Continuing Education Center

In the field of violence prevention, effective written communication is essential for driving meaningful change. Presenters David S. Prescott, LICSW, Kelly Socia, PhD, and Jill Levenson, PhD, LCSW, designed this training to provide professionals from diverse backgrounds with the skills necessary for articulating their ideas clearly and impactfully and the strategies necessary for publishing their work.

The training offers an exploration of professional writing techniques, addressing key challenges faced by aspiring authors and content creators. Participants discover innovative techniques for integrating writing into their demanding schedules, along with practical methods for creating high quality written work and identifying potential collaborators who can enhance the work. The presenters help participants develop their expertise in niche areas and position themselves as authorities on specific topics.

The Cornerstone Program in rural upstate New York is navigating significant challenges, including limited resources and a 41% staffing vacancy rate as of January 2024. Despite these hurdles, it continues to expand services and maintain low recidivism rates among participants. This training, led by the Senior Director and Director of Clinical Services of the Cornerstone Program, explores how the program survives under such constraints.

The presenters, Sarah Louer and Ashley Wilfore, outline how the DPSs use the ARMIDILO-S assessment tool to guide decision-making and least-restrictive supervision while working within a staffing crisis. The presenters share how human rights remain at the forefront of the Cornerstone Program’s decisions and how administrators and Clinicians prevent the program from becoming overly restrictive with technology or staff.

Additionally, the presenters discuss innovative housing projects developed throughout the staffing crisis, designed to deliver specialized services for people dually diagnosed while minimizing staffing requirements.

It is imperative for treatment programs across the globe to share successful strategies that implement evidence-based approaches under resource constraints, especially in the context of this long-term staffing crisis.

Sexual behaviors and abuse between siblings can have profound, life-altering consequences. During the training, the presenters describe research findings that can guide professional understanding of those who cause harm and are harmed by these behaviors. They review the long-term impacts of sibling sexual abuse, which can manifest in various forms of psychological distress and maladaptive behaviors well into adulthood.

A key focus of this training is how the family context plays a role in abuse. The presenters emphasize the importance of adopting a developmental perspective when assessing and treating affected children. To aid professionals in this task, they introduce an innovative mapping tool that ensures attention to all relevant domains of the family context, thereby helping to prevent further harm.

Understanding and addressing sexual risk among adolescents who have engaged in sexually abusive behavior is important for ensuring effective interventions and treatment planning. Phil Rich developed this training to provide professionals with advanced insights into contemporary sexual risk assessment methodologies.

Forensic compassion focused therapy (FCFT) is a therapeutic approach that applies the principles of compassion focused therapy specifically to individuals within the criminal justice system. FCFT aims to address their behavioral and mental health issues by cultivating their compassion for others and themselves. This approach can help clients to understand, accept, and manage their sexual interest in children. It addresses shame and guilt and assists clients in developing self-regulation skills.

Jon Taylor, a consultant forensic psychologist and psychotherapist with nearly three decades of experience in various forensic settings, developed this training to offer a framework for addressing harmful sexual interests.

In this training, Certified Trainer Katie Gotch provides a thorough overview of the Static-99R, including its development, scoring system, and application in various settings. Participants learn how to score each of the ten items, with scores ranging from -3 to 12, and understand how these scores categorize individuals into five distinct risk levels: very low, below average, average, above average, and well above average risk.

The training also covers the predictive validity of the Static-99R and its appropriate use in forensic settings. Case studies are utilized to enhance understanding and facilitate skill development throughout the training.

In this training, Certified Trainer Katie Gotch provides a thorough overview of the Static-99R, including its development, scoring system, and application in various settings. Participants learn how to score each of the ten items, with scores ranging from -3 to 12, and understand how these scores categorize individuals into five distinct risk levels: very low, below average, average, above average, and well above average risk.

The training also covers the predictive validity of the Static-99R and its appropriate use in forensic settings. Case studies are utilized to enhance understanding and facilitate skill development throughout the training.