Sexual Aggressive Youth (SAY) Program

SAY are children under the age of 12 who have been the victims of abuse and have also committed a sexually aggressive act. They must be in the care and custody of the state or a federally recognized Indian tribe located in the state. Also, they cannot be detained under the juvenile justice system due to either their age or other legal reasons. The SAY program is administered by the Department of Social and Health Services Children’s Administration, which contracts with community service providers for evaluation and treatment services. DSHS also provides training to foster parents who may be providing foster care services for children in the program. The law describing the SAY program is: RCW 74.13.075

Special Sex Offender Disposition Alternative (SSODA)

SSODA was established as part of the 1990 Community Protection Act. It was intended to provide an alternative to sending juvenile offenders to juvenile rehabilitation institutions by allowing the court to suspend the disposition (which is the juvenile “sentence” for a crime) and require the offenders to receive outpatient sex offender treatment. In order to be granted a SSODA, there must have no previous history of sex offense conviction, the youth can be treated while living in the home or an alternative community placement, a certified treatment provider is available and willing to provide treatment, and the treatment can be provided with minimal risk to the community. The legislature appropriated funds to assist in paying for the costs of evaluating and treating SSODA eligible juveniles, which are distributed to each county’s juvenile services department. The law describing the SSODA alternative is explained at: RCW 13.40.160 Since each county administers the program for that county, more information can be obtained by contacting your county’s juvenile department.

Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration (JRA)

JRA institutions offer specialized treatment programs as part of the JRA Integrated Treatment Curriculum. These services incorporate a variety of methods including cognitive-behavioral treatment and relapse prevention plans. JRA works to transition youth to community treatment services as part of the youth’s parole plan with contracted sex offender treatment providers. Visit the JRA Home Page for a description of services.

Private Pay Services

Private providers may, in addition to the above services, also provide specialized treatment services to youth and their families on a private pay basis. Although many juveniles who commit sexual abuse are handled through one or more of the procedures described above, there are still circumstances in which they are not. Most WATSA members who work with juveniles also provide services on a private basis.