| (a) Licensees shall subscribe and adhere to the following
tenets regarding juveniles with sexual behavior problems:
(1) licensees shall recognize that some children before
age 10 begin displaying sexually inappropriate behavior with others
and children may duplicate sexual behavior they have witnessed on
the part of other children, older siblings, and/or adults;
(2) licensees shall recognize that juveniles are distinct
from their adult counterparts;
(3) licensees shall recognize that sexual arousal patterns
of juveniles appear more fluid and less firmly established than those
of adult sex offenders and relate less directly to their patterns
of offending behavior;
(4) licensees shall recognize that juveniles who display
sexually abusive behavior are heterogeneous; juveniles are children
first with developmental needs, but also have special needs and present
special risks related to their abusive behaviors; and
(5) licensees shall recognize a holistic approach when
treating juveniles with sexual problems.
(b) Assessment Standards for Juveniles Who Commit Sexual
Offenses.
(1) Licensees shall adhere to §810.63 of this
title (relating to General Assessment Standards for Adult Sex Offenders
and Juveniles Who Commit Sexual Offenses).
(2) Comprehensive assessments shall provide a comprehensive
treatment plan and recommendations regarding the intensity of intervention,
specific treatment protocol needed, amenability to treatment, and
the identified community risk.
(3) A comprehensive assessment shall be completed within
60 days of a client's being accepted into a treatment program. The
assessment shall include:
(A) mental status examination;
(B) clinical interview and social/developmental history;
(C) personality assessment;
(D) risk for re-offense assessment;
(E) recommendations for case management, treatment
planning, and further assessments.
(4) If phallometric assessment or aversive treatment
techniques are utilized with persons 17 years of age or younger, informed
consent for such assessment and treatment shall be obtained from the
juvenile who commits sexual offenses and written consent for such
assessment and treatment shall be obtained from the juvenile's parents
or legal guardians. The procedures shall be reviewed and approved
by multi-disciplinary professionals or institutional advisory group.
Stimuli shall be specific for use with adolescents.
(5) A signed informed consent of disclosure of information
shall be obtained from the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) in order
to exchange information. Assent from the individual being evaluated
shall be obtained whenever possible.
(c) Collateral Information. The treatment provider
shall make a reasonable effort to obtain relevant collateral information.
(d) Polygraphs. The licensed sex offender treatment
provider is primarily responsible for preparing the juvenile for any
polygraph.
(e) Assessment Recommendations. The following issues
shall be addressed when formulating recommendations:
(1) the strengths, risks, needs, and the degree to
which a juvenile is capable and willing to manage risk; and
(2) co-morbidity, placement, education/vocational needs,
parent or guardian and family issues, substance abuse issues, and
supervision.
(f) Treatment Standards for Juveniles Who Commit Sexual
Offenses.
(1) Treatment shall incorporate both cognitive/behavioral
and reoffense prevention plans to reduce recidivism. A multifaceted
program shall be age and developmentally appropriate and shall include
but is not limited to the following:
(A) group cognitive behavioral treatment;
(B) individual therapy, family therapy, drug intervention,
or other therapies to address and treat individual risk factors and
problems specific to the juvenile;
(C) chaperon training for parents/guardians;
(D) family reintegration therapy; and
(E) polygraphs (Family Code, §54.0405 Juvenile
Probation).
(2) the treatment program for juveniles shall include
a comprehensive individualized assessment as cited in subsection (b)(1)
- (5) of this section, progressive levels of treatment, reoffense
prevention plans, and for youth in residential treatment, transition
into the community, and aftercare;
(3) treating juveniles shall be part of a multidisciplinary
collaborative approach that includes but is not limited to the juvenile,
the juvenile's family/guardians, treatment provider, juvenile probation
officer, custodian, school officials, law enforcement, juvenile detention
officers, institutional staff, mental health case workers, polygraph
examiners, child protective services, victim advocates, and the victim's
therapist;
(4) licensees shall focus on the juvenile's existing
strengths and positive support system to promote pro-social behaviors
and facilitate change;
(5) licensees shall utilize developmentally appropriate
treatment strategies for juveniles with intellectual and cognitive
impairments;
(6) the primary goals of treatment shall be to assist
juveniles in gaining control over their sexual behavior problems,
enhancing the juveniles overall functioning, increasing their pro-social
interactions, preventing further victimization, halting development
of additional psychosexual problems, and developing age-appropriate
relationships;
(7) if treatment groups are utilized for non-developmentally
delayed juveniles with sexual behavior problems, groups shall not
be less than 60 minutes in length with no more than 12 clients per
group;
(8) a written initial individualized treatment plan
shall identify the issues, intervention strategies, and goals of treatment
and shall be prepared for each client within 60 days of beginning
treatment. Treatment plans should be updated every 6 months;
(9) progress, or lack of progress needs to be based
on clearly specified objective criteria, refusal or failure to attend
or participate in treatment, failing to abide by the client's treatment
plans and/or contracts, or any disclosures regarding violations of
supervision shall be clearly documented in treatment records. This
information shall be provided and communicated to the appropriate
supervising officer in the justice system according to the referring
agency's policy or pursuant to the court order;
(10) monthly treatment progress reports shall be distributed
to the supervision officer, referring agency, and/or the court. Discharge
reports shall be issued according to the referring agency policy or
pursuant to the court order;
(11) when a juvenile has attained the goals outlined
in the juvenile's individualized treatment plan, there should be a
gradual and commensurate adjustment of interventions;
(12) some degree of denial shall not preclude a client
from entering treatment, although the degree of denial shall be a
factor in identifying the most appropriate form and location of treatment;
(13) modifications in treatment and in expectations
for treatment outcomes may be required in instances of persistent
denial;
(14) clients who remain in significant denial and/or
are extremely resistant to treatment after the finite period of extension
determined by the treatment provider and supervision team should be
reassessed for appropriate placement in alternative treatment and/or
interventions;
(15) licensees shall communicate and exchange information
with the Department of Family Protective Services-Child Protective
Services, Child Care Licensing, and with appropriate agencies regarding
the safety of a child or children in the primary residence in which
a juvenile resides;
(16) the safety of children/victims takes precedence
and the highest priority shall be given to the rights, well-being,
and safety of children when making decisions about contact between
the juvenile and children. If the juvenile has a history of sexual
arousal to reported fantasies of sexual contact with children of a
particular age/gender group, supervised visits may be considered if:
(A) it is compliant with the court mandated conditions;
(B) it is determined that sufficient safeguards exist
including but not limited to safety plans approved by the treatment
provider and supervision officer;
(C) the juvenile has demonstrated control over sexual
impulses and destructive behaviors;
(D) it does not impede the juvenile's progress in treatment;
(E) the parent(s), guardian(s), or custodian(s) have
demonstrated the ability and willingness to supervise the juvenile
effectively and ensure the safety of other children in the home; and
Cont'd... |
