WEDNESDAY

Networking Event
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, October 17, 18, 19 | 7:45 am – 8:15 am
Start your morning off with a brief networking experience sure to put a smile on your face. Some of the most memorable and valuable opportunities at a conference come from the people you meet, so join us for a 30-minute networking event to broaden your professional circle, experience a new approach to networking, meet some new colleagues, and possibly win one of our wonderful door prizes! Great for those new to the ATSA conference as well as long–time members. All are welcome!

2018 Public Policy Reception
Wednesday, October 17 | 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Interested in registry reform? Government policies that impact the work we do? Becoming more involved in ATSA's public policy activities? Then join the ATSA Public Policy Committee (PPC) for an informal reception to learn more! An open forum meet-and-greet with no host bar. The event is open to all conference attendees.

Opening Reception
Wednesday, October 17 | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Come and greet old friends, welcome first–time attendees, and renew your spirits. This evening features an introduction to Vancouver hospitality, great food, and a well-deserved opportunity to celebrate! Casual attire suggested. All conference registrants are welcome!

THURSDAY

Networking Event
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, October 17, 18, 19 | 7:45 am – 8:15 am

Special Movie Screening "Coming Home"
Thursday, October 18 | 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
This film by Bess O'Brien focuses on five people returning back to their Vermont communities from prison and the innovative COSA program (Circle of Support and Accountability) that helps reintegrate folks back into their daily lives. The COSA program is run through Vermont’s Community Justice Centers and is part of the restorative justice model. Discussion to follow led by Derek Miodownik of the Vermont Department of Corrections.

Thursday Plenary Session
Ruth E. Mann, PhD
Being Evidence–Based
Thursday, October 18 | 9:00 am – 10:00 am
Ruth was head of HM Prison Service’s Sex Offender Treatment Programme between 1994 and 2011. Since this time, Ruth has been seeking a better understanding of the nature of evidence– based policy and practice in correctional settings. Some of the challenges she has encountered include deciding when evidence is of sufficient quantity and quality; overcoming confirmation bias and correctional quackery; and re–assessing practice when an approach believed to be evidence–based is evaluated and did not work. in this presentation Ruth will illustrate these challenges and suggest some tactics for surviving them.

ATSA Adult Clinical & Juvenile Practice Committees Meet–And–Greet
Thursday, October 18 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
The adult Clinical and juvenile Practice committees invite conference participants to meet members of the committees for an informal meet–and–greet. We will begin with a 10–15 minute overview of the committee’s work and goals, and then be available to answer questions, meet conference participants, and build contacts and connections. We hope you’ll join us!

FRIDAY

Networking Event
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, October 17, 18, 19 | 7:45 am – 8:15 am

Friday Plenary Session
Gerald Oleman
An Indigenous Perspective on healing for Sexual Offenders
Friday, October 19 | 9:00 am – 10:00 am
This presentation will create understanding for all practitioners involved with indigenous clients. In my experience as a practitioner, I have found that many indigenous clients will not participate in counselling and treatment offered to them. I have known survivors of residential school that were referred to therapy and after their first session would not return to therapy. I inquired why and they responded that the therapist did not understand them. Using indigenous methodology I have had success with individuals and families. The hope is to create a collective endeavor to build programs that are culturally relevant and to share alternative methods I have used successfully. The question is, “can indigenous methods meld with orthodox therapeutic modals?” I believe that if we put our minds together, we can create successful programing on healing for our clients.

SATURDAY

Saturday Plenary Sessions
Robert J. McGrath, MA | R. Karl Hanson, PhD, CPsych
How Much Intervention Is Enough?
Saturday, October 20 | 9:00 am – 10:00 am
Individuals with a history of sexual offending are often considered to have a lifetime, enduring propensity to commit sexual crime. There is, however, a growing body of research showing predictable declines in the risk for sexual recidivism based on risk and needs, normal aging, and the amount of time spent offense free in the community. instead of being exceptional, desistance appears to be the norm. Consequently, we could benefit from having a common language about how to communicate risk and needs, consider how best to facilitate naturally occurring desistance, and consider the point at which our interventions no longer meaningfully promote public safety.
Join us in listening to Robert McGrath's conversation with Karl Hanson as they discuss his research and its implications for risk assessment.

Erick Janssen, PhD
A Myriad of Forces: The Impact of Sexual Arousal and Other Emotions on Sexual Behavior and Decision Making
Sexual arousal is a motivational state and emotion that can impact behavior and decision making. it interacts in complicated ways with other emotions, including anxiety and sadness, and is under the control of both excitatory and inhibitory processes. i will present recent findings of questionnaire and psychophysiological studies examining the complex nature of the relationship between sexual and nonsexual emotions and of research on the effects of individual differences in the propensity for sexual excitation and inhibition on sexual response, function, and behavior, including hypersexuality and sexual aggression.

Download the 2018 Conference Brochure.