2023 Thursday Schedule

The National Symposium on Sexual Behavior of Youth
Be a Voice, Not an Echo
Thursday, February 23, 2023
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7:30a - 8:20a
Round Table Discussions
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8:30a - 10:00a
Concurrent Sessions D

Concurrent Session D-1

Ethical Issues to Consider When Providing Services to Children and Youth with Problematic Sexual Behavior, Part I
Susan Schmidt, PhD, Tricia Gardner, JD, and Natalie Gallo, MEd

This session will focus on ethical and legal issues for professionals working in the field of youth with problematic sexual behavior. It will be an interactive session that will cover a variety of topics, including mandatory reporting, dual roles, documentation, consent, and competency. Participants will learn about different ethical issues that may arise through working with children with problematic sexual behavior and their families, understand the differences between professional responsibilities and limitations of the various disciplines that work with these children and their families, and understand the variety of roles that a professional can have within a case of problematic sexual behavior and the impact that has on their responsibilities.

  1. Identify commonly encountered ethical issues that may arise when working with children and adolescents with problematic sexual behavior
  2. Differentiate between professional responsibilities and limitations of the various disciplines that work with children and adolescents with problematic sexual behavior
  3. Identify the variety of roles of a professional within a case that includes working with children and adolescents with problematic sexual behavior and the impact on these responsibilities

Concurrent Session D-2

Incorporating Community Supervision into your Problematic Sexual Behavior Treatment Program
Heather Petrus, MS, Sarah VanDoren, BA, and Emily Hitchcock, MS

Cayuga Counseling Services, Inc. treatment program for youth and adolescent with problematic sexual behaviors was developed, with funding from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, to address Cayuga County's fragmented response to youth and adolescents with PSB and their victims and families/household members by utilizing a best practice, multidisciplinary treatment team and coordinated response and providing evidence-based and trauma-focused interventions. The program provides evidence based, Problematic Sexual Behavior-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in addition to intensive community based supervision for all program participants. In addition, the program collaborates with the Child Advocacy Center to insure that the victims and families are also connected with services. The incorporation of the supervision component has been successful in keeping children in the community while they receive their PSB treatment.
  1. Describe a program model developed by Cayuga Counseling Services in cooperation with the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention that addresses an alternative for placement of children and youth with problematic sexual behavior
  2. Examine the model’s community supervision component and collaboration with the courts for this population
  3. Describe how this program can be replicated in other communities as a viable resource for children and teens with problematic sexual behavior

Concurrent Session D-3

LGBTQ+ Youth and PSB: Providing Affirmative Care
Ariel Berman, PhD and Ashley Galsky, PhD

This presentation will investigate the unique challenges of transgender and LGBTQ+ youth who are referred to treatment for problematic sexual behavior. Individuals in the helping professions have the ability to provide a counterweight to current and historic trauma by providing affirmative care and advocacy for this population.
  1. Describe gender diversity and how it reflects on personal biases
  2. Demonstrate an understanding of the cultural landscapes, history of LGBTQ+ health care, and pathologizing of identity
  3. Identify the reported outcome and implications of treatment of problematic sexual behavior across treatment modalities that include group/ individual, and  family therapy

Concurrent Session D-4 (45-minute discussions)

Introducing "AJ's Story": The First Ever Book for Children with Not OK Touching Behaviors
Roy Van Tassell, MS and Amanda Mitten, MA 

Introducing a new NCTSN book for children ages 3-8 who have given "Not OK" touches. Learn about typical and problematic sexual behaviors. Access and hear about using the new book and on-line prevention and treatment educational materials for caregivers and therapists of children with typical and problem sexual behaviors.
  1. Differentiate between typical and problematic sexual behaviors in the child population
  2. Describe “AJ’s Story” and other on-line clinical and psycho-educational resources for working with children with problematic sexual behavior
  3. Explain how developmentally appropriate educational materials can be utilized in various treatment settings, including trauma-focused approaches

Perceptions of Problematic Sexual Behavior in Children and Adolescents by CACs and their Community Partners
Kate Theimer, PhD and Erin Taylor, PhD

Through the National Children's Alliance, there has been ongoing efforts to develop helpful tools and guidance to Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs) on best practices for problematic sexual behavior (PSB) in children and adolescents. In the last 5 to 10 years, PSB has been a growing area of concern to CACs, both in how to best respond to this population and in their advocacy efforts on behalf of these children and families. A Collaborative Workgroup was formed in 2016 to develop recommendations for CACs across the country. For one of their initial steps, the workgroup wanted to obtain feedback from CACs regarding their communities' perceptions of youth with PSB and potential intervention options. A survey was sent to all U.S. CACs, and responses were obtained from 351 respondents representing CACs from across the country. Quantitative and qualitative results will be summarized in this presentation, and we will highlight common misperceptions held regarding PSB and how CACs perceive their role in serving youth with problematic sexual behavior.

