Purpose: The Youth with Problematic Sexual Behaviors (YPSB) Program is a violence prevention program targeting youth ages 6 to 14 years old and their families/caregivers. The purpose of this program is to provide children and their caregivers the skills and support needed to reduce the youth’s risk of future acts of sexual violence, strengthen protective factors, and safeguard against illegal or inappropriate sexual behavior.

Target Population: Youth ages 6 to 14 years old and their parents or caregivers living in Jackson County, Missouri, who have been identified by the Jackson County Family Court, law enforcement, Children’s Division and the Child Protection Center for reports of inappropriate or illegal, sexually violent behaviors.

Services/Activities to be provided: Through this program, youth and their caregivers participate in a 12-27 week group treatment program
utilizing evidence-based practices. Each session lasts 60 to 90 minutes, in which constructive and corrective feedback is used to teach children and their caregivers about appropriate and inappropriate sexual behaviors, to teach impulse control, and to teach parents/caregivers how to communicate about sex education and implement appropriate sexual behavior rules in the home. In addition, caregivers are taught effective parenting strategies, and children are taught to develop plans on how they will follow appropriate sexual behavior rules and learn strategies to increase skills related to coping and self-control.

In 2019, MOCSA’s Director of Counseling, Rene McCreary, published a handbook for mental health providers titled “Youth with Sexual Behavior Problems: A Practical Guide for Therapists Working with Youth and Their Families.” The resource is intended for therapists working with youth with sexually problematic behaviors and their families, and was published by NEARI Press, of the New England Adolescent Research Institute. Therapists at MOCSA and throughout the country will use this handbook as a supplementary tool when addressing these complicated issues with youth and their families.

Expected Outcomes: Through this program MOCSA expects the following outcomes: 95% of youth and families learn the sexual
behavior rules and can identify which sexual behavior rule was broken by the child’s behavior; 90% of caregivers report an improvement in caregiver knowledge and improved child’s sexual behavior as a result of counseling; and 90% of youth will reduce the number of problematic behaviors that result in suspensions, expulsions, or arrests while participating in the program. These outcomes will change
knowledge and behavior of the target population and prevent future incidents of sexually violent behavior of children in the program. This program will improve children's behavior through better caregiver monitoring, supervision and behavior management skills, and building effective parent/caregiver-child interactions and communication. Additionally, the children will learn impulse control strategies and
problem-solving skills, rules about sexual behavior, privacy and boundaries, and improved coping and social skills.

COMBAT Funding: $60,769.79