Youth Who Have Sexually Offended: Using Strengths and Rapport to Engage Families in Treatment

To address the problem of sexual offenses perpetrated by youth, a recognized treatment framework, risk, need, and responsivity delivers appropriate services according to youths’ relative risk level. Service programs espousing this framework intermittently integrate families. Little is known about how families become engaged in services, and research has yet to comprehensively identify family protective factors. Recognizing family engagement as an avenue by which risk can be mitigated, our qualitative study interviews providers throughout one western state (N = 19) on family engagement strategies. Using rigorous data collection and analyses methods, the results revealed that providers engage families through building rapport and a strength-based approach. Service engagement implications and study limitations are noted.