  1. Examine misconceptions of youth with problematic sexual behavior by Child Advocacy Centers
  2. Identify strategies to combat and dispel myths by sharing information on evidence-based practices for youth with problematic sexual behavior
  3. Identify strategies for educating the local communities and agencies regarding misconceptions and myths about children and youth with problematic sexual behavior

Concurrent Session D-5

Systems Strategies to Promote Healing in cases of Sibling Harmful Sexual Behaviour
Dale Tolliday, NSW Ministry of Health, Australia

Responding to sibling harmful sexual behaviour (SHSB) is challenging. Families typically need time and space to process what this means for themselves. Challenges in responding extend to the multiple agencies which may have roles to play. Anxieties permeate every level. Families may be torn between different agency expectations and parents are frequently asked (or required) to follow multiple plans or expectations of the agencies which are involved and at times may feel they are being compelled to prioritise one child over another. Quick decisions frequently fail to attend to the needs of all family members and tension in relation to inclusion/exclusion of family members is closely connected to family members accommodating to the needs or demands of others. As with the vast majority of HSB this reflects the gendered nature of HSB and the family members most commonly accommodating to others are children who have been sexually harmed. At times agencies focused on their own processes may be blind to this or may even facilitate this negative process.

This workshop will outline systemic strategies to align and coordinate services to promote optimal outcomes for children and families.

  1. Identify key relational issues confronted by families in cases of sibling harmful sexual behavior
  2. Describe the competing demands and anxieties of service providers in the treatment of sibling harmful sexual behavior
  3. Identify strategies to align systems and engage services providers to coordinate responses for joint accountability for families and populations services
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10:30a - 12:00p
Concurrent Sessions E

Concurrent Session E-1

Ethical Issues to Consider When Providing Services to Children and Youth with Problematic Sexual Behavior, Part II
Susan Schmidt, PhD, Tricia Gardner, JD, and Natalie Gallo, MEd

This session will focus on ethical and legal issues for professionals working in the field of youth with problematic sexual behavior. It will be an interactive session that will cover a variety of topics, including mandatory reporting, dual roles, documentation, consent, and competency. Participants will learn about different ethical issues that may arise through working with children with problematic sexual behavior and their families, understand the differences between professional responsibilities and limitations of the various disciplines that work with these children and their families, and understand the variety of roles that a professional can have within a case of problematic sexual behavior and the impact that has on their responsibilities.

  1. Identify commonly encountered ethical issues that may arise when working with children and adolescents with problematic sexual behavior
  2. Differentiate between professional responsibilities and limitations of the various disciplines that work with children and adolescents with problematic sexual behavior
  3. Identify the variety of roles of a professional within a case that includes working with children and adolescents with problematic sexual behavior and the impact on these responsibilities

Concurrent Session E-2

Military Resources for Problematic Sexual Behavior of Children and Youth
Mary "Tib" Campise, MSW, Sharise Eldredge, MSW, and Lori Anderson, BS

The Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) Child and Youth Advocacy Program (CYAP) team present on the evolving Department of Defense (DoD) response to Problematic Sexual Behavior in Children and Youth (PSB-CY). The CYAP team will provide a window into how to utilize existing resources and to better understand how those resources can help military connected families dealing with PSB-CY.
  1. Describe the Department of Defense approach to problematic sexual behavior
  2. Identify cultural factors that influence help-seeking behaviors of military families
  3. Identify the military’s coordinated community response to problematic sexual behavior and its training resources with military and civilian partners

Concurrent Session E-3

Increasing Access for PSB Services through Joint Collaboration and Telehealth
Paula Condol, M.S. and Nicola Herting, Ph.D.

This training will demonstrate how  we can reach rural and underserved populations needing PSB treatment through multi-agency collaboration and telehealth.  Presenters will talk about the benefits of a collaborative approach has had in building a statewide program and lessons learned utilizing technology while still meeting the fidelity of the model.

