B4U-ACT was established in 2003 as a 501(c)(3) organization with the following purposes:
- To publicly promote services and resources for self-identified individuals (adults and adolescents) who are sexually attracted to children and seek such assistance
- To educate mental health providers regarding the approaches helpful for such individuals
- To develop a pool of providers who agree to serve these individuals and abide by B4U-ACT’s Principles and Perspectives of Practice
- To educate the public regarding issues faced by these individuals
B4U-ACT assembled a list of over 30 credentialed practitioners in Maryland who agreed to its Principles and Perspectives of Practice, and who were willing to provide caring and inviting services to clients who are sexually attracted to minors. Lay volunteers were sought who would be trained to operate a hotline for the purpose of referring minor-attracted individuals to these professionals.
Due to the tremendous barriers to communication among minor-attracted adults, mental health professionals, and the public, recruiting these volunteers proved to be unworkable. As a result, B4U-ACT chose to direct its efforts at working to eliminate these barriers.
To do this, it organized a small working group of mental health professionals and minor-attracted adults to identify these barriers, discuss how their elimination would benefit both parties and society in general, and develop plans for interventions to overcome them. This working group compiled a report of its findings and future plans for B4U-ACT.
The report suggested holding workshops for mental health professionals and minor-attracted people in order to promote dialog and understanding between the two groups. As a result, in March 2008, B4U-ACT began offering its series of semi-annual workshops.
