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Program Mission
Alpha Emergence Behavioral Health’s mission is to prevent and alleviate the harms of sexual abuse by providing services to perpetrators and those at risk to commit an offense and offering education to involved agencies and the public on topics relevant to sexual abuse perpetration and prevention.
Alpha Emergence Behavioral Health (AEBH) is proud to announce that we are repositioning to build financial stability while investing in areas of growth. Our commitment to providing high-quality treatment services and experiences necessary to meet the ever-evolving needs of our community supervision partners remains unwavering.
Over the years, we have seen changes in client needs, and we are feeling the impact of rising costs, stagnant funding, and deteriorating facilities. To meet new demands and develop strategies for savings and areas for investment, we have decided to restructure our residential facility.
Effective May 1st, 2023, we will be discontinuing 24-hour staffed services and refocusing our efforts on providing intensive therapy services in our Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP). We will be partnering with local housing services to provide the 24-hour housing and supervision of clients in need of residential services. This will allow us to serve more clients and prevent more instances of sexual abuse.
We understand that this transition may be difficult for our clients, but we want to assure them that they will receive the same level of individualized care and attention to detail that they have come to expect from AEBH. Our outpatient and IOP programs offer innovative treatment and the same intensity of services as residential. We remain committed to providing the highest quality of care possible and are confident that our programs will be effective in helping our clients achieve their treatment goals.
Through careful consultations with experts in the field of sex offender treatment, residential facility administration, and the former Executive Director of Alpha, we have been able to identify changes that make the most sense for AEBH and our clients. We have also considered trends in DOC programming, release data, feedback from agents, and demographic data we have collected from our clients to prioritize programming changes. We are confident this new direction more closely aligns with ATSA guidelines and will allow us to be more agile when it comes to responding to new research. Our work will continue, with our clients at the heart of what we do, with a plan that is focused on the success of our clients and AEBH.
Our goals for this change are to focus our outpatient programs to align with client needs, grow our IOP program, invest in affordable housing, provide individualized approaches to clients, and offer more options for housing with varying levels of support.
We expect clients will experience little or no disruption to their progress. All clients will have support and resources to complete their treatment programs, and we will be afforded the opportunity to employ case coordinators to assist the highest-need clients with connecting to housing, employment, mental health care, medication management, and more.
At the heart of this work are our community supervision partners, for whom we are so grateful. We take pride in the strong partnerships that we’ve developed together, which are one of the most valuable assets we have, to prepare clients for bright and successful futures. We appreciate your strong commitment to our clients and remain equally committed to supporting your organization’s needs.
We thank our clients, their families, and the community for their continued support. We understand that this decision may be difficult, but we firmly believe that it is the best choice for the care of our clients. Thank you for your understanding and continued support as we move forward with our mission to prevent and alleviate the harms of sexual abuse.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us at ronda@alphaemergence.org. Thank you for your continued partnership and communication as we work to provide the highest quality of care and support for our clients.
These evaluations, also known as risk evaluations, consist of one or more interviews with the client. Questionnaires, indexes, and assessments are completed during evaluation, including sexual inventories designed explicitly to assess sexual offenders. Contacts may be made with the client’s family, attorney, investigating office, community service officer, other therapists, and others who may be involved and verify a client’s personal and offense history. These evaluations can be completed at our office or while the offender is in custody.
The above assessments can be enhanced by combining them with psychophysiological assessments such as the polygraph, the plethysmograph, or the LOOK Assessment.
30, 60, or 90 days residential evaluations
AEBH offers a residential placement for a comprehensive sex offender evaluation. Clients participate in all programming offered in the residential setting in addition to other testing and assessment as determined by the treatment team. These assessments may include:
Residential evaluations can assist the treatment team and referral sources with:
AEBH strives to provide high quality, tailored services for individuals experiencing problematic sexual behavior. Our commitment to client-centered care is unwavering. We believe our client’s needs are the most important when it comes to preventing sexual abuse and creating safe communities.
Our philosophy is that real change can only happen when clients are listened to, respected, and fully understood. We take the time to thoroughly examine clients’ problems in context, integrating multiple modalities and evidence-based practices to find unique solutions to meet the individual’s needs.
All treatment at Emergence begins with an intake, otherwise known as a diagnostic assessment. This assessment is where we begin the treatment process and start developing treatment goals in collaboration with the client. The client’s needs are assessed, and plan of action is developed based on the information gathered.
