Webinar: Empowering Change: A Collaborative, Child-Centred Approach to Supporting Sexually Harmful Behaviours Through Comprehensive Sex Education in a Youth Justice Setting

Individuals with social communication differences (SCD) are at increased risk of engaging in sexually harmful behaviour (SHB) due to literal thinking (Allely & Creaby[1]Attwood, 2016), limited social understanding (Maggio et al., 2022), and because Compressive Sex Education (CSE) is not in line with their differences (Petersson[1]Bloom & Holmqvist, 2022). There is also a lack of resources tailored to populations with SCD to deliver CSE (Panagiotakopoulou et al., 2024). This two-year action research project, conducted with a YJS’s SHB sub team collaboratively developed a guidebook that caregivers can use to deliver CSE with their child with SCD, while being supported by the YJS. 

Conventional content analysis of the data identified that teaching CSE to children with SCD must begin by understanding the reasons for SHB through the lens of children with SCD. This supported the action research group to develop the guidebook in line with the needs of this population whilst supporting and empowering their caregivers. The findings outlined the participants’ reflections of the collaborative process as well as their envisioned strengths and challenges of implementation. Implications for research and practice are also discussed.