social concerns

Community Intervention in Juvenile Animal Cruelty

Community Intervention in Juvenile Animal Cruelty Community Intervention in Juvenile Animal Cruelty
by Ellen Zimmerman, L.C.S.W. & Shari Lewchanin, Psy.D

This is a screening and referral tool designed for community caregivers, such as teachers, police officers, veterinarians, physicians, animal control officers, childcare workers, and others initially confronted with cruelty to animals by juveniles. It will help evaluate risk and make the most appropriate referrals and interventions for children who are cruel to animals.
ISBN: 1-879418-32-0
List Price: $9.95
Binding: Perfect bound/paper
Page Count: 25
Illustrations: 2 original art, 2 charts
Subject Area: Juvenile violence, animal welfare, psychology and psychiatry
Publication Date: May, 2000

Cruelty to animals by juveniles may be one of the earliest warning signs that a child is in trouble. It may be a sign that the child is in an unsafe situation, such as the presence of domestic violence or child abuse. It may also be a sign that the child is exhibiting early symptoms of antisocial behavior.

 

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ENDORSEMENTS

"This is a welcome development: a tool to facilitate risk assessment and effective early identification/intervention with youth at risk to commit school violence. This work about the link between animal cruelty and interpersonal violence has important insights for education, mental health, law enforcement, public health policy and practice."

Catherine Haas, LCSW
School Social Worker,
Portland Public Schools
Instructor, Dept. of Social Work,
University of Southern Maine



"Animal cruelty sometimes signals other deep and dysfunctional disorders. Shari Lewchanin and Ellen Zimmerman raise our awareness. Their screening and referral tool will be a great asset to mental health professionals, and other agencies who deal with juvenile violent behavior. Lewchanin and Zimmerman will make a difference to children and their caregivers. They deserve our gratitude."

Jerry DiMillo
Public Education Officer,
Portland Fire Dept.
Author of
Children & Fire: A Bad Match



"Cruelty…is a national, regional and local problem. This tool is something everyone can use in order to reduce these risks. You and the information within this report can make a difference."

Donald Harper, Police Officer
and Animal Control Officer,
Biddeford, Maine Police Department
and State Director,
Maine Animal Control Association




ABOUT THE AUTHORS

 

Shari Lewchanin, Psy.D., is a licensed psychologist and consultant in Kennebunk, Maine, specializing in treating child and adult victims of physical and sexual abuse. She provides consultation and training to school systems, mental health agencies and local hospitals on trauma and forensic issues related to child abuse. Share is a founder of the York County Coalition Against Violence, a multi-disciplinary taskforce addressing the link between animal and interpersonal violence. She is also a founding member of the York County Healthy Families Steering Committee, and past President of the Board of the York County Child Abuse and Neglect Council.

Ellen Zimmerman, L.C.S.W., is a clinical social worker in the Division of Child Psychiatry of Maine Medical Center and former Director of the Therapeutic Nursery. She has served on the Board of the Juvenile Firesetter Intervention Program, Housing for the Chronically Mentally Ill and the Portland Family Violence Collaborative's Committee on the Link Between Animal Abuse and Interpersonal Violence. Ellen also teaches residents, fellows and graduate students at Maine Medical Center, a teaching hospital for the University of Vermont Medical School.