Sound Medicine -- June 1, 2002

Barbara Lewis and Dr. Ora Pescovitz talk to experts about:

Aggression in children
School violence
Indiana's "Safe Cradle" law

Aggression in Children

Since there have been schools, there have been school bullies. But today, aggression in children gets a serious look. A recent mental health symposium in Indianapolis focused several sessions on aggression in children.

Ted Petti, MD, a child psychiatrist from the Indiana University School of Medicine, has conducted research on severe psychiatric disorders of children and adolescents, including young children who kill. His work involves assessing the effectiveness of psychological and drug treatments of severe psychiatric disorders of children and teens. Dr. Petti is the Arthur B. Richter Professor of Child Psychiatry and Medical Director, Youth Services, at the Larue Carter Hospital in Indianapolis.

Resources

Dr. Petti recommends the books, Your Child and Your Adolescent, both from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. The books have helpful hints for parents of kids who are bullies or being bullied.

In addition, Dr. Petti recommends the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Web site. Although the site is geared for health professionals, under the Facts for Families link parents and teachers will find lots of good information.

School Violence

Cindy Jackson, PhD, explains how a child's aggression plays out in school. Cindy Jackson is a behavioral specialist and director of special services for Indianapolis Public Schools. Part of her job is to address the threat of school violence in her school system and take steps for preventing it in the classroom. Jackson holds a doctorate in special education and educational psychology.

Resources:

Dr. Cindy Jackson recommends the following web sites:

• The Time 2 Act Web site is for parents, students and educators. It contains suggestions for preventing violence and aggression among children.
• Parents looking for help with a disabled child, including a child with emotional and behavioral disabilities, can get support and info from the PACER Center, a Minneapolis-based advocacy group.
• Parents and educators dealing with student behavior problems will find excellent interventional advice and resources on The Behavior Home Page, put together by Kentucky-based educators and counselors.
  

Indiana's "Safe Cradle" law

It is a national problem that's hard to fathom: tens of thousands of babies are abandoned every year. Most are left safely in a hospital, but some are left in public places by mothers who fear that the law will come after them. Now, across the U.S. and here in Indiana, a new law has been passed that gives troubled mothers a way to give their children away without criminal charges.

State Senator Jim Merritt, Jr. talks about the "Safe Haven" Law in Indiana and the publicity campaign for what's dubbed the "Safe Cradle" portion of the law.

Resources:

Read more at Indiana Safe Cradle Web site, including how you can help support the advocacy group, Reaching Parents in Crisis.
For more information about the national Safe Haven Legislation go to the Child Welfare League of America Web site.

Upcoming program:
We interview Dr. Atul Gawande, author of the book, Complications, essays about dilemmas facing today's doctors.

Call or email us with questions for Dr. Gawande or about any other medical issue on your mind or in the news.

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Source: Youth Violence: A Report of the Surgeon General