Restoring Families: Effective Interventions for Adolescent Sex Offenders and Children with Sexual Behavior Problems

In 2015, Network of Victim Assistance developed the Restoring Families Program (RFP), which uses the PSB-CBT evidence based treatment service model for youth who are exhibiting problematic sexual behaviors (PSB). The goal of RFP is to address and ameliorate inappropriate behaviors before they become ingrained and morph into abusive (criminal) sexual acts requiring further system engagement and, to support family reunification if the child victim is a family member. In its fifth year, the RFP is prepared to expand and has identified three areas in which program enhancement will work to achieve the identified objectives: 1) improve family and system response to incidents of adolescent sex offenses and problematic sexual behavior in children and 2) increase protective factors in targeted youth to prevent sexual reoffending or continued problematic sexual behavior. This project seeks to achieve the following goals: 1) increase the capacity of the Restoring Families Program, 2) increase the number of RFP cases with reunification plans that fit the needs of the particular family, provide maximum safety for children in the home and to return the youth with sexual behavior problems to a more normal setting, including school, friends, activities, and 3) increase the scope of referral resources to the RFP. Activities and deliverables include the following: hire two full- time RFP counselors and train them in the PSB-CBT model to increase the capacity of clients available to receive services; increase collaboration with MDT members and participation in MDT processes and meetings; develop and implement a reunification protocol finalized; and develop and provide education and training opportunities specifically to foster care parents, juvenile probation officers and the 13 public school districts in Bucks County. The primary service area of this project is Bucks County, Pennsylvania, however, the staff of NOVA's RFP work collaboratively with Pennsylvania Children's Advocacy Centers and Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape and the deliverables achieved in this grant will be scalable and replicable. Those who will benefit from this proposed project include youth with problematic sexualized behavior, child victims, and families. Additionally, the community at large will benefit as this project works to prevent sexual reoffending or continued problematic sexual behavior. The MDT partners and their constituents involved in the project will also benefit as the project will work to increase availability and access to services, enhance intervention services, expand on the continuum of intervention services available, and increase partnership within the MDT team and allied professionals.