A diagnostic assessment consists of an interview with the client and culminates in a report documenting the client’s functioning and needs. The report includes the client’s current mental health status, history, the nature and severity of mental illness/behavioral difficulties, functional impairment, strengths, and resources.
A diagnostic assessment is necessary to determine a client’s need and eligibility for services. From this assessment we determine program placement.
Outpatient treatment is available for those individuals who do not need treatment in a secured setting nor the level of structure or intensity provided by AEBH’s residential treatment program. The overall goal of this program is to reduce the likelihood or a recurrence of inappropriate or abusive sexual behavior.
Outpatient referrals may come from the courts, probation, social service agencies, health care management organizations, attorneys, employers, families, and clients themselves. Outpatient services range from programming designed for low-risk individuals that meet as little as once a month to higher risk individuals who attend services multiple times a week.
All programming at AEBH is individualized. Our program is not “cookie cutter” and each client works through treatment programming developed collaboratively with them based on information gathered through clinical interviews, assessments, 3rd party collateral, and sources outside our agency who work with the client and understand their needs.
Payments for outpatient services can be made by the client, medical insurance, available state grants, or by the referring agency. In some cases, a referring agency to pays part of the cost while the individual pays the remainder.
Intervention program for men who buy sex (aka John School)
Our insight program is an innovative program designed specifically for men who buy sex. Primarily men in this program have solicited a prostitute either on the street or via the internet. Some men in this group have solicited sex in exchange or money from someone who was not a prostitute. The program focuses on the reasons behind men’s decisions to pay for sex. Our aim is not to fixate on guilt and shame, but instead bring men on a journey regarding their association with prostitution through assessment, education, self-awareness, and attitude and behavior change. The program’s goal is for men to gain insight into their actions and evaluate areas of their lives that might benefit from additional therapy exploration. This is a day-long educational and interactive program that takes place in a group or individual setting. This program is not eligible for insurance coverage.
These evaluations, also known as risk evaluations, consist of one or more interviews with the client. Questionnaires, indexes, and assessments are completed during evaluation, including sexual inventories designed explicitly to assess sexual offending behaviors. Contacts may be made with the client’s family, attorney, investigating office, community service officer, other therapists, and others who may be involved and verify a client’s personal and offense history. These evaluations can be completed at our office or while the offender is in custody.
This class is designed to educate friends or family members about proper supervision techniques, roles, responsibilities, and expectations of an approved supervisor. This training takes place in a group setting. Friends or family members interested in this training must have access to and be able to bring with them the statement of probable cause for the person they plan to supervise as well as the probation conditions. Once this training is completed, the supervisor receives a letter stating they participated and completed the training. Approval of the individual to be a supervisor for the client is ultimately up to probation, child protective services, and the treatment provider.
Juvenile sexual offending treatment program
Ignite is an outpatient treatment program designed to treat juveniles between the ages of 13 and 18 who are at risk of committing a harmful sexual act or have committed an illegal sexual offense. The treatment model is non-shaming and designed to empower the juvenile to improve their lives, manage risk for future harmful behaviors, and increase the community’s safety.
Treatment begins with diagnostic assessment and treatment planning. Once assessment is complete, the client is assigned to a clinician who meets with them individually. Frequency of sessions is based on the client need. Family plays an integral role in recovery and is included in the treatment process whenever possible. We also work closely with probation agents to ensure the requirements of probation and the courts are met.
The goal is for the client to emerge as an individual with improved self-image, identify abuse and appropriate boundaries, take responsibility for their behavior, maintain healthy, supportive family and peer relationships, and manage or reject abusive thoughts/fantasies, seeking support when needed.
Treatment is highly individualized, and the length depends on each client’s needs and level of motivation. Most juveniles can complete the program in 12 months.
Transitional aftercare program (TAP)
TAP is a maintenance and continuum of care program for clients released from prison who participated in treatment while in prison or civil commitment. The program is designed to aid in the preparation of a well-organized and healthy transition into the community. TAP is an extension of treatment—our goal is to help clients strengthen and apply the cognitive, behavioral, social, and vocational skills they’ve learned as they transition into society.
Participants have already developed a detailed release plan addressing all aspects of a sober and crime-free lifestyle after release and a re-offense prevention plan. The purpose of TAP is to reinforce these plans and address any difficulties after release. Emphasis is placed on enhancing and expanding opportunities for positive future life choices that would support a healthy lifestyle and reaffirming coping skills and relapse prevention strategies.
