The sexual behavior of children may be distressful to the child, other children who may become exposed to the behavior, and the adults who are guiding the child’s healthy growth and maturation. Comforting the upset child, providing them with useful reassurances that they are normal is important. Normalizing the child’s experiences often also involves other adults who are concerned with the child’s continued well-being. The subject of this course is initiating and maintaining that process.

 In part II the application of our knowledge of the conventional circumstance to more exceptional situations will be discussed through the use of case material of the developmentally disable child, the child on the autistic spectrum and the sexually traumatized child.

 Rabbinic leaders, educators, mental health practitioners are often involved when a child’s sexual behavior become problematic. How do we talk with children about their behavior in a compassionate way that reassures them that they are ok and that you understand their experiences? How can we involve the other adults who are relevant to the child’s healthy development in this discussion?

This webinar will have two parts that are viewable independently and together. Part I will focus critical thinking about children in more conventional situations that often provide teaching moments in the life of a child.In part II, building on the knowledge shared in Part I, the focus is more strongly on application and more exceptional situations. Case material regarding the developmentally disabled child, the child who may be on the autistic spectrum, and the child who we have reason to believe was exposed to inappropriate adult sexuality will be discussed.

Mr. Hillel R. Sternstein, LCSW has published and presented locally and internationally on subjects of child development and trauma.He is a private practitioner who is working with children, adolescents and adults in individual, family ,group educational and communal contexts. His professional experiences include working with abused and neglected children and their families in the New York City foster care system, in a licensed outpatient mental health clinic, as coordinator of trauma mental health services for OHEL Children’sHome and Family Services and clinical coordinator of their Teaneck Family Service Center.He is a graduate of University of Pennsylvania and Columbia University School of Social Work as well asABD at Adelphi University School of Social Work doctoral program.