| The
following checklist of "early warning signs"
will facilitate identification of students who
may be in need of intervention. The greater the
number of items that are checked, the greater
the potential for violent acting-out behavior.
For help, turn to individuals who regularly work
with at-risk children and adolescents ‹professionals
in the fields of education, law enforcement, social
services, medicine, mental heath, etc.)
- Children and adolescents
at-risk may:
- express self-destructive
or homicidal ideation
- express feelings of hopelessness
- have a history of self-destructive
behavior
- give away possessions
- articulate specific plans
to harm self and/or others
- appear withdrawn
- engage in ³bullying²
other children
- evidence significant changes
in mood
- have difficulty with impulse
control
- experience sleep and eating
disturbances
- evidence significant changes
in behavior
- have experienced prior trauma/tragedy
- engage in substance abuse
- have been/are victims of
child abuse
- become involved with gangs
- have experienced a significant
loss
- evidence a preoccupation
with fighting
- evidence a preoccupation
with television
- have a history of antisocial
behavior programs/movies with violent themes
- evidence a low tolerance
for frustration
- evidence a preoccupation
with games with violent themes
- externalize blame for their
difficulties
- evidence a preoccupation
with guns and other weapons
- have harmed small animals
- have access to a firearm
- have engaged in fire setting
have brought a weapon to school
- evidence persistent bed wetting
- evidence frequent disciplinary
problems
- appear/acknowledge feeling
depressed exhibit poor academic performance
- talk about not being around
- have been frequently truant
from school
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