1	What to Look for in a Treatment Provider: Learning Objectives Identify basic qualifications of sex offender-specific treatment providers Describe desirable traits of sex offender-specific treatment providers Explain the importance of attitudes and practices supportive of multidisciplinary collaboration Identify referral sources to locate sex offender-specific treatment providers
2	Lack of Standardization Lack of standardized certification or other credentialing in most jurisdictions presents a major difficulty in promoting common standards of practice
3	What to Look For in the Absence of Defined Standards Degrees—necessary, but not sufficient Continuing and specialized education Experience with involuntary and offender clients Membership in Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers and other professional associations
4	ATSA Suggests Specialized Training Assessment Psychometric and psychophysiological testing Psychopathology Risk assessment Counseling and psychotherapy Cognitive therapy Couples and family therapy
5	ATSA Suggests Specialized Training (cont.) Family reunification Pharmacological therapy Relationship and social skills training Relapse prevention Sexual arousal control Social support networks Victim awareness and empathy
6	Other ATSA Requirements for Treatment Providers Participation in a minimum of 15 hours of continuing education annually Must be informed about mandatory reporting requirements related to their work
7	Ethical Treatment Practice Obtaining informed consent of the individuals being evaluated and treated Maintaining appropriate confidentiality and informing the offenders in their care of the limits of confidentiality Providing for the reasonable security of others and themselves
8	Ethical Treatment Practice (cont.) Taking steps to provide continuity of care for offenders with whom providers work Maintaining appropriate boundaries Obtaining information for evaluation purposes in a variety of areas and from several independent sources
9	Sex Offender Treatment Providers as Collaborative Partners Probation and parole Victim advocates Polygraph examiners Other assessors, evaluators, and treatment providers Attorneys, prosecutors, and other criminal justice representatives
10	Locating Sex Offender–Specific Treatment Providers Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers 4900 S.W. Griffith Drive, Suite 274 Beaverton, OR 97005 (503) 643-1023 Email: atsa@atsa.com Web site: www.atsa.com Safer Society Foundation P.O. Box 340 Brandon, VT 05733-0340 (802) 247-3132 Web site: www.safersociety.org
11	Training Summary The primary goal of sex offender-specific treatment is the protection of the community Recent treatment outcome studies indicate that treatment works The four domains of treatment are: sexual interests, distorted attitudes, interpersonal functioning, and behavior management The most widely accepted form of treatment is cognitive-behavioral therapy with relapse prevention Treatment providers must work in close collaboration with others who manage sex offenders