https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN32748-ARMY_DIR_2021-27-000-WEB-1.pdf
MEMORANDUM FOR SEE DISTRIBUTION
SUBJECT: Army Directive 2021-27 (Installation Response to Problematic Sexual
Behavior in Children and Youth)
1. References. See references enclosed.
2. Purpose. Pursuant to reference 1c, this directive establishes the policy for
identifying, reporting, responding to, and providing treatment, counseling, rehabilitation,
follow-up, and other services to children, youth, and their families exhibiting or impacted
by problematic sexual behavior in children and youth (PSB-CY). This directive
establishes installation multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) to identify risk factors and
address the safety, medical, behavioral health, academic, and social needs of the
children and youth involved in such incidents.
3. Applicability. This directive applies to the Regular Army, Army National Guard/Army
National Guard of the United States, and U.S. Army Reserve; other uniformed Services
assigned to or residing on Army installations; civilians, including family members
residing or located on Army installations; and others entitled to care in medical
treatment facilities (MTFs).
4. Definition. For the purpose of this directive, PSB-CY is defined as behaviors initiated
by children and youth under the age of 18 that involve sexual body parts (genitals, anus,
buttocks, or breasts) in a manner that deviates from normative or typical sexual
behavior and are developmentally inappropriate or potentially harmful to the individual
initiating the behavior, the individual(s) impacted by the behavior, or others. Sexual
behaviors initiated by a child or youth under the age of 18 are more likely to deviate
from normative or typical sexual behavior and be developmentally inappropriate and/or
potentially harmful when they are characterized by one or more of the following:
a. occur at a higher frequency than is typical given the child’s or youth’s age and
development
b. are preoccupying or are a greater focus of the child’s or youth’s interactions and
interests than other behaviors
c. interfere with the child’s or youth’s social development and/or general functioning
d. do not respond to caregiver or other adult intervention
S E C R E T A R Y O F T H E A R M Y
W A S H I N G T O N
SUBJECT: Army Directive 2021-27 (Installation Response to Problematic Sexual
Behavior in Children and Youth)
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e. involve sexual knowledge, language, and/or behaviors that are inappropriate for
the child’s or youth’s chronological or developmental age
f. include aggression, force, threats, or coercion
g. include intrusive sexual behavior, such as penetration
h. are deliberative rather than spontaneous or exploratory in nature
i. include alcohol or other mind-altering substances
j. involve aggressive or violent pornography
k. engender strong, upset feelings in any other child or youth involved in the
behaviors
l. are non-mutual
m. occur between children or youth who are distinct in terms of age, cognitive,
social, and/or physical development, or otherwise demonstrate developmental
inequalities
5. Policy. The Army will review each report or allegation of PSB-CY occurring on an
Army installation and conduct multifaceted/multidisciplinary reviews to recommend
treatment, counseling, or other intervention for youth exhibiting or impacted by incidents
of PSB-CY. For eligible beneficiaries affected by PSB-CY, the Army will provide
trauma-informed assessments, care, support, rehabilitation, and treatment to eligible
beneficiaries. For affected persons not eligible to receive treatment at an MTF, the Army
will provide appropriate resources and referral information. To meet this responsibility,
Army installations will provide an appropriate response to each report of PSB-CY
and establish installation MDTs led by the installation Family Advocacy Program
Manager (FAPM) to identify risk factors and address the safety, medical, behavioral
health, academic, and social needs of the children, youth, and families involved in such
incidents. The senior commander is responsible for establishing installation policies and
procedures assigning responsibilities for responding to reports or other allegations of
PSB-CY.
a. Any report or other allegation of PSB-CY received by the Family Advocacy
Program (FAP), the installation commander, a law enforcement organization, a
Child Youth and School Services (CYSS) Program, an MTF, or a Department of
Defense (DoD) school operating on the installation or otherwise under DoD
administration for the installation will be reviewed by the installation FAP and reported to
SUBJECT: Army Directive 2021-27 (Installation Response to Problematic Sexual
Behavior in Children and Youth)
3
the FAPM or installation point of contact as designated by installation policies. Within
24 hours, the FAP will communicate all reports of PSB-CY to the appropriate law
enforcement agency.
