Jacqueline Page
Application of RNR principles with adolescents
Workshop Abstract
Our approach to working with adolescents who have engaged in harmful sexual behavior has changed considerably. Early on, professionals often relied on methods used for adult offenders due to little research focused on youth.
Today, thanks to significant advancements in adolescent studies, our practices are much better informed. ATSA’s 2017 Adolescent Practice Guidelines emphasize effective management, treatment and intervention grounded in current research.
These guidelines highlight evidence-based practices and utilize the risk-need-responsivity (RNR) principles as their empirical foundation; those principles are the focus of this session. We’ll explore how the RNR principles can be implemented and challenges that may hinder this.
The risk principle guides the intensity of services and appropriate levels of supervision. Accordingly, we'll discuss how risk is assessed and determined for adolescents. We'll also examine how gaps in available services and placements can obstruct adherence to the risk principle and present potential strategies to overcome these issues.
The need principle identifies risk factors to be addressed to reduce the likelihood of reoffending. Discussion will cover what we know, and don’t know, about factors related to sexual reoffending, the role of delinquency risk factors, and ways to tackle both risk and individualized concerns that may not relate directly to reoffending recognizing that balancing attention to risk factors with individualized needs can be challenging, Treatment focus areas will be discussed, including examples of approaches and interventions.
The responsivity principle involves using effective methods such as cognitive behavioral therapy, skills development, family involvement and ensuring interventions account for factors influencing a youth’s response to treatment. We'll examine key elements of responsivity, including identifying common responsivity factors alongside a framework to help professionals adapt approaches as needed. Finally, assessing progress will be emphasized as it supports both risk and need principles, with discussion on useful tools for tracking needs and progress.
About the Speaker
Jacqueline Page, Psy.D. is a Professor at University of Tennessee Health Science Center- Psychiatry. She has 35+ years experience working with children with sexual behavior problems and adolescents who have engaged in sexually abusive behavior.
A specific area of focus and interest is sibling sexual abuse. Dr. Page served on the ATSA for two terms, co-chaired ATSA’s initial adolescent practice guidelines and received ATSA’s Distinguished Contribution award in 2019. She was lead on a federally funded project which recently concluded addressing sexual abuse by youth in Memphis, Tennessee. She regularly presents nationally and internationally.