A Framework for Assessing Violent Behaviors in Elementary School-Age Children

The importance of preventing and intervening in bullying and other forms of school violence has been well established. This has resulted in the publication of numerous programs designed to prevent bullying and violence in schools. However, a missing piece revolves around the social worker's role in identifying and assessing violent behaviors in elementary school-age children. The purpose of this article is to provide social workers with a framework for identifying and assessing violent behaviors in elementary schoolage children. Specifically, this article provides an overview of the current understanding of violent behaviors in children and a framework for assessing violent behaviors in elementary school-age children using a structured professional judgment approach, the Early Assessment Risk List for Boys (EARL-20B) and the Early Assessment Risk List for Girls (EARL-21G), observations, interviews, and targeted violence risk assessment.