In more than 70% of child sexual abuse cases, a child or teenager is harmed by another juvenile. The average age of first time sexual violence perpetration is between 15 and 16 years old. 

Unfortunately, many young people don’t realize that something is wrong until after they’ve harmed a friend, sibling or younger child. Our WhatsOK helpline is the only resource of its kind, specifically offering young people a place to ask tough questions and get help even if they’ve harmed someone. 

When a young person tells us that they’ve messed up – be it crossing a boundary or sexually abusing – our expert counselors help by: 

• Affirming their courage in asking for help 
• Holding them accountable
• Explaining consent and its limits 
• Suggesting ways to validate those they’ve harmed 
• Getting them resources and support 
• Offering hope that change is possible 

Welcome to our newest FATSA Board Member, Vanessa Fernandez. Thank you for taking on additional time and work to enhance Florida ATSA.

The 2023 Florida ATSA Conference and Annual Membership Meeting will be held on March 10-11, 2023.  We will also have a pre-conference Partner’s Day on March 9, 2023 for our FATSA Members and our Florida Partners such as the Department of Corrections, Juvenile Justice, Child Welfare, and other advocates and partners in Florida. The Partner’s Day event will be 100% virtual and will be FREE for Florida ATSA members and partners. 

NO REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR THE PARTNERS DAY. A LINK WILL BE SENT TO ALL ACTIVE MEMBERS AND PARTNERS PRIOR TO THE EVENT.

Save the date March 9, 2023 (the day prior to the conference) for the special MEMBERS and PARTNERS-only training. 

As part of FATSA’s annual conference & community partners’ day, Jill Levenson & Shelley Kavanagh will host a training session for FATSA members interested in becoming a facilitator for support groups for family members of people required to register in Florida. Therapists and Interns are welcome, and peer facilitators can participate in the training as well. The goal is to create a network of support teams for family members of registrants throughout Florida. Arrest, conviction, incarceration, and registration for a sexual crime are very impactful experiences for every member of a family. These individuals are a neglected group who are in need of services in their own journey of healing, but who often don’t know where to turn to find compassion and support.

The training will take place in person on Thursday 3/9/23, 6:30-9 pm, in the conference hotel – THE FLORIDA HOTEL, Orlando, FL

RSVP required. To RSVP please contact Jill Levenson at levenson.jill@gmail.com

It seems like forever since we gathered in person for our Annual Florida ATSA Conference and Annual Meeting.  After the 2020 FATSA conference was canceled due to COVID and the 2021 conference was held virtually which allowed many to attend across the country. A BIG thank you goes out to the 2022 Conference Planning Committee for the great work in preparing for the next conference.

The 2022 FATSA Conference will be a hybrid of in-person and online. We hope you will choose to take a couple of days out of your schedule and join us in person this year. However, for those who are unable to travel, we will also provide an online Virtual experience.  We will be gathering at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Altamonte Springs, FL just on the north side of Orlando. The hotel has been great for our previous conferences with plenty of restaurants nearby.

We are excited to offer a varied and useful program for you. As always, we are attempting to touch on our core areas: adult and adolescent treatment and outcome improvement, evaluation and information useful to therapists, probation, polygraphists, prosecutors, defense, judges, and families, and improving cooperation and coordination of all involved. We encourage you to attend both days.  As always we encourage you to join the organization to save money on the conference, but also you will receive first notice of all conferences and any matters of importance with the organization. Of course, you must be a member of ATSA to join FL-ATSA.

Rick Morris – Florida ATSA President

On Friday September 11, 2020  Robin Wilson provided a 90 minute webinar training on the Acute-2007 via the Florida ATSA Training site. A great response to the training included 73 attendees from as far away as Japan, Canada, and all over the United States.

Thank you Robin for a great training and Thank You Florida ATSA for making training and continued education available by removing the barriers of distances and pandemics.

Stay safe and be well as we continue our efforts making our communities safer.

Until Next Time

Rick Morris

Position Description:

The primary responsibilities will include providing group counseling, individual sessions, and various forensic assessments for assigned clientele. The position will also be responsible for treatment plan development, consultation with referring agencies, and the timely submission of required reports (assessments, monthly progress reports, terminations, etc.)

All clinical staff members are expected to attend semi-annual staff meetings and participate in routine monitoring opportunities, including ongoing clinical oversight.

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