Helping Sexual Offenders Become Thrivers Through Recovery and Advocacy
James Prager, MSW & Matthew Rosenberg, LMSW | September 19 | 11:15 am-12:15 pm
Topic: Conceptual, Direct Service | Knowledge Level: Advanced
The Northern Ohio REACH Coalition rightly prides itself on helping victims grow to become survivors and then thrivers. We applaud these gains. Those of us with sexual convictions are never victims. However, we can be viewed as survivors of our prison journey even if that journey was due to our choices. This promotes community safety. Sexual offenders have the ability to learn how to thrive and make a difference in their communities. Everyone can feel safer and more productive when both survivors and those who have abused also thrive. This involves accepting the consequences of past behavior and advocating for humanity and recovery. The judgement of many people creates barriers. Many people believe that pedophilia is incurable and untreatable, but research and hard work allow many of us to thrive. Robert Longo lists seventeen areas where those of us with sexual convictions need to achieve for community safety, which will be examined in further detail in this presentation with the end goal of helping people thrive. In this session, the presenters will discuss the importance of involving mental health agencies to assist in confronting any denial or minimization. This also is important when family reunification takes place. A cooperative arrangement of individuals, family members, mental health, and law enforcement can work together to enhance community safety and a thriving population. The more we establish this sense of community, the better the opportunity to have restorative individuals all living together. The presentation will feature both discussion and slides to reinforce the concepts of healing.
Presentation Objectives:
• Demonstrate the challenge of reentry and regaining trust
• Describe how to challenge and refrain our assumptions about life
• Demonstrate the importance of taking full responsibility for our past behaviors