b. The Army will respond to each incident of PSB-CY in accordance with applicable
Federal, State, local, or host-nation laws and DoD policy. The requirement for an
investigation of PSB-CY will not be deemed to terminate or alter any otherwise
applicable requirement to report or forward the report or allegation to appropriate
Federal, State, local, or host-nation authorities as possible criminal activity.
c. The MDT core members will include, at a minimum:
(1) FAPM
(2) U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command representative
(3) CYSS representative, when CYSS is the referral source or the child or
youth’s problematic sexual behavior (PSB) occurred in a CYSS-sponsored setting
(4) Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), when DoDEA is the
referral source or the child or youth’s PSB occurred in a DoDEA-sponsored setting
d. Expanded MDT. Depending on the involvement of other Army and civilian
entities, the core PSB-CY MDT may be expanded on a case-by-case basis to include
these representatives:
(1) CYSS, when CYSS is not the referral source or the PSB did not occur in a
CYSS-sponsored setting
(2) DoDEA, when DoDEA is not the referral source or the PSB did not occur in
a DoDEA-sponsored setting
(3) Staff Judge Advocate representative
(4) MTF FAP representative
(5) MTF Pediatric/Family Practice representative
(6) Child Protective Service representative
(7) Child Advocacy Center representative
SUBJECT: Army Directive 2021-27 (Installation Response to Problematic Sexual
Behavior in Children and Youth)
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(8) community agencies serving the installation
e. The garrison commander, in coordination with the FAPM and appropriate tenant
unit commanders, will appoint, via written orders, the members of the MDT.
6. Additional Guidance. An execution order addressing Army and installation personnel
roles and responsibilities for responding to PSB-CY will be promulgated within 90 days
of the date of this directive. The Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff (DCS), G-9 will
oversee Armywide implementation of PSB-CY MDTs and the FAP response to reports
or other allegations of PSB-CY.
7. Proponent. The Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs
has overall responsibility for policy guidance in implementing installation responses to
PSB-CY. The DCS, G-9 will incorporate the provisions of this directive into Army
Regulation 608–18 within 2 years of the date of this directive.
8. Duration. This directive is rescinded on publication of the revised regulation.
Encl Christine E. Wormuth
DISTRIBUTION:
Principal Officials of Headquarters, Department of the Army
Commander
U.S. Army Forces Command
U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command
U.S. Army Materiel Command
U.S. Army Futures Command
U.S. Army Pacific
U.S. Army Europe and Africa
U.S. Army Central
U.S. Army North
U.S. Army South
U.S. Army Special Operations Command
Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command
U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Strategic Command
U.S. Army Cyber Command
U.S. Army Medical Command
U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command
(CONT)
SUBJECT: Army Directive 2021-27 (Installation Response to Problematic Sexual
Behavior in Children and Youth)
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DISTRIBUTION: (CONT)
U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
U.S. Army Military District of Washington
U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command
U.S. Army Human Resources Command
Superintendent, U.S. Military Academy
Director, U.S. Army Acquisition Support Center
Superintendent, Arlington National Cemetery
Commandant, U.S. Army War College
Director, U.S. Army Civilian Human Resources Agency
CF:
Director of Business Transformation
Commander, Eighth Army
Enclosure
REFERENCES
a. Privacy Act of 1974; Title 5, U.S. Code, section 552a
b. Title 44, U.S. Code, sections 3301–3314 (Disposal of Records)
c. National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019; Public Law 115-232,
section 1089; 132 Statute 1988
d. Department of Defense Manual 6400.01, Volume 1 (Family Advocacy
Program (FAP): FAP Standards), 22 July 2019
e. Department of Defense Instruction 6400.01 (Family Advocacy Program (FAP),
1 May 2019
f. Army Regulation 608–18 (The Army Family Advocacy Program), 30 October 2007,
with Rapid Action Revision, 13 September 2011
g. Army Directive 2019-13 (Response to Major Juvenile Misconduct and Referral of
Civilian Criminal Offenses to Civilian Authorities), 21 March 2019