Best Practices for Supporting System-Involved Youth who Display Sexualized Behavior

Brooke Hailey, PhD

Training Description

This training equips caregivers and service/support providers  working with system-involved youth with evidence-based, trauma-informed strategies for understanding and responding to sexualized behaviors. Participants will explore the developmental, relational, and systemic factors that contribute to sexualized behavior, including trauma exposure, attachment disruptions, boundary confusion, and environmental influences.

Emphasis is placed on distinguishing developmentally expected behaviors from behaviors of concern, responding without shame or punishment, maintaining safety, and promoting healthy development. Through lecture, case examples, discussion, and applied exercises, participants will learn practical approaches for supporting system-involved youth, strengthening caregiver–youth relationships, and collaborating across systems to reduce placement disruption and improve long-term outcomes.

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to: