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