Barriers and Facilitators to Coordinated Multiagency Responses to Children Displaying Harmful Sexual Behavior

Many agencies play a critical role in primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention responses to children's harmful sexual behavior (HSB). This research aims to explore in a single Australian jurisdiction which agencies respond to HSB, the nature and role of each agency's response, and the barriers and facilitators to a more coordinated multi-agency approach. As part of a larger study, 18 multidisciplinary professionals representing various children's oversight bodies and government organizations involved in responding to children's HSB participated in a five-hour face-to-face interagency workshop. Data was managed and thematically analyzed using NVivo software (Version 10). Participants identified internal procedures and inter-departmental agreements, shared goals, early intervention, and information sharing as facilitators to coordinated multi-agency responses to children's HSB. However, barriers outweighed these facilitators. Participants emphasized a need for systemic responses to HSB to include non-statutory (voluntary/diversionary) responses to children displaying these behaviors. Mapping service responses can facilitate understanding and awareness about agency roles among professionals; potentially reducing barriers to coordinated multi-agency responses. A multi-agency framework may eliminate many current barriers to responding to children's and young people's HSB, enabling a better opportunity for early intervention and prevention responses.