A Comprehensive System of Care for Youth With Problematic or Illegal Sexual Behavior in ND

The Comprehensive System of Care for Children and Youth With Problematic or Illegal Sexual Behavior in ND project seeks to increase access and promote the safety and well-being of children and families, who engage in and are impacted by problematic sexual behavior (PSB) or illegal sexual behavior in North Dakota and surrounding states. This project is a collaborative effort between the Dakota Children’s Advocacy Center, the Red River Children’s Advocacy Center, and their multidisciplinary teams.  The goals and objectives will be achieved through the provision of targeted evidence-based treatments, the use of technology to create equal access to services and decrease barriers, collaborative multidisciplinary response, and specialized family support to ensure that offending youth, their victims, and families receive needed and effective treatment, coordinated care, and systems collaboration. The project has four goals: 

A comprehensive, evidence based treatment program, to address the needs of children and youth with problematic and/or illegal sexual behaviors including: Adolescent PSB-CBT-A for ages 13 - 17 ; Advanced Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) for PSB; evidence-based treatments are offered via telehealth to increase equity and access for underserved populations, such as rural communities; and sustain evidence-based services by completing Within Agency Trainer certification

Coordinated evidence-based treatment services for child victims and their families

Enhanced case management and engagement through advocacy for children and families to foster greater connection, support and engagement, and successful treatment completion 

Educate and provide resources for multidisciplinary team members, community members and caregivers on Problematic Sexual Behavior (PSB) identification and response as well as team member resiliency

The project will serve 40 children and their families in year 1 (20 victim children, 20 acting children), and 60 children and their families in years 2 and 3 (30 victim children, 30 acting children per year). Treatment engagement and completion are expected to result in improved child and family functioning, reduced recidivism/re-offense and re-victimization, placement stability, and safe family reunification.