Bucks County Youth with Sexual Behavior Problems Program

The Youth With Sexual Behavior Problems (YSBP) Program provides funding to support the development of community-based intervention models to serve youth with sexual behavior problems. The models to be developed include a multidisciplinary approach and provide intervention and supervision services for youth with sexual behavior problems, their child victims and their families.

Network of Victim Assistance, in collaboration with the Bucks County Children & Youth Social Services Agency, the Bucks County Juvenile Probation Department, Edison Court/Ravenhill Psychological Services, Bucks County Mental Health/ Development Programs, Bucks County Behavioral Health, the Bucks County Children's Advocacy Center, and the Bucks County District Attorney's Office, is seeking funding to develop and implement a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to provide intervention, supervision and treatment services for youth with sexual behavior problems (YSBP), ages 10-14 years of age, their child victims and all involved family members. Bucks County has a fragmented system of providing services in YSBP cases. In the majority of cases that rise to the attention of investigative agencies, child welfare, and the DA's office, professionals are unable to find appropriate treatment resources for the youth, child victims and family members, provided by trained clinicians and in a coordinated manner. Too often, these cases are dismissed without any monitoring or services. In order to address these concerns, a preliminary workgroup was started in 2014 with the above mentioned partners to further define the problem, research options for evidence-based treatment, and discuss possible funding for a coordinated YSBP response in the county. After a year of discussion and research, the Coordinating Team has decided to pursue the PSB-CBT model of intervention. Funding from this project would allow the Coordinating Team to: provide training in problem sexual behaviors - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (PSB-CBT) to 25 team members or their staff; coordinate monthly team meetings to develop protocols for implementation of the model; provide services to 30 cases involving YSBP, child victims and families in both their homes and in office settings; develop ways to track and report outcome measures from the program services; provide outreach trainings to 80 other professionals in the county on YSBP and how to make referrals; and develop options for program sustainability. CA/NCF