Every parent wants what’s best for their children. However, every child faces different struggles, and not all those struggles can be solved by a parent alone. Tragically, after facing unimaginable emotional and behavioral health challenges, some make the difficult decision to seek residential treatment for their children. Parents are often told this level of care is necessary when a child is struggling. 

At the recommendation of professionals, parents are often told to hire youth transportation services to bring their child to a treatment facility. These companies are meant to ensure a safe trip. But what many families aren’t told is that the treatment journey can begin in a way that is deeply frightening and traumatic. What they are paying for, to the young person, oftentimes feels more like a criminal arrest than a medical or therapeutic intervention.

Across the country, youth have spoken out after being ripped from their homes in the middle of the night by strangers they have never met. One second, they’re sleeping, and the next, strangers are pulling them from their beds, restraining them and throwing them into vehicles.

It’s a real-life horror movie.

These brave youth speak of being restrained, handcuffed or physically controlled during transport. Many describe being confused, terrified and given little explanation about what was happening.

For children already in crisis, beginning treatment this way can be traumatizing; making it harder for them to engage in care and damaging trust between families and the systems meant to support them.

Michigan has taken important steps to strengthen oversight inside residential facilities. But there are still critical gaps in state law. Youth transportation companies are not subject to clear, uniform statewide standards governing how children may be restrained or handled. House Bill 5514 closes that gap.

This commonsense legislation establishes basic safety protections for youth being transported to residential treatment programs. It prohibits the use of blindfolds and hoods. It bans mechanical restraints such as handcuffs and chains. It strictly limits physical restraint to true emergencies involving an immediate risk of serious harm. And it prevents nighttime pickups between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., when children are often asleep in their beds, and where they should feel most safe and secure.

As a representative of our community, I have the responsibility to protect our kids:

“Families across Michigan have made it very clear that they want to ensure children receive care safely and responsibly. Parents should be confident that when their child is transported to treatment, that their journey will not cause PTSD for life. They’re kids, not convicts”

As a survivor of the Troubled Teen Industry, I know this issue personally:

“When I was 16 years old, I was taken from my bed in the middle of the night by transporters hired to transport me to a residential treatment facility. I woke up terrified and confused. I was handcuffed and carried out of my home while I screamed for help. I believed I was being kidnapped.

“My parents thought they were making the best decision to get me help. But nothing about it felt safe or therapeutic, and I’ve lived with PTSD from my experiences for over 20 years since”

No child should begin treatment feeling frightened, restrained and powerless.

The journey to care should be safe, respectful and it should be guided by clear standards that protect a child’s dignity.

Our plan sets those reasonable guardrails that most parents already assume exist. 

Michigan has an opportunity to lead by ensuring that safety begins from the very first moment of contact. This bipartisan legislation reflects a simple principle: children deserve protection not only in treatment, but on the way there.

We urge lawmakers to support House Bill 5514 and stand on the side of safety, dignity and accountability for Michigan’s youth.

Paris Hilton is an entrepreneur, survivor, advocate and CEO of 11:11 Media. Rep. Cam Cavitt represents Michigan’s 106th House District.