Description: Sexual development is a typical part of adolescent development, and normative sexual behavior is a moving target amongst teens. Data collected by the National Children’s Alliance estimates that approximately a quarter of sexual offenses against children are committed by other youth. Problematic and illegal sexual behavior (PISB) often occurs among children who know each other, such as between siblings, cousins, or family friends. A trend of online and AI generated illegal sexual behaviors is also growing due to the use and access of technology amongst adolescents. Communities are often bereft of guidance on what to do to address safety and the treatment needs of all the youth when PSB occurs. Professionals across systems want to help but often work off of outdated practices and/or misconceptions about this population of teens. This workshop will provide an overview of adolescents with problematic sexual behaviors including information on development, appropriate identification of concerning and problematic sexual behaviors, as well as facts that dispel common myths about these adolescents. This workshop will provide an overview best practice guidelines as it relates to Safety Planning, Assessment, Treatment, and Reunification for adolescents with illegal or problematic sexual behavior with victim and community safety as a primary focus.
Learning objectives:
- Participants will be able to define adolescent clinically problematic sexual behavior.
- Participants will understand most common pathways to PSB in adolescents, risk and protective factors leading to and preventing PSB, and dispel myths related to adolescent PSB
- Participants will gain practice tools to implement appropriate safety plans for adolescents with PSB
- Participants will understand components of best practice assessment and treatment and features of treatment and assessment that could induce harm and/or be ineffective with adolescents with PSB
- Participants will explore the range of options related to reunification of adolescents with PSB and the impacted youth and gain guidance on how to make clinical decisions.
Skill Level: Introductory / Intermediate
General Admission: $299
APSAC Members Admission: $199
4 CE Credits (Social Work & Psychology) Non-Members: $45
4 CE Credits (Social Work & Psychology) Members: $25