Enhancing Community Collaboration to Stop Sexual Harm by Youth (From Managing High-Risk Sex Offenders in the Community: Risk Management, Treatment and Social Responsibility, P 174-192, 2010, Karen Harrison, ed. - See NCJ-230796)

• NCJ Number: 230805
• Author(s): Joann Schladale
• Date Published: 2010
• Length: 19 pages
• Sale Source: Willan Publishing
• Publication Format: Book Chapter
• Publication Type: Technical Assistance
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

This chapter addresses how the enhancement of community collaboration in the United Kingdom can assist in stopping and preventing "sexual harm" committed by youth.

Abstract

"Sexual harm" by youth encompasses a broad range of behavior. Although juvenile sex offenders are defined in the United Kingdom as "adolescents from age 13-17 who commit illegal sexual behavior as defined by the sex crimes statutes of the jurisdiction in which the offense occurred," for the purposes of this chapter, "sexual harm" by youth will refer to children of all ages who "engage in sexual behavior that causes harm to others." Following an overview of risk factors that lead to sexual harm committed by youth, this chapter discusses how "collaboration" can address these factors. "Collaboration" involves the exchange of information, altering of activities, sharing resources, and improving the capacity of another for the mutual benefit of all in achieving a common purpose. In the context of addressing sexual harm by youth, genuine collaboration involves dedication and persistence in exploring and implementing empirically based service provision that prevents and counters sexual harm by youth. After briefly discussing barriers to effective collaboration, the chapter proposes a standardized approach that involves a shared mission, vision, core values, and philosophy of care that guide all service provision. This does not involve a manual that dictates rigid adherence. Interdependent components are interwoven across a continuum from formal to informal documentation and communication. The chapter advises that all collaborating entities should demonstrate how interventions contribute to the reduction of sexual harm, how relevant service providers are involved in a way that enhances successful outcomes, how dispositions focus on the least restrictive placement, and how evaluation and continuous assessment guide a clearly defined process of service and safety planning. Details are provided on this process. 55 references