How Well Does My Program Align with Best Practices?

This workshop will review what we know about what works and what doesn’t in the treatment, supervision, and management of men who have committed sexual offenses. We will examine the latest research on treatment effectiveness and the characteristics of successful programs. The emphasis will be on how treatment providers and supervision staff can apply these findings in their everyday work. (Training can be presented in a 90-minute, 3-hour, or one-day version.)

Conducting Sexual Abuser Risk of Sexual Harm to Children Assessments Using the ROSAC

Professionals in mental health, probation and parole, corrections, and child protective services are often tasked with assessing the risk that a sexual abuser poses to a specific child and determining under what circumstances, if any, the abuser might safely interact with the child. The Risk of Sexual Abuse of Children (ROSAC) utilizes a Structured Professional Judgment model for conducting these assessments of sexual harm risk. The ROSAC includes 30 items scored on a 3-point scale, which are categorized into three groups: factors concerning the abuser, the potentially at-risk child, and the primary caregiver. This workshop will examine the theoretical and research foundation of the ROSAC, emphasizing case studies to help participants understand how the instrument is used for making risk determinations and developing safety plans. (Training can be presented in a 90-minute, 3-hour, or one-day version. The one-day training requires purchasing the ROSAC Manual, which is available from Safer Society Press at https://safersociety.org/store/risk-of-sexual-abuse-of-children/.)

Strategies for Managing Problematic Sexual Interests, Fantasies, and Urges

Deviant sexual interests and poor sexual self-regulation are linked to a higher risk of sexual reoffending among those convicted of sexual crimes (Hanson, 2019). Evidence shows that programs aimed at reducing sexual reoffending by directly addressing these issues are more effective than those that do not (Gannon, Olver, Mallion, & James, 2019). This session will review strategies to help individuals better manage problematic sexual urges and fantasies through environmental, cognitive, behavioral, and pharmacological interventions. (Training can be presented in a 90-minute, 3-hour, or one-day version.)

 Treatment of Men Who Have Sexually Offended 101: From Principles to Practice

This “how-to” workshop will focus on practical information and evidence-based strategies for treating adult males who have committed sexual offenses. It is primarily designed for professionals who are new to the field, but it can also serve as a refresher for more experienced clinicians. The training will emphasize cognitive-behavioral treatment approaches delivered in both community and residential settings, adhering to risk, need, and responsivity principles. A phased model of treatment will be outlined. Topics include designing a treatment model, enhancing treatment engagement, selecting treatment assignments, collaborating with probation and parole officers, measuring treatment progress, and successfully terminating treatment. Training methods include lectures, case studies, discussions, demonstrations, and resource materials. (One or two-day workshop).

 Talk Less, Do More: Practical Skill Teaching Strategies

Effective programs for sexual offending address factors relevant to reoffending and desistance, in part, by teaching skills rather than simply raising awareness (Latessa et al., 2020). However, programs frequently overlook skill teaching and practice (e.g., Makarios et al., 2019). This workshop will outline a 7-step skill training model based on social learning principles. The model can target multiple dynamic risk and protective factors (Bonta & Andrews, 2017). The research foundation for skill training will be explained, the model will be demonstrated with various examples, and participants will have the chance to practice using the model. (Training can be presented in a 90-minute, 3-hour, or one-day version.)

 How to Score and Use the Sex Offender Treatment Intervention and Progress Scale (SOTIPS) 

This one-day workshop focuses on using case studies to learn how to score and use the SOTIPS. The SOTIPS is a dynamic, 16-item, provider-administered measure designed to aid clinicians and probation and parole officers in assessing risk, treatment, supervision needs, and progress among adult males who have been convicted of committing a sexual offense. The theory and research support for the scale will also be reviewed briefly. The workshop will include using the scale with a static risk measure, such as the VASOR-2 or Static-99R. (One-day workshop. Also available as a two-day Train-the-Trainer training).

 How to Score and Use the Vermont Assessment of Sex Offender Risk-2 (VASOR-2)

This one-day workshop employs case studies to teach participants how to score and utilize the VASOR-2. The VASOR-2 is a static risk assessment tool with a 12-item Reoffense Risk Scale and a 4-item Severity Factors Checklist. The workshop will incorporate the use of the VASOR-2 alongside the Sex Offender Treatment Intervention and Progress Scale (SOTIPS), a 16-item provider-administered dynamic risk assessment instrument. (One-day workshop. Also available as a Train-the-Trainer training).