Dr. Charles Helm: Cultural Response to Treatment
September 30, 2020
Minnesota ATSA
https://mnatsa.org/

Managing Problematic Sexual Interests
Presented by Robert J. McGrath, M.A.
Friday October 2, 2020
8:30 – 4:30 pm PDT
Oregon ATSA
https://www.oratsa.com/managing-problematic-sexual-interests-by-robert-j-mcgrath-m-a/

Improving Therapeutic Outcomes by Attending to the Relationship
Presented by David Prescott, LCSW, LISW
October 9, 2020
1:30 – 3:30 pm Eastern Time
Mid-Atlantic Region ATSA
http://www.maratsa.org/david-prescott-workshop-flier

ATSA 39th Annual Treatment & Research Conference
October 21 – 23, 2020
https://www.atsafromhome.com/

Strengths-Based Concepts and Interventions for Sex Offense-Specific Services
Presented by Dr. Kevin Powell
November 13, 2020
8:30 am – 3:30 pm
https://miatsa.org/events/2020-conference/

SAVE THE DATE!
ILATSA Spring Conference
March 18 – 19, 2021
11-12 CEU’s available!
More details pending. Check our website for continued updates.
http://www.ilatsa.org/

Each year, the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers produces the top conference in the world for researchers, clinicians, corrections officials, and others who work to prevent sexual violence. This October 21-23, for the first time ever, ATSA is offering its annual conference online. This means you can attend without the need to travel.

This year’s online event offers more than 40 educational sessions (all with CEUs at no additional cost), 30 poster sessions, several chat rooms, and other opportunities to learn from and interact with experts in the field of sexual abuse prevention. You will be able to hear about the latest research and best practices, and take that knowledge with you.

The 2020 conference theme – Blending Voices. Strengthening Lives. – is particularly meaningful at a time when so many people feel isolated and vulnerable due to the ongoing pandemic. ATSA’s hope is that, as we join together from our many individual locations, we can share ideas, blend our voices, and help strengthen the positive aspects of the lives of at-risk individuals and the communities in which they live.

I have had the pleasure of attending several of ATSA’s annual conferences, and look forward to this one. I hope you will take a few minutes to learn more about ATSA’s 39^th Annual Research and Treatment Conference at www.atsafromhome.com and consider attending.

The 2019 Idaho ATSA Conference is less than 10 days away! 

We encourage everyone who has not already registered to do so today. Please visit www.IdahoATSA.com and click on the Events tab to register online.   

We are excited to have attracted great presenters who will speak on a variety of topics. Our conference calendar can be viewed at the following Link. Links within the document will take you to materials and/or synopses provided by the speakers themselves.

Finally, we spoke with the management team at Courtyard by Marriott and arranged special room pricing for any members traveling from out-of-town. These rooms must be booked by 07/31/2019. Please call (208) 888-0800 to secure the discounted rate.  

Idaho ATSA Conference Planning Committee

Our Wednesday Adult tract speaker will be author and presenter, Elizabeth Griffin, MA, LMFT. 

Ms. Griffin will be presenting current research regarding the treatment and management of sexual offenders through multiple models. We have included her synopsis via link and copied below.

The conference planning committee will continue to provide live updates to our schedule via our Conference Calendar (click link to see). 

Register today on our website at IdahoATSA.com. Or if your organization needs a group invoice you may contact us at Idaho.ATSA.Conference@gmail.com. 

We hope to see you all there! 

Elizabeth Griffin, MA, LMFT  

The Art and Science of Sex Offender Treatment

Abstract: Treating and managing individuals who commit sexual offensesis both rewarding and challenging. In order to successfully intervene on sexual offending, it is crucial to remain informed of the current research. Too often there is a gap between the those who treat or manage sex offender and researchers in the field. Treatment providers and probation officers often do not have the time to keep abreast of the research and many researchers are disconnected from the front lines of human change. 

This workshop will provide an overview of the research regarding sex offender treatment.  Foundational concepts such as the RNR model, stages of change, cognitive behavioral therapy, relapse prevention, the Good Lives model and motivational interviewing will be discussed.  Additionally the treatment of individuals who commit online sexual offenses will be highlighted. 

Participants will leave the workshop with a toolbox full of new, practical, and innovative ideas that are reflective of current research.  Additionally, the workshop will provide examples of how various treatment interventions can be adapted and used by probation. 

Objective/Goals: 

• Participants will be able to identify the dynamic risk factors associated with sexual offending recidivism.
• Participants will be able to identify two areas of psychology research that are relevant to developing effective treatment and management strategies for sexual offenders.
• Participants will be able to identify and implement various responsivity (RNR principle) elements into their sex offender treatment and management plans.

References

Laws, D. R., & Ward, T. (2006). When one size doesn’t fit all: The reformulation of relapse prevention. In W.L. Marshall, Y.M. Fernandez, L.E. Marshall, & G.A. Serran (Eds.), Sexual offender treatment: Controversial issues (pp. 241-254). New Jersey, NY: John Wiley & Sons.

Marshall, W.L., Marshall, L.E., Serran, G.A. & O’Brien, M.D. (2011). Rehabilitating sexual offenders: A strength-based approach. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 

Prochaska, J.O. (1999). How do people change, and how can we change to help many more people? In M.A. Hubble, B.L. Duncan, & S.D. Miller (Eds.), The heart and soul of change: What works in therapy (pp. 227-255). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Ward, T. (2002). Good lives and the rehabilitation of sex offenders. In T. Ward and S. Hudson (Eds.), Sexual deviance: Issues and controversies. Sage Publications.

Ward, T. & Beech, A.R. (2004). The etiology of risk: A preliminary model. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 16, 271-284.

Bio: Elizabeth Griffin, MA is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over thirty-three years of experience treating individuals with sexually problematic behaviors, including sexual offense behavior.  She has worked in out-patient, in-patient, military, prison and civil commitment settings. Ms. Griffin is certified in the Penile Plethysmograph, the Abel Assessment for Sexual Interest, the Affinity assessment of sexual interest and the LOOK.  Ms. Griffin lectures nationally on the assessment and treatment of offline and online sexual offenders as well as those with sexually compulsive behavior. She has written numerous professional articles on these topics, and is co-author of several books and workbooks.

Our Wednesday Juvenile tract speaker will be author and presenter, Dr. Phil Rich. 

Dr. Rich will be speaking on best practices in treatment and assessment of adolescents who have engaged in sexually abusive behaviors. We have included his synopsis via link and copied below.

The conference planning committee will continue to provide live updates to our schedule via our Conference Calendar (click link to see). 

Register today on our website at IdahoATSA.com. Or if your organization needs a group invoice you may contact us at Idaho.ATSA.Conference@gmail.com. 

Hope to see you all there! 

Dr. Phil Rich

The Contemporary Model of Treatment For Sexually Abusive Youth:

An Overview of a Best Practices Model  

This full-day presentation will provide an overview of contemporary assessment and treatment for children with sexual behavior problems and adolescents who have engaged in sexually abusive behavior. This model is substantially different in many respects than the assessment and treatment models that first guided treatment, and is most recently reflected in ATSA’s 2017 adolescent practice guidelines.

Treatment has become far more nuanced than was formerly the case, recognizing the complexity and wholeness of our clients and their behavior, and the factors, many of which lie in the social environment rather than “within” the child or adolescent, that contribute to, trigger, and maintain or reinforce behavioral problems, including sexually abusive behavior. Treatment is far more attuned to the relational and collaborative aspects of the treatment process, and as a whole treatment focuses as much, or more, on factors related to social competence and social connection and broad behavioral characteristics than on the sexually abusive behavior alone, through a is trauma- and attachment-informed lens.

With respect to assessment, we see similar change over time, toward a holistic assessment in which the young person’s behavior, including sexually abusive behavior, is recognized existing within a large socio-ecological environment and cannot be fully understand without this larger focus. An estimated level of risk for future sexually abusive behavior is less meaningful and useful than an understanding of why the young person may be at continued risk, under what circumstances, and driven by what factors, as well as recognizing strengths and protective factors in each case. The key role of social competence, including self-regulation and healthy sexuality and behavior, will be discussed, as well as elements of treatment that aim at the development of social competence. The presentation will address and seek participant input, and specific opportunities will be provided for participant questions and comments. 

Objectives:

At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will …

1. Recognize the role of the therapeutic treatment relationship in the treatment of sexually abusive behaviors

2. Be able to describe changes in the contemporary model of assessment for juvenile sexual recidivism

3. Recognize the importance of treatment for a broad range of treatment issues, including an significant emphasis on social skill development and the development of social competence. 

Phil Rich Outline - The contemporary model of treatment for sexually abusive youth.docx

One of our adult tract speakers provided a synopsis of the topics he will be covering on Thursday, Aug 8th. It appears to cover a wide variety of training topics and inform each of our specialty areas. 

The conference planning committee will continue to provide live updates via our Conference Calendar (click link to see). You can register via our website at IdahoATSA.com. If your organization needs a group invoice you may contact us at Idaho.ATSA.Conference@gmail.com. 

Hope to see you all there! 

 

Robert McGrath

Idaho ATSA Sessions for August 8, 2019

Biography.  Robert McGrath is President of McGrath Psychological Services, a training and consulting practice, and was Clinical Director of the Vermont Department of Corrections integrated network of prison and community sex offender treatment programs for over 20 years. He has served on the treatment advisory boards of several treatment programs In the United States and the national sex offender treatment programs in Canada, the United Kingdom, and Hong Kong. He was co-chair of the committee that wrote ATSA’s 2014 Practice Guidelines for the Assessment, Treatment, and Management of Male Adult Sexual Abusers, and he received ATSA’s Significant Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015. Among his over 50 publications, he is co-developer of the ROSAC, VASOR-2, and SOTIPS risk assessment instruments.

Morning:

What Makes an Effective Program? 

This session 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 most recent studies on the effectiveness of treatment and the characteristics of effective programs. The focus will be on how treatment providers and supervision staff can use these findings in their day-to-day work. 

