(Boston Orange編譯)麻州早期教育與照護委員會（Board of Early Education and Care）修訂住宅安置計畫（Residential Program），以加強對全州330 處機構、逾 5,500 名6 至18 歲（特殊障礙者至 22 歲）因情緒及行為複雜等問題而無法在家中安住青少年的安全監管訂，11 月 17 日起生效，。
這是麻州30 多年來首度全面更新這類法案，為大幅提升素質，強制要求從業人員接受創傷知情護理與專業邊界，以及預防性侵害及情感操縱（Grooming）等培訓。
新法規的核心重點是「堵上安全漏洞」，將強制要求所有一線工作人員必須接受創傷知情護理與專業邊界培訓，以防止員工利用職權性侵害、誘拐或情感操控（Grooming）受助兒童。
新法規也限制使用隔離措施（Seclusion practices），要求針對兒童的宗教、文化及性別（LGBTQ+）身份制定個人化處置計畫，並明確規範監視器的安裝政策。為了落實監督，安置機構將來必須向其董事會通報政府的所有審查與調查結果。
麻州政府為支持新法規，篩選適任員工，啟動了 1,500 萬美元借貸還款計畫，提供獎學金吸引專業人才。麻州政府還提案要求把殘疾人士保護委員會（DPPC）的虐待紀錄名單納入員工背景調查項目，以確保有過虐待紀錄的人員無法進入安置系統工作。
這項改革彙整了包含兒童代言人辦公室（Office of the Child Advocate）在內的 26 份公眾意見。
Massachusetts Approves Comprehensive Revisions to Residential Program Regulations
Vote marks the state’s first comprehensive update to residential program licensing regulations in more than 30 years
WESTBOROUGH — The Board of Early Education and Care voted to promulgate revisions to the state’s regulations governing residential programs, marking the first comprehensive update to these regulations in more than 30 years. As proposed by the Healey-Driscoll Administration, these changes promote a stronger workforce through improved requirements on staff professional development, including on trauma-informed and responsive care, cultural responsiveness, professional boundaries and missing or absent children. The regulations also require staff training related to the prevention and identification of sexual abuse, grooming and exploitation.
Further, the regulation changes improve child safety through policies regarding the use of surveillance cameras, align with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s updated regulations on seclusion practices, and require more comprehensive treatment plans that consider a child’s long-term goals, trauma history, culture or religion, LGBTQ+ identity, and behavior needs. Residential programs are also required to share more information with their boards, such as EEC licensing reviews and investigations to improve accountability and transparency.
“These approved regulations promote safer, more inclusive and dignified residential program experiences for children and youth – centering their needs and wellbeing. We’re proud in Massachusetts to continue efforts that strengthen the residential program workforce and support children to succeed,” said Secretary of Education Steve Zrike. “I want to thank the Board of Early Education and Care for their partnership and support in this critical work.”
“This milestone represents an important step forward in strengthening oversight, safety, and quality in our residential programs who serve children and youth with highly complex needs,” said Early Education and Care Commissioner Amy Kershaw. “We are grateful to the providers, families, advocates, and community partners whose feedback and collaboration were invaluable, and we remain committed to strengthening support for both the workforce and the children they serve.”
“Updating these regulations after 30 years is a major milestone,” said Paul Belsito, Chair of the Board of Early Education and Care. “The Board appreciates the work of the Department and the many stakeholders who helped shape these updates to ensure strong protections and high-quality care for children across the Commonwealth.”
These approved regulations build on the administration’s work to strengthen this workforce and improve the safety and well-being of children. Governor Maura Healey’s recently filed supplemental budget includes language that would allow the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) to include information from the Disabled Persons Protection Commission (DPPC) abuse registry in background checks for candidates to work in residential programs. The administration also recently launched a $15 million Loan Repayment Program that includes residential program staff, as well as expanded the Early Childhood Educators Scholarship to include residential program staff.
EEC currently licenses over 330 residential programs, with the capacity to support over 5,500 children and youth. Residential programs serve residents up to age 18 (or 22, for certain children living with disabilities) and provide care and housing for residents in a group care setting outside of their family home. Many of the residents at these programs have complex behavioral health and/or social-emotional needs or are otherwise in need of additional complex support.
The regulatory revisions are the result of extensive national research, internal review, stakeholder engagement and public comment. This engagement included people with lived experience, trade and advocacy groups, residential program providers, and state agencies. The Board sent the proposed changes out for public comment from December 11, 2025 through January 12, 2026. EEC received 26 comments throughout the public comment period from trade groups, advocacy groups, individual providers, legislators, and persons served. Today’s final regulations incorporate this feedback.
“Updating the residential programs regulations provides a significant opportunity to better safeguard children and create new pathways for their voices to be heard,” said Maria Mossaides, Director of the Office of the Child Advocate. “The Office of the Child Advocate was pleased to work closely with EEC on these revisions, and we appreciate the collaborative approach the agency has taken over the past year. The new regulations are more child-centered, add additional safety protections, and ensure additional staff training in critical areas, including restraint prevention and sexual abuse prevention. This is an important step forward, and the OCA looks forward to continued partnership with EEC to ensure the new regulations are successfully implemented.”
“EEC’s leadership in engaging providers, agencies, and trade associations throughout this process demonstrates the value of strong public-private partnerships. Over the course of the past year, stakeholders worked collectively to provide thoughtful feedback on the comprehensive review of Residential and Placement Regulations, always with a shared commitment to strengthening licensing requirements that prioritize the safety, well-being, and positive outcomes of children and families. Key is proud to have participated in this collaborative effort and to support initiatives that advance quality care, accountability, and meaningful partnership within Massachusetts’ early education and care system on behalf of the children and families in the Commonwealth,” said Tammy Mello, President & Chief Executive Officer of Key Program, Inc.
“The Children’s League appreciates the hard work and collaborative approach by EEC to update the regulations for licensure of residential programs. These updates advance our ability to provide safe and high-quality care and housing for some of the Commonwealth's most vulnerable children, in partnership with multiple state agencies that rely on these services. The updated regulations take a more child-centered approach, improve clarity, and support system efficiency, which allows providers to focus on what they do best – caring for children and youth,” said Rachel Gwaltney, Executive Director of the Children’s League of Massachusetts.
The revised regulations will take effect on November 17, 2026.
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