Provided by the Bucks County Network of Victim Assistance:
The federal Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention has awarded Network of Victim Assistance a $300,000 grant to develop and implement community-based intervention models designed to serve young people whose lives are affected by problems related to their sexual behavior.
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This two-year grant will fund a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary approach and provide intervention, supervision and treatment services for youth with sexual behavior problems (YSBP) ages 10 through 14, their child victims and all involved family members.
“Bucks County has a fragmented system for providing services in YSBP cases,” says Kathy Bennett, associate director for NOVA. “In the majority of cases that rise to the attention of investigative agencies, child welfare and the DA’s office, professionals are unable to find appropriate treatment resources provided by trained clinicians in a coordinated manner.
“Too often, these cases are dismissed without any monitoring services in place.”
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In order to address these concerns, a preliminary working group was started in 2014 with Bucks County partner agencies to further define the issue, seek options for evidence-based treatment and discuss possible funding for a coordinated YSBP response in the county. After a year of research and discussion, the working group decided to pursue the Problem Sexual Behaviors-Cognitive Behavior Therapy (PSB-CBT) model of intervention.
Funding will allow the work group to
- provide training in PSB-CBT to 25 team members and their staff,
- coordinate monthly team meetings to develop protocols for implementing the model,
- provide services to 30 cases in homes and office settings,
- develop ways to track and report outcome measures,
- provide outreach trainings on YSBP to 80 other professionals in the county including how to make referrals, and
- develop options for sustainability.
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The working group includes the Bucks County Children and Youth Social Services Agency, Bucks County Juvenile Probation Department, Edison Court/Ravenhill Psychological Services, Bucks County Mental Health/Development Programs, Bucks County Behavioral Health, Bucks County Children’s Advocacy Center and Bucks County District Attorney’s Office.
“This project is one of just two in the nation to receive OJJDP funding,” says Bennett. “The other agency, in Fort Worth, Texas, also received $300,000 for a collaborative program to help families dealing with child problematic sexual behavior.”
