FAMILY COURT CLINIC:
Sexual Health and Relapse Prevention Program (S.H.A.R.P.)

Description of Services
The SHARP program offers treatment to youth, between the ages of 12 and 17, who have been convicted of a sexual offense under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. This program is co-sponsored by several community agencies to provide a systemic treatment plan which includes individual and family therapy in addition to supportive community interventions. A committee compromising of representation from the Children’s Centre Thunder Bay-Family Court Clinic, Children’s Aid Society, Community Support Team (W.W. Creighton Youth Services), and Dilico Anishinabek Family Care oversee the programming of services for each youth. Treatment can be provided while the youth is serving a custody sentence or is on probation in the community.

Referral Sources
Adolescents convicted of a sexual offense are referred for a court-ordered Section 34 assessment. Following disposition, youth are referred into the SHARP program by their probation officer as a condition of the probation order.

Program Description
Youth who enter the SHARP program agree to and sign a treatment contract which lays out the expectations for intervention. Treatment typically extends over an 18 to 24 month time period and consists of weekly individual sessions complemented by family and community interventions. Treatment progress is monitored and reviewed every six weeks by the SHARP committee. As part of these meetings, all committee members, youth, family members, treatment team, and probation officer meet to review treatment progress and risk level and to ensure safety for the youth within the community