  1. Describe how the utilization of a multi-agency model can increase the capacity to provide problematic sexual behavior services
  2. Identify at least 2 clinical interventions utilized in tele-health with evidence -based treatment
  3. Identify the Do’s and Don’ts when utilizing technology while service the problematic sexual behavior population

Concurrent Session E-4

Technology: Talking with Youth about Sex, Sexuality, and Media
Clifford Sipes

Participates will learn how to help and prepare children and youth to practice better decision-making in regards to their bodies and the bodies of others. We also discuss best practices for having substantial conversations on understanding pornography, sex, and sexuality. This presentation is for professionals working with children and their families, caregivers, and family members. Youth and young adults are also invited to attend.
  1. Identify strategies for speaking to children about sex, sexuality, pornography, and interaction with peers
  2. Explain the importance of differences between parents-caregivers and other caring adults and the impact of different roles in a young person’s life and how that role can have a positive impact on the development of young people
  3. Identify the impact of social media and its relationship with pornography and social media’s role in modern youth life

Concurrent Session E-5 (45-minute sessions)

Sexual Behavior Problems in Children: An Exploration of their Conceptions among Professionals Working in the Child Welfare System
Marie-Pierre Villeneuve, PhD

Very few studies payed attention specifically to perceptions of professionals working with children under 13 exhibiting sexual behavior problems in the child welfare system (CWS). Seven focus groups gathering 62 CWS professionals were conducted and content analysis was performed. Findings put forth the complexity of SBP, their polymorphic nature, the obvious lack of a clear and common definition of SBP, and the challenges associated with the heterogeneity of this clientele.
  1. Describe child welfare workers’ conceptions of sexual behavior problems exhibited by children
  2. Explain the polymorphic nature of sexual behavior problems
  3. Identify the primary issues and challenges regarding child welfare professionals’ work with this population

International Perspectives on Multidisciplinary Responses to Youth with Problematic Sexual Behavior in Families
Abbie Newman, RN, JD, Erin Taylor, PhD, and Jane Silovsky, PhD

This panel will explore the different responses and perceptions of MDT members from 3 different locations in Jerusalem, Israel; mid-Atlantic, USA; and mid-western, USA, while dealing with cases of youth with problematic sexualized behaviors in sibling units. The research explores the different approaches used by MDT members in the 3 different locations for these cases when responding to children and families, and to introduce the concept of the Exemption Committee intervention which is used at the Jerusalem Child Advocacy Center to respond to cases of youth with PSB in families. The Exemption Committee prioritizes a strong mental health intervention for the entire family as an alternative to a traditional judicial intervention for the youth with PSB, which is often the case in the US. This panel will further review research on the Exemption Committee Model used in Israel and discuss the potential uses for this model in the US.

  1. Identify the unique issues that MDT members face when encountering PSB of youth in families
  2. Differentiate differing responses of MDT members in mid-Atlantic, mid-Western, USA, Jerusalem, Israel
  3. Describe the Exemption Committee Model use din Israel as an alternative to the judicial process

Concurrent Session E-6

Promoting Healthy Sexuality Development Early with Children and Youth
Jenny Coleman, MA, LMHC

Prevention practices with children and youth, that both protect youth from sexual harm and help prevent them from causing sexual harm, can and needs to be implemented in all environments where we find children and youth - as soon as possible. By understanding healthy sexuality development, we can better define necessary prevention steps for caregiving adults to increase environmental safeguards, including digital environments and personal safety for youth. This workshop will look at the role of healthy sexuality education and discuss protective tasks that correspond with development tasks. Additionally, this workshop will explore how safe boundaries can be set, modeled, and encouraged for children and youth that promote healthy behaviors and relationships.
  1. Demonstrate increased knowledge of protective tasks for adults to engage with children and youth to decrease their vulnerability to sexual abuse
  2. Explain how early sexual abuse prevention tasks can address both protection from sexual abuse and decrease youth’s own harmful behaviors
  3. Demonstrate increased understanding of the adults’ responsibility in modeling and securing safe environments before there are warning signs of potential abuse

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12:15p - 1:15p
Caregiver Panel Luncheon
(Registration and Fee required)
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1:30p - 3:00p
Concurrent Sessions F

Concurrent Session F-1

Across the Continuum: A Case Example on a Family's Journey to Healing While Working with Child Advocacy Center Services
Ericka Purcell, MS and Tabitha Winter, MS

This interactive presentation will utilize a case example to highlight how Child Advocacy Centers can provide therapeutic services to the entire family impacted by problematic sexual behavior. A multidisciplinary collaborative approach between the Child Advocacy Center of Sedgwick County (CACSC), Sedgwick County Juvenile Services, Exploited Missing Children's Unit and several other key partners, has worked to help families heal from the often-devastating effects of problematic sexual behavior. The presentation will discuss how the CACSC played an instrumental role in assisting this family to heal - from providing group treatment to the youth with problematic sexual behavior, trauma-focused therapy for the victim, and family therapy to work towards reunification safely. The presentation will also discuss the process of the CACSC working with the Juvenile Justice System on developing a partnership to provide evidenced-based treatment to youth with problematic sexual behavior.
  1. Explain how Child Advocacy Center services can provide trauma-informed treatment to an entire family impacted by problematic sexual behavior
  2. Explain the importance of a multidisciplinary team approach to advocate for, support, and assist youth with problematic sexual behavior(s)
  3. Describe how developing relationships with the Juvenile Justice System can further support youth with problematic sexual behavior receiving evidence-based treatment

