PASS-PSB

NYAP’s Practicing Alternative and Safe Solutions for Problematic Sexual Behaviors (PASS-PSB) focuses on helping youth live safely and productively in their homes and communities. In keeping with NYAP’s strong belief in effective community-held programming, PASS-PSB programming is inspired by a commitment to strengths-based treatment for youth who may otherwise be institutionalized as a result of problematic sexual behaviors. PASS-PSB is rooted in three domains in all treatment provided: Family, Community and Purposeful Life.

WHAT SETS PASS-PSB APART?

Community-Held Programming 

In accordance with trauma-informed research and best practices, PASS-PSB promotes the use of the lowest possible effective level of community-held treatment while keeping the safety of the youth and those around them as the utmost priority. This less restrictive environment allows the youth to remain in their homes and communities, emphasizing the three domains in which the program is built on, and allowing healthy relationship-building to occur.  

Strong Advocates for Youth 

Youth who have exhibited problematic sexual behaviors are often subject to ostracism and judgment within their surrounding communities and relationships. In alignment with the organization’s mission and values, PASS-PSB treatment providers are advocates for all youth served in the program, consistently working to uphold the dignity of the youth by advocating for compassionate, fair, and just treatment.  

A Focus on Rehabilitation and Positive Future 

Problematic sexual behaviors often negatively impact a youth’s self-identify and a belief in a positive future. Specific lesson topics are dedicated to acknowledge and educate what building a safe, positive, and healthy future looks like, championing the youth to work toward and obtain that future. Each youth served receives an individualized prevention plan, with components that include identification of internal and external risk factors, coping strategies, protective factors, and accountability planning. Relapse prevention is a way of thinking or looking ahead to identify supports and exit strategies that prevent a recurrence of problematic sexual behaviors.

COMPONENTS OF PASS-PSB

PASS-PSB is a treatment program, primarily used as:  

  • First line treatment intervention.

  • Diversion program.

  • Aftercare program.

This serves youth from age 12 to 18 and their families in a holistic approach, utilizing individual, home, and group therapy elements. Youth are screened utilizing the PASS-PSB Dimensions levels of care tool, which factors include, but are not limited to:   

  • Adjudication status.

  • Victim characteristics.

  • Degree of physical contact with victim(s).

  • Co-morbid mental health and substance use conditions.

  • Degree of planning.

  • Use of coercion/manipulation or force.

  • Number of episodes.

  • Motivation for change.

PASS-PSB programming incorporates approved modalities as per the Title IV-E Clearing house and the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare (CEBC) programs.    

PASS-PSB CURRICULUM

PASS-PSB’s group curriculum, typically provided in 26 weekly sessions, includes various group topics taught through various education and activity discussions by our licensed providers. Topics may include:  

  • Boundaries.

  • Consent.

  • Consequences.

  • Problematic Thinking.

  • Cognitive Change.

  • Problematic Lead-Ups.

  • Victim Identification & Victim Empathy.

  • Direct vs. Indirect Victims.

  • Self-Awareness.

  • Taking Accountability.

  • Risk Management.

  • Clarification and Amends.

  • Healthy Sexuality.

  • Risk and Relapse Prevention.