Curricula Overview
Each curriculum illustrates a collaborative approach for treatment with youth who have come to the attention of the criminal justice system and/or social service agencies. The goal is to invite responsibility and facilitate accountability in order to prevent any violence and abuse from reoccurring. Clearly defined treatment phases for providing services across the full continuum of care are presented for use in community based or residential facilities. A collaborative approach highlights the need for a multidisciplinary response that meets the intellectual and emotional functioning level of each participant.
Participants attempting to provide a comprehensive therapeutic response to violence and sexual abuse are challenged to explore meaningful ways of involving families who are often unwilling, or seemingly unable, to participate. Families do have the ability to stop violence. They can be involved in treatment regardless of geographic location and limited resources. Through intensive supervision and clinical intervention, victims and offenders can remain involved with their families while everyone learns how to stop abuse and heal from the pain of its impact. Family reunification can be an option in many cases.
With therapeutic support, children and families are able to destroy the powerful secrets of violence and abuse that may have controlled their lives for generations. Youthful offenders are empowered to make sense of painful experiences that have impacted their decisions to commit acts of violence and abuse. They learn to seek and obtain connection benevolently in their lives. It is imperative that treatment not replicate the struggles with power, control and connection that have often dominated the lives of these families.
A Collaborative Approach for Responding to Children with Sexual Behavior Problems
This curriculum provides a comprehensive response to children aged 12 and below who are being identified as abuse reactive and sexually aggressive. These children are often diverted from court services into both public and private agencies where no defined treatment programs have been created to meet the specific needs of the children and their family members. Treatment combines offense specific interventions with a focus on preventing the development of abusive patterns of interaction. Focus on developmentally appropriate interventions enhances exploration of the trauma outcome process and informs successful interventions.
A Collaborative Approach for Treatment With Violent Youth and Their Families
This curriculum was created by request to meet the needs of agencies faced with increasingly complex problems related to youth in treatment. It is designed to provide a therapeutic response for adolescents who are considered to be at high risk for any type of violence and abuse. These youth often present with issues related to criminal activity, family dissolution, mental illness, substance abuse, and histories of severe trauma. Treatment utilizes offense specific interventions in combination with strategies for addressing all concerns that play a part in their violent behavior.
All curricula utilize didactic and experiential activities for enhancing the depth of knowledge in each topic of treatment. Staff development and training can be designed to meet the unique needs of each sponsoring organization in order to enhance practical application of all material.
