Sex Offender Treatment
NOTE: Because we have worked successfully with sex offenders for
over 20 years, we will consider youth who are subject to current sex offender
reporting laws. While the reporting requirements may demand extra work, we
believe it is vitally important that our treatment of sex offenders continue for
the protection of society.
TEACHING-FAMILY TREATMENT COMPONENTS
The sex offender treatment (SOT) program is a part of the Ohio Teaching-Family Association (OT-FA) treatment program. While they are supported by other professional staff, the primary therapeutic agents in the Teaching-Family Model are the professional Teaching-Parents, who live with their foster children.
The OT-FA program offers variable degrees of treatment intensity and supervision intensity and this flexibility enables us to offer a continuum of care. The Teaching-Family Model of community-based residential treatment incorporates systematic motivation systems designed to teach new skills and shape new behavior using positive reinforcement and mild aversive consequences related to target behaviors. The Model also stresses teaching of social, academic, and independent living skills.
The general
goal of the program is to provide learning opportunities to prepare youth to be
productive, responsible, self-controlled citizens. The self-government
system and youth manger systems teach participatory democracy and interpersonal
management skills. The sex offender treatment program is one important facet of
the OT-FA treatment program.
WAIVER OF CONFIDENTIALITY
In order to
protect the community from offending, there are occasions when it is necessary
for Teaching-Parents, counselors, treatment staff, and administrators to report
dangerous or potentially dangerous situations to others. We require that youth,
parents, and custodians of youth to sign a release of confidentiality in
recognition of our responsibility to protect the community.
ASSESSMENT
A comprehensive
sex offender assessment has usually been made by court personnel and by placing
agencies prior to placement. On those occasions when an assessment is required,
OT-FA personnel can make a sex offender assessment or assessments related to
other treatment issues. We contract for unique services with licensed
professionals. All youth have access to psychiatric consultation and most youth
placed with OT-FA are assessed by our consulting psychiatrist at no additional
cost to placing agencies.
EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM
The educational
curriculum used in the OT-FA Sex Offender Treatment (SOT) program consists of
specific components recognized to be essential to treatment.
WEEKLY GROUP SESSIONS
Group counseling and education sessions are an integral part of the OT-FA treatment program. Weekly group sessions address the SOT curriculum and other topics such as relapse prevention in independent living, anger management, relapse prevention, relationship development, problem solving, negotiating interpersonal differences, decision making, values clarification, ethics and morals, cognitive restructuring, teaching basic social skills, empathy, and other curriculum topics.
INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING RELATED TO INDIVIDUAL SERVICE PLANS
Each youth in
OT-FA participates in individual counseling with a licensed social worker or
counselor. These sessions are designed to deal with the unique facets of the
youth’s Service Plan.
FAMILY AND VICTIM SUPPORT SERVICES
When it is a part of the Service Plan, OT-FA provides a comprehensive array of treatment services for the families and children of youth placed with us. These services are usually at no extra cost to the placing agencies.
PROGRAM COMPLETION CRITERIA
Youth has completed all components and phases of the OT-FA/SOT program
Treatment team considers the seriousness of the offense and determines that the probability of re-offending is low
Youth demonstrates honesty in all interactions and no longer engages in coercive manipulation, intimidation, menacing or aggression toward others
Youth fully discloses their history of sexual and non-sexual offenses
Youth accepts full, personal responsibility for all offending and accepts the consequences of the offense
Youth no longer blames others for their problems
Youth no longer takes the stance of being a victim
Youth agrees to accept any community restrictions imposed by the court, treatment team or parents
Youth expresses a full understanding of the impact of their offenses upon the victims and the victims’ families
Youth is able to express a comprehensive understanding of why the offending behavior was illegal and was harmful to others
Youth expresses empathy for their victims and remorse for their behavior
Youth can identify patterns of offending and understands the kinds of events or conditions that are likely to lead to offending if not stopped
Youth understands that it is their responsibility to control their behavior and accepts that responsibility
Youth can articulate a clear plan and strategies for preventing re-offending and preventing offending of other kinds
Youth has addressed other abuse issues such as substance abuse
Youth has accomplished reunification plan or independent living program.