New hope and help for forgotten youth

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Clinical Psychology
• Social Work

Background:

• Juvenile sex offender treatment is a critical public health issue.
• Existing community-based treatment strategies lack sufficient trained clinicians.
• Policy-makers and treatment providers recognize the need for specialized training.

Observation:

• A collaborative academic/community initiative established a 2-day national conference.
• A core component was a 9-month clinical treatment certificate training program.
• The program utilized a multimodal approach to treatment.

Findings:

• The program was designed to develop clinicians specifically trained to treat juvenile sex offenders.
• Detailed program components included purpose, goals, trainee requirements, competency areas, and content.
• Positive program evaluations indicate success.

Implications:

• The initiative successfully addressed the need for trained clinicians in juvenile sex offender treatment.
• The program will be offered annually due to positive outcomes.
• This model can enhance the quality and efficacy of community-based interventions for this population.