This program is provided for as long as the participant’s individual needs indicate it is beneficial to their goals of sobriety and a prosocial lifestyle. Expected attendance is 12 months, or at the discretion of the treatment provider and parole agent. Treatment groups meet twice a month.
Treatment Completion
Our Summit program is designed to assist clients who have previously participated in treatment but have not completed treatment to address their remaining needs. Goals may include finishing treatment work, having a chaperone trained, taking and passing a polygraph, attending support person sessions, completing arousal/interest assessments, and/or referrals to supplementary groups (such as SAA, AA, NA or MH therapy) to address the remaining needs.
Intensive Outpatient Program
Intensive Outpatient programming is considered to be an acute, shorter-term process, addressing specific mental health and behavioral needs. AEBH Intensive Outpatient Program is a specialized program focused on the needs of clients who have committed sexual harm and are suffering from underlying psychological issues, history of trauma, substance use problems and/or other neurodevelopmental issues. Problems in these domains have likely escalated to the point where an increased level of intensity for treatment will be beneficial.
Participants will engage in daily treatment activities provided by a multidisciplinary team. The specific schedule is dependent on individual treatment needs. Treatment programming takes place from 9:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday with 15 hours of intensive clinical services offered weekly along with adjunct services, engagement in the therapeutic milieu and study halls for structured time to work on therapeutic assignments with peers and clinical staff.
Taking responsibility for sexually abusive behavior is an important part of treatment. This program is designed for clients who do not need in-depth sexual offending treatment, but who do need more information and education about sexuality, appropriate boundaries, and responsible sexual behavior.
The Psychoeducational Course addresses the issues of inappropriate sexual behavior and sexual harassment. It introduces topics that are addressed in traditional treatment by means of an educational format. This approach provides an alternative method for addressing allegations of inappropriate sexual conduct when there is an insufficient level of responsibility accepted by the client for placement in a traditional therapy group or when placement in such a group is not warranted. Participants are not required to disclose to the group the nature or reason for their referral to the course. Discussions are, instead, focused on the topics presented by the facilitators. Class members are then required to demonstrate proficiency in the course material through written tests corresponding to the presented topics.
The goals of this course are to provide an opportunity for participants to explore the nature of defense mechanisms, to support the decision to become more candid regarding their behavior, and to encourage the exploration of issues surrounding their problematic sexual behaviors. Additionally, the objectives are to provide participants with information about sexual functioning, to alter attitudes, to reduce shame, and to improve the problem-solving and stress management abilities of those in the course. Often, participation in the course results in a class member developing increased motivation for entering into a traditional therapy group. For others, it provides useful information to guide future behavioral choices.
The psychoeducational course uses lectures, guest presentations, movies, group discussions, in-group assignments, homework assignments, and post-tests of each content area covered. The post-tests are administered after each topic and must be passed at the 80% level. If participants do not reach this level, they must do remedial work until they are able to answer at least 80% of the questions correctly, ensuring that the material is mastered at a significant level. While this course is not a substitute for treatment, it can be an appropriate adjunctive service. It should be noted that completion of the Psychoeducational Program is not the equivalent of completing a treatment program.
The following topics are covered in the psychoeducational program: reproductive anatomy, sexually transmitted infections, birth control, sexuality throughout the lifespan, masturbation, sexual fantasy and pornography, healthy and unhealthy sexuality, intimacy, touch and boundary issues, shame and guilt, stress management, chemical abuse, defense mechanisms, denial and offending, sexually abusive behaviors, types of sexual offending, victim impact, reoffense prevention.
Customized psychoeducational courses are available as well. The curriculum can be modified to meet the specific needs of a particular referred client. All the topics noted above are available for a customized psychoeducational course and the referring agency, in collaboration with the course facilitators, can determine which topics are relevant to that client.
Sexual offending treatment program
Our Journey program is an outpatient program that provides holistic, effective treatment to adults at risk to commit a harmful sexual act or who have committed an illegal sexual offense. Our whole-person treatment model empowers clients to improve their lives, manage risk for future harmful behaviors, and increase the community’s safety. The program—comprised of education and therapy using a group process—covers several topics related to personal and sexual history, patterns of abusive behaviors, relationships, communication, impact of harmful behavior, management of emotions, healthy sexuality, and developing a re-offense prevention plan.
