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Nominations for Gail Burns-Smith Award due by May 31, 2013
The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) and the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (ATSA) jointly sponsor the annual Gail Burns-Smith Award. This award recognizes people who have made significant contributions to preventing sexual violence through their work to facilitate effective partnerships between advocates working on behalf of victims and survivors and those working in the area of sex offender management and treatment.
Recipients include:
- 2010 - Elizabeth "Beth" Barnhill, Executive Director, Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault and National Resource Sharing Project, Des Moines, Iowa
- 2011 - Alison Hall, Executive Director, Pittsburgh Action Against Rape, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- 2012 - Lindsay Palmer, Director of Prevention, King County Sexual Assault Resource Center, Renton, Washington
To nominate a colleague for the 2013 Award or to learn more about Gail Burns-Smith visit our website Gail Burns-Smith Award and complete a nomination form prior to May 31. Thank you for supporting this important work to build effective collaborations and prevent sexual violence.
FY 2013: Basic Scientific Research to Assess Youth With Sexual Offending Behavior:
As part of a collaborative effort with and funding from the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART), the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) seeks proposals for basic scientific research in the development and validation of a risk assessment tool with both static and dynamic factors designed for use in criminal and juvenile justice systems to estimate the short-term risk that juveniles with a history of sex offenses may recommit sex offenses. The risk assessment tool can (a) be available in the field of juvenile justice currently but not validated empirically; or (b) be developed for the purposes of this solicitation. The risk assessment tool should be validated in up to four sites that are geographically and demographically diverse, should include protective factors, and should be capable of estimating short-term risk of reoffending no more than 1 to 3 years into the future for juvenile sex offenders. NIJ anticipates that one award of up to $1 million will be made to the successful applicant. This solicitation closes on June 24, 2013. View the Application
In the News: Johns Hopkins Establishes Center to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse:
The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health is establishing a new research center dedicated to the prevention of child sexual abuse. The Moore Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse will promote a public health approach to prevent child sexual abuse, which will include research, policy analysis and education. The Moore Center is believed to be the first academic research center focused on the prevention of child sexual abuse. For more information, visit: http://www.jhsph.edu/research/centers-and-institutes/moore-center-for-the-prevention-of-child-sexual-abuse/about-us/welcome-letter.html.
NIJ Issues Report Findings on Sex Offenders and GPS: http://www.nij.gov/journals/271/gps-monitoring.htm
In the News: The Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (ATSA) and the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) Issue Unifying Voices to Prevent Sexual Abuse
MARATSA is a multi-disciplinary regional organization. Through research, education, and shared learning MARATSA promotes evidence based practice, public policy and community strategies that lead to the establishment of standards for assessment, evaluation, treatment, management and supervision of individuals who have sexually abused or are at risk to abuse. The 5th Annual MARATSA conference will address issues that arise in working with adolescent and adult sexual abusers. This conference has been developed for social workers, psychologists, probation agents, mental health providers, polygraphists, victim advocates, as well as court and correctional staff members. Click here for more information.
In the News: The Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (ATSA) and the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) Issue Unifying Voices to Prevent Sexual Abuse
ATSA and NSVRC, through their work with both victims and abusers, recognize that discussions about sexual violence can be very difficult. Oftentimes, high-profile cases are the only ones that garner media coverage, but in reality sexual abuse is widespread. Sexual violence happens every day, in families, communities, workplaces and schools. Adult survivors of child sexual abuse often talk about how alone they felt and many people who have sexually abused say they count on that isolation to keep their crimes secret. In most cases, those who abuse are never arrested, because more than 80% of the cases of child sexual abuse are not reported to police. To read the full text of their joint press release on these issues, click here.
New from CSOM: Promoting Prevention: Seizing the Opportunity
Allegations of child sexual abuse involving coaches at Penn State and Syracuse Universities have permeated the news in recent months. Much of the media coverage and public discourse about these cases has focused not on a call for the proliferation of additional sex offender laws and restrictions, but rather on illuminating several basic, key facts about sex offenders and the young victims of child sexual abuse. The media coverage of these cases has provided an important opportunity to educate the public, and some of the key lessons that have emerged bear repeating. Click here for a discussion of how to seize the opportunity to discuss sexual assault prevention.
Now Available: Sex Offender Treatment Intervention and Progress Scale (SOTIPS)
The Sex Offender Treatment Intervention and Progress Scale (SOTIPS) is a statistically-derived dynamic measure designed to aid clinicians, correctional caseworkers, and probation and parole officers in assessing
risk, treatment and supervision needs, and progress among adult males who have been convicted of one or more qualifying sexual offenses and committed at least one of these sexual offenses after their 18th birthday. For more information about the SOTIPS or to access the tool, click here.
Now Available: Newsletters for FY10 CASOM Grantees
Please visit the documents section of our web site to read current and prior editions of newsletters for the SMART FY10 Comprehensive Approaches to Sex Offender Management grantees.
New Videos Available from the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center:
Focus on Prevention and Sex Offender Management
The King County Sexual Assault Resource Center (KCSARC) is a FY10 Comprehensive Approaches to Sex Offender Management grantee. With funding from OJP’s Sex Offender Monitoring, Apprehension, Registration, and Tracking (SMART) Office, KCSARC, in partnership with their longstanding sex offender management team, has produced two videos about prevention and sex offender management with the common theme of “No More Victims.”
| Watch the video about sexual assault awareness and prevention. |
Watch the video about the community and key system stakeholders working toward no more victims. |
The following new resources about the treatment of juvenile sex offenders are now available:
John A. Hunter’s Help for Adolescent Males with Sexual Behavior Problems: A Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment Program (Workbook and Therapist Guide) details a holistic three-phase program created specifically for juvenile male sexual offenders. Based on the principles of cognitive-behavioral therapy to address criminal behavior, social skill development, impulse control, healthy sexuality, anger management, empathy, and relapse prevention, the Workbook and corresponding Therapist Guide are proven-effective, essential resources for those undergoing treatment and everyone working with this unique group of clients.
Eileen P. Ryan, John A. Hunter, and Daniel C. Murrie’s Juvenile Sex Offenders: A Guide to Evaluation and Treatment for Mental Health Professionals provides a thorough, empirically based approach to evaluating and treating youth who have committed sexual offenses or engaged in sexually abusive behavior. The authors discuss how juvenile offenders differ from adults, the common dilemmas facing evaluators, risk factors and assessment, changing perceptions and trends in youth crime, and treatment modalities, all while emphasizing practicality and utility.
Visit www.oup.com/us and enter promo code (30501) to receive 20% off on Help for Adolescent Males with Sexual Behavior Problems: A Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment Program, Therapist Guide and Workbook by John A. Hunter and Juvenile Sex Offenders: A Guide to Evaluation and Treatment for Mental Health Professionals by Eileen P. Ryan, Daniel C. Murrie, John A. Hunter
Answers to questions about recent child sexual abuse cases: The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) and the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (ATSA) have collaborated to provide answers to commonly asked questions that have surfaced as a result of recent high profile child sexual assault cases. For more information, click here
Information: Choosing a school or program is one of the most complicated and emotional decisions you have to make as a parent. The specific activities, the schedule, the costs, how it matches your child’s needs and interest-- all these things play a part in your decision. Whether or not the school has a child sexual abuse prevention policy needs to be a consideration. Click here for more information.
Information: If you are struggling with questions about child sexual abuse, we can help. The Stop It Now! Online Help Center gives you the specialized information, guidance and support you need to take action. Click here for help or call 1-888-PREVENT.