Review: Responding to problem sexual behaviours in children

Title: Review of approaches to prevent and respond to problem sexual behaviour in children and young people in out-of-home care
Author: Parenting Research Centre
Commissioned by: NSW Government Department of Family and Community Services
Published: 2016

The Parenting Research Centre prepared a review, commissioned by the NSW Government Department of Family and Community Services, that examined what approaches had been used to prevent and respond to problem sexual behaviour in children and young people both in and out of Out-Of-Home Care (OOHC).

The review comprised of a rapid evidence assessment, a desktop search, and consultations with professionals working in the NSW child protection field.

Key findings

• There is limited evidence to suggest ‘what works’ in prevention and response to problem sexual behaviour in children and young people in out-of-home care or settings generally.
• Generally some form of treatment for children and young people engaging in problem sexual behaviour was found to be better than no treatment at all.
•  The approach with the highest rated evidence for responding to problem sexual behaviour, Multisystemic Therapy – Problem Sexual Behavior, is currently not available in out-of-home care settings or in Australia.

Learn more

• Read the Review (PDF, 2MB)