BREAKING CODE SILENCE NEWS
HB 557 #exposingcircleofhope #exposingagape #churchtoo
On Wednesday, April 15th, the state of Missouri is holding a hearing on HB 557. This legislation helps stop and prevent child abuse in important ways including: Registering programs and removing exemptions for boarding schools and programs; Ensuring state authorities know of children being placed in the state of Missouri; Ensuring state authorities have access to investigate and check on their welfare; Providing state authorities with the ability to help children via CPS and emergency services; Making a three strikes/out rule for abusive programs; Deterring abusive programs from relocating to Missouri; Requiring background checks for all employees and volunteers; Requiring programs to comply with provisions protecting the health and safety of residents; Ensuring that state authorities can immediately investigate abuse allegations and intervene appropriately. It's important to note that many independent fundamentalist Baptist (IFB) affiliated "boarding schools" such as Circle of Hope, Agape, Master's Ranch, etc., claim that food deprivation, isolation, restraints and paddling are part of their religious beliefs. These bills outline how the Department of Social Services can petition the court to investigate child abuse. Shoutout to TROUBLED podcast, #exposingcircleofhope, #exposingagape, #sparetherod, and all the survivor communities who made this hearing happen.
Utah SB127 and RISE Justice Labs
Survivors Caroline Lorson, Paris Hilton, Chelsea Maldonado, and Jeff Netta Legislative Team Chelsea Maldonado and Caroline Lorson Recently Breaking Code Silence took part in two important initiatives. Utah SB127: SB127 imposes the first meaningful regulations on troubled teen industry programs in the U.S. in 15 years. This legislation requires programs to allow multiple unannounced site visits, prohibits the use of pain, humiliation and silence as punishment, requires programs allow contact between parents and children, and takes steps towards eliminating chemical and mechanical restraints. Rise Justice Labs: Breaking Code Silence just completed Rise Justice Labs 12-week legislative accelerator, in which we learned about the processes and techniques needed to pass our first bill. Rise not only taught us what we needed for Utah, and helped us navigate that process, but also has given us the tools and backing to begin working on federal legislation. We're so grateful to this team for everything we've learned and hope to continue this valuable partnership moving forward.
