The mission of the Sexual Abuse Family Education and Treatment of Youth (SAFETY) Program is to provide comprehensive therapeutic services to families with child who is a victim of sexual abuse and/or is engaging in inappropriate sexualized behaviors. An interagency, multimodal, systemic treatment approach is utilized to decrease the negative impact of abuse and to alter the communication patterns, interactions, boundaries, and social connectedness of the individual/family through individual, group and family therapy, as well as additional formal and informal community supports .

A collaborative effort has been established to decrease the potential for the family to re-experience sexual abuse, to recognize if and when any type of abuse is occurring, and to react as a unit to protect all potential victims. Family Services of Northwestern Pennsylvania, the Erie County Office of Children and Youth; the Erie County Wraparound Initiative, Jerome Troncone, Psy. D.; and other specific agencies that are currently involved with the child/family work in collaboration to provide services.

There is no fee for this service.

Eligibility Criteria

The referred child must qualify for Medical Assistance, have a psychiatric diagnosis, and be active with Child Protective Services. Additional assessments are completed following referral, which affect a child's eligibility for various services within the program. A member of their child/family team will explain these assessments and their outcome to the child and family.