Managing Problematic Sexual Urges and Fantasies

Sexual offense related interests, urges, and fantasies are linked to an increased risk of sexual reoffending among individuals convicted of sexual crimes. These problems are therefore important treatment targets in sex offender rehabilitation programs. This session will review strategies for helping individuals use environmental, cognitive, behavioral, and pharmacological interventions to better manage problematic sexual urges and fantasies. 

Afternoon:

Conducting Child Contact Assessments Using the ROSAC 

Mental health, probation and parole, corrections, and child protective services professionals are commonly asked to assess the risk a sexual abuser poses to a particular child and under what circumstances, if any, the abuser might safely be allowed contact with the child. The Risk of Sexual Abuse of Children (ROSAC) uses a Structured Professional Judgment model for conducting these types of risk of sexual harm assessments. The ROSAC is composed of 30 items that are grouped into three categories; factors concerning the abuser, child at potential risk, and primary caregiver. This half-day session will review the theory and research basis for the ROSAC and focus on using case studies to assist participants in understanding how the instrument is used for making risk determinations and developing safety plans.

The Idaho Chapter of the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers is proud to announce that registration for the 2019 IATSA Conference is now available at www.IdahoATSA.com. 

The conference is scheduled for August 7-9th, 2019 at the Courtyard by Marriott, located at 1789 S. Eagle Rd, Meridian, ID. There will be an adult track and juvenile track. Ethics CEUs will be available as well. We are working hard to make this conference an event that everyone will enjoy and remember.

There are several important issues and dates that we would like to bring to your attention:

• Registration: Registration for the conference is available on our website (www.idahoatsa.com).  The registration fee is $265 per attendee for non-members and a discounted rate of  $240 per attendee for Idaho ATSA Professional Members. In order to qualify for the Idaho ATSA Professional Member rate, you will need to become a member of Idaho ATSA on the website by clicking on the Join Us (red box) and signing up with the Professional Member option. The fee paid is dues for the year and will qualify you for voting rights in the Idaho ATSA chapter.

• Hotel Information: Courtyard by Marriott at 1789 S. Eagle Rd, Meridian, ID.  We have a block of rooms reserved at a conference rate. You must call the hotel at 208-888-0800 and mention that you are attending the IATSA conference in order to receive the conference rate.

• Conference Speakers: We have located multiple speakers for this year's conference and are working to solidify commitments. Attached is a PDF of our current speaker schedule, but you may also follow this LINK to check for updates.  

Calendar_Speakers_-_2019 Conference.pdf

IATSA members and friends,

Thank you for making the IATSA 2018 Conference a huge success.  We received a lot of feedback from you, with many of you indicating how much you enjoyed this year’s conference.  We can only say thank you to you the treatment providers, probation/parole officers, support staff, security staff, attorneys, polygraphers, and the SOMB for making our annual conference possible; without you and the support you extend, we would just be a half dozen individuals trying to figure it out.

Our key speaker from last year, Robin Wilson, was so impressed with the turnout we had compared to what the annual conference in Florida offers.  He mentioned the annual Florida conference has about half as many attendees as we did. When comparing the population of each state, it’s truly amazing and a testament to the dedication of the professionals here in Idaho.  

Save the date!!!  We have already secured the date for the IATSA Conference 2019. Once again it will be located at the Courtyard by Marriott in Meridian, Idaho on August 7th - 9th.

As a matter of planning for this year’s conference we are asking for your help.  It is only through financial fidelity that we can continue to attract nationally recognized speakers on the subjects you want to learn more about.  We are already in the process of securing speakers for the 2019 conference. In order to accomplish this, we encourage you visit WWW.IDAHOATSA.COM and join our membership.  If you enjoy being involved in the direction and development of IATSA, we invite you to become a paid Professional Member of IATSA with full voting rights and other benefits.  The annual dues allow IATSA to expand it’s value as an organization.

The IATSA Conference Committee would also like to hear from you concerning any ideas for future speakers and/or topics you would like to hear about at the annual conference.  Please submit ideas via email at Idaho.ATSA.Conference@gmail.com.  We appreciated the all the feedback received concerning last year’s conference.  What are some things you feel we could do to make coming years even better?

It’s also not too late to volunteer to be a part of your IATSA Committee.  We are actively seeking individuals with technical experience or a passion for managing our webpage, Facebook page, and promotional efforts.  We are also looking for individuals who enjoy coordinating regional gatherings to be a part of the committee for future training initiatives.

Thank you for all that you do in helping to keep Idaho safe and assist those who have committed sex offenses learn how to make better choices.  

We look forward to seeing you in August!!

2018 IATSA Board & Conference Committee

WORKING TOGETHER: TREATMENT, SUPERVISION, POLYGRAPH WORKSHOP in TWIN FALLS, ID

This class will cover all three disciplines of best practices. The goal of the class is to better understand what each of the three essential parts of treatment, supervision and polygraph do. Our hope is that by understanding what each discipline does, and why they do it, we can be more uniform in our approach to dealing with offenders in Idaho. We can all learn something that will make the others job easier and more efficient. The ultimate goal of this training is to reduce and eliminate the number of offenders who may slip through the cracks and re-offend.

WORKSHOP FLIER

REGISTRATION FORM