Social/contextual risk factors. The influences of peer and family relationships, connection to social institutions, and environment are important to consider in adolescent risk assessment. The social/contextual risk factors in the SAVRY are (a) peer delinquency, (b) peer rejection, (c) stress and poor coping, (d) poor parental management, (e) lack of personal/social support, and (f) community disorganization. Similar to the historical risk factors, the social/contextual risk factors are coded as low, moderate, or high. Descriptors of each also are included in the manual.
Individual risk factors. Youth attitudes and psychological and behavioral functioning also are included in the SAVRY. Individual risk factors include (a) negative attitudes, (b) risk taking/impulsivity, (c) substance use difficulties, (d) anger management problems, (e) low empathy/remorse, (f) attention deficit/hyperactivity difficulties, (g) poor compliance, and (h) low interest/commitment to school. Each of the above individual risk factors is coded as low, moderate, or high with applicable descriptors found within the manual.
Protective factors. Risk factors increase the likelihood of violence, while protective factors may reduce the overall potential for violence. Protective factors include (a) prosocial involvement, (b) strong social support, (c) strong attachments and bonds, (d) positive attitude toward intervention and authority, (e) strong commitment to school, and (f) resilient personality traits. Protective factors are simply rated as present or absent.
A thorough understanding of and supervision in utilizing the SAVRY is a necessary component when evaluating the general risk factors that may need to be considered in assessing an adolescent for the potential of violence; however, another critical and sometimes even more imminent portion of the assessment may be the assessment for targeted violence.
Targeted Violence Risk Assessment
Targeted violence risk assessments are very similar to what school counselors have been trained in with regard to suicide assessments. In the case of suicide, the central questions revolve around suicidal ideation, plans, mood disorders (i.e., depression), substance use disorders, hopelessness (U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, 2004), intention to die, and lethality (Capuzzi, 2002). Information obtained from a suicide assessment leads the school counselor to a determination of the degree of risk and targets for intervention (e.g., taking away the means, contracting, counseling, hospitalization; Capuzzi). Similarly, the central questions in the case of targeted violence risk assessments revolve around whether the student is "on a pathway toward a violent act and if so how fast he or she is moving and where could one intervene?" (Borum & Reddy, 2001, p. 377).
As noted by previous researchers (Stevens et al., 2001; Vossekuil et al., 2000), incidents of school violence usually are planned. Such planning includes what Borum and Reddy (2001) called attack-related behaviors. [Attack-related behaviors] may include developing an idea and plan to engage in a violent act toward a target; acquiring the means or capacity for the violent act (such as a weapon or other means of inflicting harm); selecting a target or targets; and determining the time, place, and manner in which to approach or otherwise gain access to the target (such as discovering the target's [schedule of activities]). These behaviors indicate planning and preparation for an attack. They are significant markers of the client's movement on the pathway from idea to action. (p. 380)
- Bernes, Kerry B.; Bardick, Angela D.; Conducting Adolescent Violence Risk Assessments: A Framework for School Counselors; Professional School Counseling, Apr2007, Vol. 10 Issue 4, p419-427
Personal
Reflection Exercise #5
The preceding section contained information
regarding using the SAVRY to enhance violence risk assessment in adolescents. Write three
case study examples regarding how you might use the content of this section in
your practice.
QUESTION
12
What are the ten historical items included in the SAVRY for adolescent violence risk assessment?
To select and enter your answer go to Test.