Vermont

Facilities in Vermont

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 Vermont

Vermont runs one number for both jobs: the Department for Children and Families Centralized Intake Unit takes child abuse reports and complaints about residential treatment programs alike, and Vermont's licensing rules require a residential treatment program to cooperate fully in any investigation of a complaint or allegation about it.

Time limits in Vermont: 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: Three years for assault and battery, false imprisonment, and other personal injury including negligence. For personal injury in general, the three years run from when the injury was discovered. 12 V.S.A. § 512
If it happened before you turned 18: No time limit to sue over physical abuse as a child that would count as aggravated assault, or over childhood sexual abuse. For other injuries, the three years start at 18. 12 V.S.A. § 522 (childhood sexual or physical abuse); 12 V.S.A. § 551(a) (minority)
If the program was run by or for the government: Less certain Vermont's state tort claims law has no separate notice-of-claim deadline. However, the state has not waived immunity for assault and battery claims unless insurance covers them, and state employees can be sued personally only for gross negligence or willful misconduct. 12 V.S.A. §§ 5601, 5602 (Vermont Tort Claims Act)
Child sexual abuse: CSA: There is no civil SOL for CSA and claims against all defendants are permanently revived. Trafficking: The civil SOL for trafficking is age 21. CSAM: The civil SOL for CSAM is age 21. CHILD USA's summary

Criminal charges

Physical child abuse: Less certain Three years from the offense for most non-sexual child abuse and cruelty offenses. Maiming has a 40-year limit, and murder and manslaughter have none. Vermont does not pause the criminal clock until 18 for non-sexual abuse. 13 V.S.A. § 4501(e); § 4501(c)(2) (maiming, 40 years)
Assault: Three years from the offense for aggravated assault and for simple assault. First degree aggravated domestic assault has 11 years, and maiming has 40 years. 13 V.S.A. § 4501(e), (d), (c)(2)
Child sexual abuse: CSA: There is no criminal SOL for aggravated sexual assault or exploitation. The SOL is 40 years from the offense for some CSA crimes, and 3 years from the offense for all other felonies and misdemeanors. Trafficking: There is no SOL for trafficking. CSAM: The SOL for CSAM violations is 40 years from the offense. 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.

Vermont Office of Professional Regulation

Multiple professions

Regulates Vermont's clinical social workers, clinical mental health counselors, psychologists and other allied mental health professions. On a complaint it runs an administrative review to see whether the professional conduct statute covers what you describe, then assigns a committee to investigate and recommend action. Discipline runs from a warning to revoking the licence.

Use this whenA licensed clinical social worker, clinical mental health counselor or psychologist in Vermont.

HowCall or write to the Director of the Office to obtain a complaint form.

All complaint investigations are confidential.

802-828-1505
File a complaint
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By postDirector, Office of Professional Regulation, Secretary of State's Office, 89 Main Street, 3rd Floor, Montpelier, VT 05620-3402

The agency that licenses the program

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

Vermont DCF residential treatment program licensing

Licenses Vermont's residential treatment programs and investigates complaints against them. Its rules require a licensed program to cooperate fully in the investigation of any complaint or allegation associated with it.

Use this whenA Vermont residential treatment program.

HowReport to the Centralized Intake Unit, which takes program complaints as well as abuse reports.

1-800-649-5285 Centralized Intake Unit. 24 hours a day.
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Law enforcement and legal channels

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

Vermont child abuse and neglect hotline

The statutory report line, run by the Family Services Division's Centralized Intake Unit, open every hour of every day.

Use this whenA child at a Vermont program.

HowCall.

1-800-649-5285 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
File a complaint
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Oversight and advocacy

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

Disability Rights Vermont

Vermont'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 Vermont program where the young person has a disability or a mental health diagnosis.

HowContact the intake line.

1-800-834-7890 Main line 802-229-1355.
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National reporting channels, and the same list for other states