CFS Sexual Abuse Treatment Services

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.

The purpose of the project is to enhance current sexual abuse intervention and treatment services focusing on prioritizing rural and impoverished areas on the Leeward coast. The project will address not only the significant lack of qualified therapists serving children who have a pre- or post-adjudicated status, but will also address the shortage of providers serving intrafamilial sexual abuse cases. As the current lead agency in Hawaii providing sexual abuse intrafamilial services since 1986, enhancing services through this project funding will allow for hiring of additional trained and qualified staff to eliminate the waitlist for services, thereby increasing public safety. The goal is to serve 25 families (75 participants). The project’s target populations are (1) children (age 12 and younger) who are in pre- and post-adjudication status for inappropriate sexual behavior with a family member, co-resident, or other non-family, peer-aged child; and (2) youth (ages 13–17) who are in pre- and post-adjudication status for a serious sexual offense committed against a family member or other non-family, peer-aged child or adult. Services and supports will also be provided to their victims and non-offending family members or household members. Referrals for the above-listed populations will be accepted for those who reside on the island of Oahu with the priority areas being the Waianae coast, Makaha to Nanakuli. The project will follow the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers guidelines when working with target youth, and they will receive a psychosexual assessment. Individual, group dyad, and family services will be offered to each participant. The project will train other therapists in the community in sexual abuse and educate them on the signs/symptoms to further reduce risk of recidivism so they can offer sexual abuse counseling. The project will also work with the multidisciplinary team to ensure offender accountability and public safety. CA/NCF