Understanding Problematic Sexual Behavior in American Indian and Alaska Native Youth:
Youth need safety, supervision, protection guidance, monitoring and teachings. All youth must know they are connected, sacred, and honored.
Much of Native culture is based on the Circle of Life. Culture teaches us that we are all relatives to all things in creation. Some threads in the Sacred Circle have become broken. Addressing Trauma, abuse, and neglect in tribal communities is necessary for understanding problematic sexual behavior (PSB). Trauma-informed principles can help support all youth.
The Sacred Circle refers to the balance of mind, body, spirit and emotional/relational aspects of life. The history of colonization, boarding schools, trauma, violence and abuse has created an imbalance in the Sacred Circle.
We use teachings from the socioecological perspective to explore the layers of the circles that prevent PSB and keep the circle sacred. Sacred circle teachings are based on the universal health of all our relations. Healing the spirit begins at the individual level. We must work on our own spiritual wellness and sacredness before we create sacred families, communities, or nations. The Sacred Circle is infinite, the healing of one is the healing of all.
Resources for Keeping the Center Sacred:
Below are factsheets for various family / caregivers and professionals. Each factsheet includes an overview of PSB, research, misconceptions and facts, and recommended resources. Factsheets use the Sacred Circle model to emphasize different levels of information to prevent PSB. Because there is a great deal of bias and stigma around problematic sexual behavior of youth, it is essential to educate everyone.
Parents & Caregivers
You can prevent PSB. Talk to your child about their body, body parts, personal space and privacy in a manner that fits your child's development. Start early and have the conversations often.
This factsheet provides talking points for parents of toddlers, preschoolers, elementary children, and teens, view our fact sheet here.
This factsheet provides information preventing problematic sexual behavior, sexual development, and how to get help, view our fact sheet here.
Law Enforcement:
When youth receive evidence-based interventions, their risk of future illegal sexual behavior is extremely low, with recidivism rates around 3-5%.
Professionals working in law enforcement can help mend the Circle by understanding their roles in the response to youth with PSB. To learn more, view our fact sheet here
Juvenile Justice & Courts:
The juvenile justice system addresses youth who have failed to follow required laws and policies. Often, child protective services (CPS) work with juvenile justice to provide services for youth with PSB and their victims. Juvenile justice and courts can help mend the Circle by understanding the needs of youth and their families.
To learn more, view our fact sheet here
Mental Health Providers:
Traditional practices and ceremonies can facilitate resilience and protective factors in families. Health providers in tribal communities play important roles in identifying and providing culturally congruent effective treatment for youth with PSB, child victims and their families.
Addressing trauma, abuse, and neglect in tribal communities is necessary for understanding PSB. Trauma-informed principles can help us support all youth.
To learn more, view our fact sheet here
Schools & Educators
School teachers, counselors and staff help ensure the safety, health and well-being of students. As mandatory reporters, school staff may identify students with PSB and child victims.
Teachers can help mend the Circle by understanding sexual development and PSB, Private Part Rules and Reflective Exercises.
To learn more, view our fact sheet here
Multidisciplinary Teams
MDTs are a group of professionals who collaborate to respond to reports of child abuse, neglect, and PSB of youth. Some MDTs are associated with children's advocacy centers. Often MDT members include tribal program staff, law enforcement, child protective services, clinicians, school staff, prosecutors and members of other agencies.
Key elements of successful tribal MDTs are community ownership and involvement, resources to support the team functions, integration of tribal culture and tradition in team process and decision making, development of clear protocols, participation and commitment of MDT members, adequate training and support, confidentiality, and individual member and team accountability.
To learn more, view our fact sheet here
More Resources For Parents and Caregivers:
Following Sexual Behavior Rules for Parents and Caregivers
Private Parts Poster
Family Safety Plan - Intended for school-age children (ages 7-12) and adolescents (ages 13-18). Each family would need to adapt or customize it to fit their individual situation under the guidance of knowledgeable professionals.
More Resources For Professionals:
MDT Decision Flow Chart for Reports of Problematic Sexual Behavior
Response Protocol for PSB - Protocol to be completed upon intake for a child who is suspected to have PSB.
Decision Tree Examples - Three tool examples to help with prompt responses to situations involving PSB.
Safety Plan - Example for a general safety plan.
Psychological Evaluation/Mental Status - Example of a psychological evaluation and mental status evaluation that can be used for intake of a child with PSB.
Engaging Caregivers when Addressing Sexual Behaviors in American Indian/ Alaska Native Children
Principles for Working with Tribal Communities and PSB
The Story of the Moon and the Sun:
Download story here
Practices for the Sacred Circle
Risk and Vulnerability Assessment Matrix - An assessment to document factors that create resilience or undermine resilience for children.
Mental Health Providers' Guidelines for Specific Treatment Options for American Indian/Alaska Native Youth
Cultural Humility for Non-Native Providers - By Ruthie Cedar Face (Lakota), MS, LAC
Response Protocol for Problematic Sexual Behavior
Additional Guidelines and Resources for Parents and Caregivers
In partnership with the Indian Country Child Trauma Center (ICCTC) and the Office of Juvenile Delinquency and Prevention, developed the initial Restoring the Sacred Circle Toolkit in 2020 to provide guidance for tribal communities and programs. Content and information have been expanded to include stories about children who have received and benefited from treatment interventions and outcomes. Updated information was needed to specifically address treating American Indian / Alaska Native youth and their families. Specific additions have been developed from individuals that are involved with these youth at the tribal and community levels.
We respect and honor the sacred teachings and stories shared by many in this resource. These stories give us hope and a path to walk on as we work toward restoration, healing, forgiveness, and wholeness. Building on the work of many people, programs, places, and intentions. this updated toolkit was created by the NCSBY, tribal community leaders, and Allyson Kelly & Associates (AKA) consultant team. Each person contributed time, prayers, and knowledge with the goal of improving prevention, treatment, and response to problematic sexual behavior (PSB) in tribal communities.
We appreciate your feedback. Please click the link to complete a evaluation survey on this toolkit. Click here to take the survey.
Restoring the Sacred Circle Podcast
This podcast aims to promote understanding of problematic sexual behavior (PSB), describe current research on PSB, outline the risk and protective factors, and support communities as they address PSB.
Restoring the Sacred Circle and preventing PSB begins with having access to information, understanding our beliefs, and living our culture.
