Changing populations in the public sector: responding to the needs of Texas youth

Treatment of sexually abused and abusing youth requires careful program planning and implementation. Led by its Quality Improvement Council and with considerable staff involvement, Waco Center for Youth in Waco, Texas developed a dual-track approach to treatment of this underserved, often misunderstood, adolescent client population. The sexual abuse survivors' program focuses on the issues of trust, safety, self-esteem, assertiveness, and education. The sex offender program is built on the concepts of self-responsibility; diminishing cognitive distortions; identification of stressors, and their relationship to the offending cycle; and relapse prevention. The staff of Waco Center for Youth are engaged in ongoing analysis of behavioral indicators for successful treatment of sexually abused and abusing adolescents.