Evidence-Informed Practices for Addressing Juvenile Sexual Offenses
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Staying informed about the latest research and practice innovations is essential for practitioners working with juveniles who have sexually offended. This training is designed to equip professionals with the knowledge and resources necessary to understand, assess, and treat adolescents who have sexually abused. By delving into emerging research findings and best practices, this training addresses the complexities faced by practitioners striving to implement the most effective policies and programs.
The training offers practical tools and focuses on key areas, including:
- Recidivism Insights: Discussion on the significance of sexual and overall recidivism rates among adolescents
- Adolescent Brain Development: Examination of research on brain development and psychosocial maturity’s role in sexual aggression, noting adolescence as a high-risk period for crimes, substance use, accidents, and other problematic behaviors.
- Causal Factors: Analysis of modifiable risk factors in juvenile sexual abuse, such as the effects of prior adverse experiences, psychiatric conditions, and learning challenges.
- Collaborative Models: Strategies for collaboration between the youth, family, probation officer, and treatment provider.
- Assessment Tools: Identification of risk factors that can and can’t be modified.
- Effective Treatment Programs: Emphasis on principles and components of effective treatment models, focusing on program quality and fidelity issues, not necessarily specific “name-brand” programs.
- Scalable Treatment Programming: Description of treatment programming that can be readily implemented at scale and in a “therapist-friendly” fashion.
- Outcome Tracking Models: Presentation of practical models currently used to track program outcomes, providing useful tools for practitioners, programs, and other stakeholders.
By participating in this training, practitioners can significantly enhance their ability to make a positive impact on the lives of juveniles, contributing to a more effective and compassionate juvenile justice system.
1) Identify the distinctions between sexual and nonsexual recidivism to enhance intervention strategies.
2) Discover how adolescent brain development impacts harmful behaviors and informs prevention efforts.
3) Identify two assessment tools specific to adolescents who have sexually abused.
4) Analyze two treatment approaches designed to support the rehabilitation of adolescents who have sexually abused.
Audience
This training is for professionals—including social workers, psychologists, counselors, probation officers, case managers, and other mental health professionals—who work with adolescents in the juvenile justice system for sexual offenses.
Content Level
Disclosure
Continuing Education Approval
American Psychological Association (APA)
Safer Society Foundation, Inc. is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Safer Society Foundation, Inc. maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Who's Presenting
Norbert Ralph, PhD, MPH
Dr. Ralph is a clinical psychologist, psychiatric epidemiologist, and neuropsychologist. He previously served as Director of Behavioral Pediatrics at UC Davis, where he provided neuropsychological assessment and treatment for youth with ADHD. He also served as a volunteer Associate Clinical Professor in Family Practice at UC Davis and was formerly a faculty member at the University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health.
For 15 years, Dr. Ralph served as Alienist Panel Coordinator for the City and County of San Francisco. In that role, he coordinated psychological testing for the juvenile court. Upon leaving that position, he received the Public Health Hero Award from San Francisco in recognition of his years of service, advocacy for youth, direct clinical service at Juvenile Hall during the pandemic, innovation and use of evidence-based methods, and technological innovations.
Dr. Ralph is the author of more than 50 articles, book chapters, books, and blogs. He is also a 2026 faculty member for the Judicial Council of California, and a member of the HUB youth advisory group based in South Africa. He is a Fellow of the Association for the Treatment and Prevention of Sexual Abuse (ATSA). He serves as Co-Chair of the ATSA Juvenile Committee and as the Adolescent Representative on the California Sex Offender Management Board, where he contributed to the 2022 Youth Guidelines.
Mikaela Vidmar, MSc, Reg Psych (Canada), MA, Psy Assoc (California)
Mikaela Vidmar has been a registered clinical and forensic psychologist in Canada for the past twenty years where she has specialized in comprehensive psychological risk assessment and treatment of sexual and violent offenders. She has worked with multiple populations including inpatient, outpatient, and incarcerated. Her areas of expertise and interest include psychopathy, pedophilic arousal disorders, personality disorders, internet-facilitated offending, the impact of sexual abuse on victims, and rare paraphilic disorders. She contributed to the development of a treatment program and manual for people who have engaged in illegal sexual behaviors which won multiple honors including the National Award of Excellence in Mental Health. Ms. Vidmar has been recognized as an expert witness in Provincial and Supreme courts (of Canada) in addition to Family and Juvenile courts. She has additionally provided consultation to lawyers, judges, Family and Children Services Aid, the RCMP and provincial police, foster parents, probation and parole officers, staff at women’s shelters and rehabilitative programs, and numerous other professionals and stakeholders. She has been an instructor at Mount Saint Mary’s University since 2017, and with The Chicago School of Professional Psychology since 2021, in addition to maintaining clinical practice in the Southern California area.