On December 11, 2024, the National Association of Counsel for Children (NACC) hosted a national webinar titled “Congregate Care & Collective Trauma,” featuring a multidisciplinary panel of experts examining the troubled-teen industry. Panel hosts included Attorneys Amanda Simmons and Annette Smith, as well as survivor advocates Chelsea Maldonado and Kayla Muzquiz.

On November 12, 2024, the American Bar Association’s Judicial Division hosted a national program titled “Judicial Solutions to Institutional Child Abuse,” a timely and highly attended discussion addressing the urgent need for judicial leadership in responding to abuse within youth residential treatment facilities. The program, moderated by Amanda Simmons, founder of Ambika Law, brought together distinguished judges and national experts to examine the legal, structural, and ethical challenges surrounding institutional child abuse—and the critical role judges play in protecting vulnerable youth.

Attorney Amanda Simmons of Ambika Law, PC was recently honored with a prestigious appointment as a Presidential Fellow for the American Bar Association representing the SOGI Committee. This prestigious appointment will allow Amanda to focus on her advocacy efforts for institutional child abuse and the troubled teen industry on behalf of the American Bar Association.

This 3-part ABA webinar series explores the history, policy solutions, and legal challenges and presents practical solutions for effective change.  Resolution 605 was adopted by the American Bar  Association in 2023 because of decades of well-documented abuse within the Troubled Teen Industry and youth residential treatment centers.  Despite this awareness, little has been done to protect children in institutional settings.

This 3-part ABA webinar series explores the history, policy solutions, and legal challenges and presents practical solutions for effective change.  Resolution 605 was adopted by the American Bar  Association in 2023 because of decades of well-documented abuse within the Troubled Teen Industry and youth residential treatment centers.  Despite this awareness, little has been done to protect children in institutional settings.

Attorney Amanda Simmons recently published an article in the Children’s Legal Rights Journal about juvenile strip searches in youth residential treatment facilities and the troubled teen article. Simmons’ article, “Sorry, Kid, You Have No Rights Here: How can we protect unadjudicated youth in private residential treatment facilities from harmful and unnecessary strip searches?” published in the Children’s Legal Rights Journal, explores the legal and ethical concerns surrounding the strip searches of unadjudicated youth in private residential treatment facilities.

This 3-part ABA webinar series, coordinated by Attorney Amanda Simmons alongside SOGI, explores the history, policy solutions, and legal challenges and presents practical solutions for effective change.  Resolution 605 was adopted by the American Bar  Association in 2023 because of decades of well-documented abuse within the Troubled Teen Industry and youth residential treatment centers.

Attorney Amanda Simmons was selected as a speaker at the 2024 National Conference on Juvenile Justice, an annual conference presented by the National Coalition of Juvenile and Family Court Judges.  Amanda’s presentation, entitled, “Congregate Care, Collective Trauma” included other prominent figures in the conversation about the troubled teen industry including Judge Ernestine Gray, Caroline Cole, and Chelsea Maldonado.  

The American Bar Association recently adopted Resolution 605 at the 2023 Annual Meeting. This important resolution provides support for the Stop Institional Child Abuse Act and similar state, local and federal legislation that aims to prevent child abuse in youth residential treatment programs.

On March 12, 2024 Amanda was invited to speak as a guest lecturer for Professor and Attorney Annette Smith’s class on children and the Law at the University of Oregon School of Law.  Amanda presented alongside troubled teen industry survivors and advocates Kayla Muzquiz, Chelsea Maldonado and Caroline Cole.  The speakers covered topics including the importance of lived experience advocacy, legal issues in the troubled teen industry and challenges with placements in abusive residential facilities within the child welfare system. 

Attorney Amanda Simmons of Ambika Law presented her research on juvenile strip searches in a webinar with the Children’s Legal Rights Division alongside attorneys from Children’s Law Institute and Abolitionist Law Center.  This complimentary webinar was sponsored by the American Bar Association Litigation Section Children’s Rights Litigation Committee

Amanda Simmons, lead attorney and founder of Ambika Law, was honored by Chapman University’s Fowler School of Law in an alumni feature article, “Alumni on the Move: Amanda Simmons, The ABA, Lifelong Advocacy, and Lawyering with Love.”

Amanda Simmons, lead attorney and founder of Ambika Law, in collaboration with Oregon public defender Annette Smith and Atlanta-based investigative reporter Chelsea Maldonado, hosted an interactive virtual training session for CASA of Lane County volunteers. The virtual training session, Protecting Children From The Troubled Teen Industry: A Training for Child Advocates, provided CASA of Lane County volunteers with a robust overview of the “troubled teen industry” and its intersection with Oregon’s child welfare system.

Amanda Simmons, lead attorney and founder of Ambika Law, presented at the 2023 Children's Mental Health Advocacy Conference hosted by Lives in the Balance. In collaboration with 11:11 Media Impact’s policy strategist Caroline Cole and investigative reporter Chelsea Maldonado, Amanda provided attendees with a through understanding of the “troubled teen industry” and the need for Federal policy reform, beginning with The Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act (SICAA).

Amanda’s efforts at reform within youth treatment centers were recognized and acknowledged by the National Association of Women Judges at the 2023 Annual Conference in Indianapolis, IN. After seeing Amanda speak at the American Bar Association’s Annual Meeting in support of Resolution 605, The Honourable Judge Toni Clarke, President of NAWJ, personally invited Amanda to attend and speak about the issue during the opening remarks of the conference.

Amanda Simmons, founder of Ambika Law, PC, recently authored an article for the American Bar Association (ABA) entitled “Resolution 605, the Troubled Teen Industry, and Institutional Child Abuse.” Published on August 21, 2023, this article highlights critical issues within the troubled teen industry and advocates for essential legislative reforms to protect vulnerable children from institutional abuse.

Amanda Simmons, lead attorney and founder of Ambika Law, presented at the 46th National Child Welfare Law Conference hosted by the National Association of Counsel for Children alongside child welfare attorney, Dawn J. Post, and 11:11 Media Impact advocate Chelsea Maldonado.

Amanda Simmons, lead attorney and founder of Ambika Law, helped advocate for and pass House of Delegates Resolution 605 at the American Bar Association’s 2023 Annual Meeting alongside 11:11 Media Impact advocates and survivors Caroline Cole and Chelsea Maldonado.

Attorney Amanda Simmons of Ambika Law, PC appeared on the June 7, 2023 live radio show The Lawyers Guild Show on KPFK 90.7 FM to discuss institutional child abuse and neglect in youth residential programs, including those within the so-called “Troubled Teen Industry,” and current Federal legislation, The Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act, aimed at address it.

Attorney Amanda Simmons of Ambika Law, PC and Trapped in Treatment podcast researcher Chelsea Maldonado appeared on the Truth & Consequences podcast to discuss their personal experiences in the so‑called “Troubled Teen Industry.” This post covers part two of a two part episode.