Concurrent Session F-2

Promoting a Shared Understanding about Youth with Problematic Sexual Behaviors in Tribal Communities
Allyson Kelley, DrPH and Dolores Subia BigFoot, PhD

In tribal communities, everyone has a role and a place; this creates the Sacred Circle. This presentation highlights the Sacred Circle Toolkit designed to help tribal professionals and community members. Presenters will discuss the toolkit implementation, use, and responses from Tribal communities involved in project.
  1. Describe the Sacred Circle Toolkit, partners involved, vision, and how it addresses community identified needs
  2. Explain how tribal communities utilize the Sacred Circle Toolkit to address community identified needs
  3. Identify barriers and recommendations for adequately addressing the therapeutic needs of problematic sexual behavior in youth, families and child victims in tribal communities

Concurrent Session F-3

Advancing Health Equity and Strength-Based Practices in Youth Serving Organizations to Promote Healthy Interactions and Prevent Child Sexual Abuse and Youth with Problematic Sexual Behavior
Maggie Ingram, PhD, MHS

This workshop will explore updates to CDC’s 2007 guidelines for preventing CSA in YSOs. Specifically, we will highlight the innovations of the updated publication: emphasis on health equity, use of strengths-based practices, efforts to support groups at higher risk of CSA, and response to and prevention of youth PSB.

  1. Define health equity and identify actionable steps to promote health equity in youth serving organizations with regard to problematic sexual behavior
  2. Identify at least 2 similarities related to preventing and responding to adult-youth child serving organizations and youth problematic sexual behavior
  3. Identify at least 2 differences or unique considerations related to preventing or responding to youth problematic sexual behavior as compared to adult-youth community organizations

Concurrent Session F-4

Clarifying the Clarification Process
Amanda Pryor, MSW

Clarification is part of everyday life. However, once an adolescent violates the norm of sexual behaviors the caregivers see the incident as a crisis. With knowledge on how to work towards clarification and reunification safely, parents and practitioners are better able to address the behaviors in a clinical and home setting. Come learn how to best prepare all for the process of clarification.
  1. Identify the components necessary for clarification process in PSB
  2. Identify best-practices for clarification and reunification in PSB
  3. Identify the clinical components of the clarification process to include safety planning

Concurrent Session F-5

Examining Approaches to Harmful Sexual Behavio(u)rs of Youth through Children's Rights Lens: Perspectives from the UK, US, and Australia
Simon Hackett, BA (Hons), MA (Econ), CQSW, PhD, FAcSS, Dale Tolliday, NSW Ministry of Health, Australia, and Jane Silovsky, PhD 

This panel will provide a children’s right framework as a central foundational principles to guide the protection of children.  This framework aligns with a trauma responsive approach.  Through this children’s rights framework, descriptions of key topics of each country’s major developments, approach, and struggles addressing problematic and harmful sexual behavio(u)r of youth.  The panel will conclude with a discussion of strategies to create paradigm shifts in professional approaches to problematic and harmful sexual behavio(u)r that respect and align with children’s rights. 
  1. Explain a children’s rights framework as a central part of the protection of children
  2. Identify the major developments and approaches to problematic and harmful sexual behavior(s) in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia
  3. Examine strategies that support a paradigm shift utilizing children’s rights framework to guide policies and practices when addressing problematic and harmful sexual behavior(s) in youth

Concurrent Session F-6

Reducing Hesitancy in Using Technology and Multimedia in Treatment
Nikki Croteau-Johnson, MA, Abe Hickey, MA, Rachel Maid, MSW, and Curtis Brownlee, MS

By using technology and various forms of multimedia, we have a better opportunity to meet the needs of clients by enhancing learning, motivation, and understanding. Technology can also assist in increasing focus as well as making treatment more dynamic and interactive. In this presentation, we will discuss and demonstrate several technology and multimedia options that anyone can learn to use and implement in treatment practices, virtually and in-person.
  1. Explain the importance of using technology and multimedia in tele-health and in-person treatment to increase participation, motivation, and understanding
  2. Identify areas in treatment that could be enhanced by technology and multimedia
  3. Identify at least 2 technology and multi-media options for utilization in treatment
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3:30p - 5:00p
Closing Plenary - Youth Panel