Holds the individual clinician's licence and can suspend or revoke it.

New York Office of the Professions, Office of Professional Discipline

Multiple professions

Investigates professional misconduct by anyone licensed by the State of New York - psychologists, mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, creative arts therapists, psychoanalysts and social workers - and illegal practice by the unlicensed. Outcomes run from a warning letter to revoking the licence.

Use this whenA licensed mental health professional in New York, or someone practising without the licence.

HowComplete the discipline complaint form and post it to the regional Office of Professional Discipline nearest where the incident happened, or fax it. Complaints must be in writing; they cannot be made by phone, though you can call for help with the form.

Investigators in the regional office may consult members of the State board for that profession before deciding.

1-800-442-8106 For information on filing. The complaint itself has to be in writing. Fax 212-951-6420.
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conduct@nysed.gov

The agency that licenses the program

Inspects the facility itself and can cite, fine, suspend or close it.

New York OCFS and OMH residential facility oversight

The Office of Mental Health regulates residential treatment facilities for children and youth, and the OCFS Regional Office investigates child abuse and neglect allegations involving facilities OMH licenses or operates. Between them they hold the licence and investigate what happens inside it.

Use this whenA New York residential treatment facility - unsafe conditions, inadequate supervision, hygiene and health neglect, anything that is a standards failure rather than one person's conduct.

HowReport through the OCFS portal or the Statewide Central Register. For a licensed facility the Justice Center's Vulnerable Persons Central Register is usually the stronger route.

1-800-732-5207 Statewide Central Register line used for reports about facilities.
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Law enforcement and legal channels

Child protection, the Attorney General, and the criminal side.

New York Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment

The state's child abuse hotline, run by the Office of Children and Family Services. Takes reports from the general public and routes them to the local child protective service for investigation.

Use this whenA child at a New York program. Neighbours, relatives and concerned citizens can all use the public line.

HowCall the 24-hour toll-free line. If a child is in immediate danger, call 911 or the local police first.

1-800-342-3720 24 hours a day. TDD/TTY 1-800-638-5163, or have a Video Relay provider call the main number.
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Oversight and advocacy

Bodies with a right to investigate, and advocates who can act for you.

New York State Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs

Runs the Vulnerable Persons Central Register, a 24-hour hotline for abuse, neglect, financial misappropriation and any significant incident threatening the health, safety or welfare of someone in a New York state-operated, licensed or certified facility. It investigates every allegation to conclusion, and works with prosecutors on criminal cases arising from them.

Use this whenA young person with special needs - which includes a mental health diagnosis - receiving services at a New York state-operated, licensed or certified facility or program.

HowCall the Vulnerable Persons Central Register. If somebody is in immediate danger, call 911 first.

The Justice Center provides advocates who answer questions about the process and give case updates during an investigation - unusual, and worth using.

1-855-373-2122 Vulnerable Persons Central Register, 24 hours a day. Advocates for victims and families on 1-800-624-4143.
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Disability Rights New York

New York'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.

Use this whenA New York program where the young person has a disability or a mental health diagnosis.

HowContact the intake line.

1-800-993-8982 Main line 518-432-7861; TTY 518-512-3448.
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National reporting channels, and the same list for other states