Reality TV star Paris Hilton called for greater federal oversight of youth care programs at a U.S. House of Representatives committee hearing on Wednesday as she described her traumatic experience in youth care facilities.
Hilton, 43, the great-granddaughter of Hilton Hotels founder Conrad Hilton, has spoken publicly about the emotional and physical abuse she endured when she was placed in residential youth treatment facilities as a teen.
Hilton said private equity firms that have taken a greater stake in the industry in recent years focus on maximizing profits, prompting them to hire unqualified workers.
“They’re caring more about profit than the safety of children,” she said.
Hilton first described her experience at a Utah facility – which she said has left her with post-traumatic stress disorder that she continues to suffer from – in 2021, and has been a vocal advocate for greater oversight of the system.
