STA SAFE (Systemic Treatment After Sexual Abuse for Families)

The goals of STA SAFE are to heal the pain caused by sexual abuse and to prevent further abuse. The Family is a victim of sexual abuse. Sexual abuse affects every member of the family in which the abuse occurs. All family members deserve to have their pain recognized and to receive help with healing. Healing and prevention demand that each person in a family deal with their victimization, offense, or role; be aware of the offense or victimization, be supportive of each other in the healing process; and work together to prevent abuse in the future.

The STA SAFE team is committed to a program of systemic treatment and prevention which addresses the issues of the family as a unit and of its individual members. Our experience, supported by research, confirms that treatment which involves family members is more effective than treatment which targets only the victim or only the offender. STA SAFE provides a unique program of coordinated treatment services for all family members, including partners and parents of sexual offenders and siblings of sexual abuse victims, in addition to victims and offenders. Offender treatment is committed to community safety and community oversight. All treatment is grounded in the conviction that the sexual offender alone is responsible for his sexually offending behavior.

• Assessment
  Referrals may be made for an assessment only, or for assessment leading to STA SAFE services. Within five working days of a referral, an appointment for a comprehensive assessment to determine family unit and individual treatment needs will be scheduled. A safety plan will be developed with all families at the screening interview. A written assessment, including treatment recommendations, will normally be completed within two weeks of the screening.
  
  
• Case Coordination and Case Management
  STA SAFE will conduct regularly scheduled reviews of all families served, and maintain contact with service providers outside Exchange/SCAN, to maximize the achievement of individual and family treatment goals. Other case management functions include, as appropriate, communicating with parole officers and court counselors, drug testing, and court testimony.

Abuse Reactive Child Treatment
Assessment for inappropriate sexual behavior of males and females up to 18 years of age. Two weekly 90-minute treatment groups for males: ages 6-12 and ages 13-17, plus case management. One weekly 90-minute group for girls ages 6-12, plus case management.

Sexual Offender Treatment Program (SOTP)
Weekly, 90 minute, intensive group therapy and case management for male sexual offenders, following assessment, legal investigation or action, or as a step-down program following incarceration.

Parent/Partner Treatment Group
Every-other-week 90-minute therapy and psycho-education sessions for spouses/partners of adult sexual offenders, and parents/caretakers of children with sexual behavior problems.

Women's Incest Network Group (WING)
Weekly 90-minute therapy sessions for adult women survivors of child sexual abuse.

Couples Counseling
For offenders and their non-offending spouses/partners as needed to facilitate work toward family unit and individual family member treatment goals.

Family Counseling
For various combinations of family members throughout treatment as needed to facilitate family unit and individual family member treatment goals, especially at transition points, and in preparation for family reunification.

The Butterfly Garden
A weekly, sixty minute creative, therapeutic group for adolescent girls growing beyond sexual abuse.