Population served/Target Population: 

Adolescent males, ages generally ranging from  14-18 years.

Estimated Duration for Program Completion: Approximately 1 ½ to 2 years.

Admission Criteria: 

1. Entrance to this group is determined through an interview with the lead group therapist.
2. Must meet age requirements: 14-18 years. 
3. Persons are excluded based on some criteria:
   1. Have a thought disorder.
   2. Intellectual functioning falls into the low borderline or mental retardation range.
   3. Denies offending behavior AND is not adjudicated.  
4. Generally participants should have been adjudicated, or in the process, for sexually offending behavior.
5. Generally persons should possess basic reading and writing skills due to written homework requirements, but accommodations can be made address difficulties in these areas.
6. Participants should possess some ability to interact with age similar peers in a non-aggressive fashion. 

General Treatment Plan Goals:

1. Refrain from sexually abusive behavior for duration of treatment.
2. Gain insight into factors contributing to offending behavior.
3. Gain insight into factors specific to offending behavior.
4. Develop victim empathy skills; develop an understanding of impacts of offending behavior on others. 
5. Establish and implement a plan of relapse prevention.
6. Develop and implement safety planning skills
7. Develop healthy sexual identity, including understanding of healthy sexual behavior and functioning.
8. Improve social skills and social interactions with age appropriate peers.

Other more specific goals can be added to an individuals treatment plan based on individual issues, including substance abuse. 

Model of Treatment:

The treatment approach to this group follows a primarily cognitive-behavioral model, with some insight-oriented focus as well.  This approach is based on the belief that members can develop some understanding and basis for new skills through insight, but successful treatment depends on the development and implementation of new skills to facilitate a long-term plan of recovery.  The group approach offers members a safe place to learn and practice new skills with peers.  For adolescents, the group approach also capitalizes on a developmental stage in which peer influences are very important.

Performance/Discharge criteria:

            There are certain performance expectations for this group, including following group rules for conduct.  Absolutely no fighting or other illegal activity of any kind is tolerated.  Members will be held accountable for all behavior, including filing legal charges for illegal activity. 

Group interdependence is utilized such that the group as a whole can lose its privileges based on the conduct of individual members.  Members are expected to participate in the group process as part of compliance with treatment.  Efforts are made to help members work through anxieties that may interfere in participation.  We have not ever lost members due to shyness.    

The group functions on a “three-strike” rule format in which rule violations result in “strikes”.  Acquiring three strikes in any one group session results in members being kicked out of that group session, but does not allow them to leave the agency.  Members are sent to the waiting area and required to complete homework assignments to be turned in at the end of the group session.  Retention in this program is dependent upon continual efforts and progress toward meeting treatment goals.  If members have to be removed from group sessions on a continual basis due to disruptive behavior, they can be removed from the group for an undetermined amount of time or permanently based on individual issues.  Group counselors and individual counselors, where applicable, will consult to determine appropriate recommendations and treatment approaches.  Members are informed that involved court authorities will be advised of treatment non-compliance issues.  It is up to the court as to how it decides to address those issues.     

Successful discharge occurs when clients have attained all treatment goals listed on treatment plans.  Generally, this includes having completed all homework assignments and having demonstrated an ability to implement new skills outside of sessions.  Successful discharge does not guarantee no new offending behavior.  It indicates members have gained maximum benefit from the program including knowing personal risks and when to return to counseling should new problems arise.

Payments Accepted:

Acceptable payment includes Medicaid, insurance, and self-payment.  Persons should check with their insurance carriers to determine if who is expected to provide payment for services.  Although insurance may sometimes pay for this service, the extended duration of this program has sometimes exceeded the limits of third-party providers.  It is best to check with your insurance agency and our billing office to clarify these issues ahead of time.