Treatment begins with a diagnostic assessment and treatment planning. We develop a personalized treatment plan and assign clients to a treatment group (if appropriate). The program consists of three phases:
Treatment typically consists of weekly group therapy and monthly individual and or family therapy. Whenever possible, we include families in the treatment process to optimize recovery. The length of treatment depends on each client’s risk/needs and level of motivation.
Healthy sexuality and boundaries
This therapy is designed to provide education, guidance, and personalized treatment for clients who exhibit problematic sexual behaviors but have not been referred for a full treatment program. This program is focused on healthy sexuality and boundaries and is a 16-week group. Group members meet weekly for both group and individual sessions. The pace of the program is quick so clients must be motivated to attend consistently, stay on task, and move along together.
Emerging adult sexual offending treatment program
Our Emerge program is an outpatient program that provides holistic, effective treatment to emerging adults between the ages of 18 and 23 who are at risk to commit a harmful sexual act or who have committed an illegal sexual offense. The program is designed to meet the unique needs of persons who are transitioning from adolescence to adulthood. The treatment program takes a positive and non-adversarial approach, utilizes a developmental approach to help the individual successfully benefit from the maturation process that will help maximize their potential leading to a healthy sexual future free from harm.
Treatment begins with a diagnostic assessment and treatment planning. We develop a personalized treatment plan and assign clients to a treatment group (if appropriate). Treatment is highly individualized and typically consists of twice per month individual sessions in conjunction with once per month group therapy. Whenever possible, we include families in the treatment process to optimize recovery. The length of treatment depends on each client’s needs and level of motivation therefore, length of time the in the program varies for each client. Clients can expect to be in treatment an average of 12-18 months.
The goals of the treatment program are individualized to address the specific risk and needs of each client. The program is comprised of education and therapy using a group process. It covers several areas including offense dynamics, personal history, sexual education, consent, sexual beliefs and attitudes, re-offense prevention, values, self-regulation, problem solving, relationships, self-esteem and healthy lifestyle.
Individual therapy
Our Voyage program is a one-on-one program that is individualized to each client’s specific needs. Some clients engage in this treatment as part of a treatment mandate, while others seek this therapy voluntarily to achieve self-improvement. This program is highly individualized, and a treatment plan is developed to address specific issues that can range from several types of sexual behaviors.
Care Coordination services address issues regarding reintegration into the community and life instability issues, such as, employment, housing, access to community resources, family reunification, and adjustment to intensive supervised release.
All treatment at Emergence begins with an intake, otherwise known as a diagnostic assessment. This assessment is where we begin the treatment process and start developing treatment goals in collaboration with the client. The client’s needs are assessed, and plan of action is developed based on the information gathered.
A diagnostic assessment consists of an interview with the client and culminates in a report documenting the client’s functioning and needs. The report includes the client’s current mental health status, history, the nature and severity of mental illness/behavioral difficulties, functional impairment, strengths, and resources.
A diagnostic assessment is necessary to determine a client’s need and eligibility for services. From this assessment we determine program placement.
While assessing and treating sexual behavior is not an exact science, it is necessary to provide services which are as comprehensive and competent as possible. Psychophysiological assessment can assist with assessing treatment progress and to refine treatment objectives. These assessment assist with identifying an individual’s arousal patterns and can help counter denial in treatment. Information gathered in these assessments helps with the development of plans to prevent sexual harm.
The LOOK assessment and PPGs, can be administered to AEBH clients or for outside providers who do not have access to this equipment for their own clients.
Referrals can be made by the courts, probation, social service agencies, health care management organizations, attorneys, employers, families, and clients themselves. Our services range from programming designed for low-risk individuals that meet as little as once a month to higher risk individuals who attend services multiple times a week.
Our intake process begins with a diagnostic assessment where we determine which services are most appropriate for the client. In some cases, it may be decided during the assessment process that a referral to another agency is most appropriate. An appointment for a diagnostic assessment does not mean treatment admission is guaranteed, the assessment is used to determine appropriateness for treatment at AEBH.
Scheduling intake is done by calling our main number is 763-333-8001 or emailing info@alphaemergence.org. In some cases, referral sources may wish to fax a referral or collateral documentation, our fax number is 651-925-0267.
Once an intake appointment is scheduled our team will contact involved individuals and agencies to gather necessary information. The admin team will send intake paperwork for signatures to the client and will get insurance information if applicable as well.
Further information about AEBH’s programs can be obtained by contacting 763-333-8001 or by e-mail to info@alphaemergence.org.