A program of the Counseling Center of Milwaukee providing treatment to at-risk youth with sexual behavior problems.

Since its inception in 1988 more than 1,200 youth have participated in the Step 5 program with remarkable, measurable results:  over the last decade only three percent completing the program have offended again.

The program includes group, individual, and family counseling, parental contact through home visits, and continuous communication and monitoring of participants.

Preventing sexual abuse among young people by providing treatment to at-risk youth with sexual behavior problems is the goal of The Counseling Center of Milwaukee's Step 5 program, Milwaukee County's oldest, most comprehensive ongoing outpatient treatment program for young sexual offenders.  Equally important is the goal of preventing sexual abuse by adults as studies have show that sexual acting out at a young age is a common precursor to adult sexual abuse.

Components of the program include group, individual , and family counseling, parental contact through home visits, and continuous communication and monitoring of percipients.  Step 5 begins with group therapy that consists of 16, 90-minute sessions.  Each group meets once or twice a week and involves five to twelve participants.  Male and female Master's level therapists lead the sessions.  After completing the group phase, percipients move into individual family counseling.

At all times TCCM staff guide participants as they involve themselves in other community-based support services deemed critical to their treatment.

This approach provides a cost-effective alternative to residential treatment for youthful sexual offenders that can cost up to $65,000 a year.  Treatment in a group-home setting may annually cost an estimated $25,000 to $35,000, and intensive day treatment can cost as much as $25,000.  There is no fee for Step 5 participants ordered into the program by court officials.  Fees are based on a sliding scale and no one is turned away because of an inability to pay.

An additional Step 5 component, Step Beyond, serves youth leaving residential treatment and correction centers.  Step Beyond continues treatment that begun in those settings.

TCCM and Step 5 staff also work with youth of all ages and genders in collaboration with Milwaukee's Sexual Assault Treatment Center.  These efforts include education outreach and presentations throughout the year.  Recently, more than 3,800 youth, parents, professionals, and community members-at-large were reached through more than 110 such presentations.

• One hundred percent of the youth completing the program expressed remorse and empathy for their victims.
• One hundred percent of the youth said they improved their understanding of the behaviors and decisions that led to their committing sexual assault, and how this contributed to their violent behavior.
• Ninety-eight percent of the parents or guardians of youthful offenders increased their understanding of their children's behavior and showed support for the offender's relapse prevention plan, a program component discussed during family therapy.
• One hundred percent of participants completed relapse prevention plans
• Milwaukee County Court officials consider Step 5 a viable alternative to incarceration.

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