Residential Education Legislative Coup for NC Youth
A tremendous victory for vulnerable children in North Carolina, S.L. 2009-408 was signed into law by Governor Perdue on August 5 – hopefully a pioneering state legislation that will be replicated in other states.
S.L. 2009-408 recognizes residential education as a valid placement option when children cannot be reunited with families, regardless of the child’s age.
The bill reads, “…the State recognizes there are instances when protecting a child’s welfare outweighs reunifying the family unit, and as such, the care of residential care facilities providing high quality services that include meeting the children’s educational needs as determined by the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Social Services can satisfy the standard of protecting a child’s welfare, regardless of the child’s age, particularly when the sibling groups can be kept intact.”
We thank Dr. Phyllis Crain, executive director of Crossnore School in North Carolina and CORE Board member, for her tireless dedication to ensuring the passage of this bill.
More Info:
- Session Law 2009-408, Senate Bill 969 – General Assembly of North Carolina 8/5/09