Restoring Families program presents free training on problematic sexual behavior in youth

Restoring Families, a program that works with youth with problematic sexual behaviors (YW-PSB), presented a free training for professionals on Thursday, July 14, with noted clinical and consulting psychologist, trainer and author Sue Righthand, PhD.

Dr. Righthand, who besides her private practice is an associate research professor at the University of Maine, co-authored Juvenile Sex Offender Assessment Protocol II (Prentky & Righthand, 2003) and related research, as well as Effective Intervention with Adolescents Who Have Offended Sexually: Translating Research into Practice and other publications.

“Risks and Resilience: Youth with Problematic & Illegal Sexual Behavior,” held at The Health and Wellness Center by Doylestown Hospital in Warrington, was hosted by Network of Victim Assistance (NOVA) and Edison Court, Inc., a Doylestown-based agency providing responsive and innovative care to individuals and families facing behavioral and mental health challenges.

Restoring Families

Restoring Families was launched in 2015 with a $300,000, two-year grant from the federal Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention to address the need for comprehensive, evidence-based treatment for YW-PSB acted out on other children.

Program members include: NOVA, Edison Court, Bucks County Children and Youth Social Services Agency, Bucks County Juvenile Probation, Bucks County District Attorney, Bucks County Children’s Advocacy Center and Bucks County Behavioral Health.

The Restoring Families Program treats children ages 7-14 years who have become known to a referring agency or entity due to their engagement in problematic sexual behavior.

“Restoring Families gives professionals appropriate treatment resources that were previously fragmented or unavailable in Bucks County for YW-PSB cases,” says Kathy Bennett, associate director for NOVA. “The grant funds a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary approach and provides intervention, supervision and treatment services for YW-PSB, their child victims and all involved family members.”

To learn more about Restoring Families or Network of Victim Assistance, contact Ms. Bennett: Kathy@NOVABucks.org or 215.343.6543.

Images:

Area professionals attend day-long presentation on problematic sexual behavior in young people, hosted by Restoring Families at The Health & Wellness Center, Warrington

Left to right: Kelly Hagenbaugh, MSW, LSW, NOVA’s Community Counseling Coordinator; presenter Sue Righthand, PhD; and Jamie Osborn, MS, NOVA Counselor