Many adolescents and teens in residential treatment programs have been traumatized or may sexually act out. For these youth it is critically important that the adults with whom they interact constantly reinforce clear and appropriate sexual boundaries.

 

While most adults who apply to work in residential treatment programs model and reinforce healthy adult-child sexual boundaries, there are others who do not recognize them. Others are permission givers who fail to respond appropriately when they witness other adults crossing boundaries with youth in these programs. 

 

• At two, multi-state, youth-serving agencies, organization records

      indicated four official reports of boundary violations by staff over

      a six-month period.

• However, in an anonymous survey by Abel Screening, Inc., staff 

       indicated knowledge of 487 boundary violations over the same

       period.

 

Boundary violations occur quite frequently, but are most often not

reported putting adolescents and teens in residential treatment

programs at continued risk.

 

In addition, an estimated 6% of adults in the general population have a sexual interest in children. These adults apply in greater numbers to work and volunteer with children and teens. 

 

These adults:

• Hide their sexual interest in children and teens

• Often fail to reinforce clear boundaries with traumatized youth who are sexually acting out

• Often fail to protect the children and teens in their care

• Are equally represented in every socio-economic group and every religion

• Can’t be detected simply by interviewing them

 

Without proper screening, adults like these may be hired as directors, educators and counselors.

 

Background Checks Aren’t Enough

 

Because only 6% of child sexual abuse is ever reported to the police, criminal background checks are largely ineffective at identifying individuals who may have already sexually abused a child. In fact, ChoicePoint reported looking at over 3.5 million background checks and finding only 0.2% that could be identified as sexual offenders.

 

The Diana Screen

 

In contrast to criminal background checks, The Diana Screen  does not rely on public records or criminal histories. The Diana Screen  methodology provides much more effective results. Administered to job applicants and volunteers, The Diana Screen  is a child safety screen that helps identify adults who fail to recognize adult-child sexual boundaries or who are at a high risk for having sexually abused a child in the past. Because The Diana Screen  does not rely on public records or criminal histories, it does a better job of helping to identify those individuals who may detract from the safety and welfare of the children in an organization. The Diana Screen  is dramatically more effective than criminal background checks in protecting children and teens against this risk.

 

Using The Diana Screen  accomplishes the following:

• Helps identify applicants who are most likely to cross sexual boundaries with youth

• Acts as a deterrent

• Helps agencies select the safest adults to work with children by forming a safer pool of prospective hires and volunteers

 

For more information about The Diana Screen  or Abel Screening's line of Child Protection Products, please Contact Us or call at 404.874.4772. 

 

For a list of sources supporting the information on this page, go to References.