| In the last week alone, four shootings/murders made | | | | Has your child or teen witnessed or been a victim of |
| headlines. They shared something shocking in | | | | violence?2. Has the child in your care been abused, |
| common? The alleged offender was a teenager.1. A | | | | neglected or abandoned by a family member?3. Has |
| teenager was arrested and charged with attempted | | | | your child been cruel to animals?4. Has your child had |
| murder in the shooting of five people at a club.2. | | | | moderate to severe behavior problems (such as |
| Sentencing for a 16-year-old boy who admitted | | | | stealing, punching holes in walls, or staying out all night |
| stabbing his mother 111 times was postponed.3. The | | | | without permission) that began before the age of 13?5. |
| first of four teenagers to be tried in the killing of a | | | | When your child hurts or injures someone does he feel |
| Chinese restaurant deliveryman was found guilty of | | | | sorry he/she got caught, rather than sorry for the |
| first-degree murder.4. A teen in a middle school shoots | | | | harm caused to his/her victim.6. In the past, has your |
| two classmates, but is stopped by hero teacher.Dr. | | | | child assaulted another person that was not in |
| Kathryn Seifert a youth and family violence and | | | | self-defense? (This is particularly important if it was a |
| trauma expert who has over 30 years of experience | | | | younger, weaker child or a parent, policeman, or |
| believes that a recent study sheds light on the issue of | | | | teacher.)7. Has you child had severe learning and/or |
| teen violence. While some behavioral (aggressive) | | | | behavior problems in school for more than a year?Dr. |
| disorders have a biological base, they may also have | | | | Seifert warns that although these questions can be |
| roots in childhood maltreatment and in exposure to | | | | easily answered, their answers should not be taken |
| violence. The overlap between behavioral disorders | | | | lightly. Adults and caregivers need to take immediate |
| and histories of childhood trauma is greater than has | | | | action to seek help for families and teens that have |
| been previously recognized, said Seifert. While not all | | | | experienced traumatic experiences. Without |
| traumatized children become aggressive, there are | | | | professional help, such as counseling from |
| warning signs that can help parents determine if their | | | | organizations like Dr. Seifert?s firm, Eastern Shore |
| child needs to get professional help.Using recent | | | | Psychological Services, many teens may never get |
| studies, other scientific data, and 30 years of | | | | the help they need. And without help, a troubled |
| experience, Dr. Seifert has created 7 questions to | | | | teenager could become the next headline. With the |
| determine if your teenager may be at risk of | | | | proper interventions, youth violence is preventable.Dr. |
| committing violent or aggressive behavior. The more | | | | Kathryn Seifert has over 30 years experience in |
| questions to which you answer yes, the more likely it is | | | | mental health, addictions, and criminal justice work. She |
| that your child needs professional help. If the answer to | | | | has authored the CARE and numerous articles. Dr. |
| 6 or 7 questions is ?yes?, then data shows that your | | | | Seifert has lectured internationally on youth and family |
| teenager may be at risk of aggressive or violent | | | | violence and trauma. |
| behavior and needs immediate professional attention.1. | | | | |