Community services, issues, and service gaps for individuals with developmental disabilities who exhibit inappropriate sexual behaviors

Inappropriate sexual behaviors represent the most challenging behaviors for community service providers. A national survey of 243 community agencies w as conducted to describe services provided for individuals with development al disabilities who exhibit high-risk sexual behaviors and to identify issu es and service gaps. The most common types of offenses were sexual behavior (a) in public situations, (b) that inappropriately involved others, and (c ) involved miners. Community agencies used multifaceted approaches to serve these individuals. The major issues and problems were systemic, specifical ly staff issues and service gaps, followed by funding. implications of this study are that increased knowledge and skills related to sexuality and ina ppropriate sexual behavior and mental health resources are needed to build community capacity to serve this population.