Program for Sexually Aggressive Adolescents

A treatment contract, which has legal ramifications, is required of the client and his legal guardian.  The contract ensures the client acknowledges in advance his awareness of the treatment program, including details around confidentiality, penalties for re-offending and automatic discharge contingencies.  Parent(s) must also make commitments regarding treatment and responsibility for the client should home visits be allowed, and acknowledgment of federal laws regarding the sharing of information related to schools during transition / discharge planning.  Careful discharge planning, including provision for regular contact with trained caregivers, is an integral part of program.

A complete Evaluation may be required prior to admission, and often potential PSAA resident have been adjudicated for a sexual delinquency offense.  Non-adjudicated clients with a court order to treatment or similar external expectation through state case planning will be considered.  Contact the Admission Director (admissions@hhs.org) for detailed admission criteria and rule outs.

SPECIALIZED DORMITORY:

The PSAA youth reside in one dormitory under a respectful, peer self-management model. Weekly community meetings empower clients and encourage support needed throughout treatment, led by a strong team of clinical, milieu and education staff.

BEHAVIOR THERAPY:

Delivered in the milieu to reduce inappropriate sexualized behaviors and to reinforce adaptive social skills; enforces contract compliance and reduces cognitive distortion.

COGNITIVE RESTRUCTURING:

PSAA youth tend to use a set of rationalizations and excuses to justify or support (consciously and subconsciously) what for many of them is a habitual pattern; this is countered through exercises to change "inner speech" and the teaching of other cognitive coping skills / problem-solving.

SOCIAL SKILLS AND SELF-ESTEEM DEVELOPMENT:

Part of sexually aggressive behavior is often a displaced exercise of power by a youth who cannot do so in a normative context. Youth, at some level, often feel inadequate and/or guilty. Social skills and self-esteem can be increased through several methods and are believed to help the youth recognize enough in themselves to drop the aggressive behavior and to help them focus on alternative gratifying interpersonal interactions.

SEX EDUCATION:

PSAA youth often need to be taught normal sexual development, behavior and values relating to sexual contact. They need to be readied in a supervised manner to develop a normal and gratifying sexual life as part of an alternative pattern of offending. Sex education also helps offenders examine the specifics of what they have done and understand why social and criminal sanctions occur.

VICTIMIZATION EDUCATION:

Some PSAA youth were sexually victimized when younger. There are dynamics which push victims towards offending and this is a way for offenders to examine and stop that pressure.

POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER TREATMENT:

Some youth have flashbacks to their own victimization or to sexual violence they observed as vulnerable children. Others may be dissociative. These problems have been incorporated into, or trigger, arousal patterns. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment can neutralize such offender process.

FAMILY CONTACT, EDUCATION, & THERAPY:

Though not all youth treated in this program return to live at home after discharge, continued family contact is often essential and is encouraged. Youth who have met the PSAA criteria for such visits can visit with family off campus. Campus visitation, family therapy, coordination of sexually aggressive youth and family victim treatment, reconciliation of victim and sexually aggressive youth and repair of their relationship, and family involvement in risk management / relapse prevention are services made available.

COMMUNITY STEPDOWN:

Staff assist state officials, parents, and youth to plan and acquire aftercare placements and services.