OJJDP 2020 Continuum of Care Program Project Expansion in Rural Alabama

This program aligns with the Department’s priorities to combat victimization and enhance public safety. The Supporting Effective Interventions for Children With Sexual Behavior Problems and Adolescent Sex Offenders program supports communities in developing comprehensive, multidisciplinary approaches to provide a continuum of intervention and supervision services for youth with problematic and illegal sexual behavior as well as treatment services for their victims and families/caregivers. This program is authorized by Pub. L. No. 116-93, 133 Stat. 2317, 2410.

To prevent continued offenses and increase community safety, the Youth Services Institute (YSI) has been providing quality community-based treatment services to youth with sexual behavior problems and partnering with local and state agencies for over 20 years. YSI is partnering with local child advocacy centers serving three rural counties in Alabama: Lamar, Fayette and Chilton, to develop a multidisciplinary approach to expand the reach of services while providing support and intervention for victims and their families to promote healing and address multidimensional issues. Problematic Sexual Behavior-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, school age and adolescent adaptations, will be implemented to provide treatment for children with sexual behavior problems or illegal sexual behavior under age 18. Children and youth may be in pre or post adjudication status with juvenile courts or may have no court involvement, as if often the case with children 12 an under. Members of the multidisciplinary teams serving Lamar, Fayette, and Chilton Counties or other community agencies will refer children to the program. Victim safety will be monitored by the County Department of Human Resources and/or clinicians involved in the care of victims. Caregivers are required to participate in treatment. Up to 45 children and youth can be served during each year of the three-year grant period for a total service capacity of 135 over three years. For each child or youth served, at least one caregiver must be involved in the assessment and treatment process, so a minimum of 135 caregivers will be served. CA/NCF