Vulnerable children: Protection and social reintegration of child soldiers and youth members of gangs.

In the 30 years since the adoption of the United Nation's Convention of the Rights of the Child (CRC), international policy and research has continuously examined the impact of community violence exposure on child development. This article uses the framework of the CRC to review how the world has studied the involvement of child soldiers in armed conflict. We then apply Article 38 of the CRC (which prohibits the use of child soldiers) to parallel the literature regarding youth involvement in gangs. We argue that due to high similarities of these groups, including in regards to risk factors, traumatic experiences, and post-experience sequelae, youth gang members should be included as a protected group under the CRC as are child soldiers. We conclude with a discussion of programs that may be effective at preventing recruitment into armed conflict and gang memberships, and programs that reduce traumatic symptoms of children who experience and perpetrate violence.

An Examination of Eligibility Decisions in New York State's Assisted Outpatient Treatment.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare assisted outpatient treatment (AOT) eligibility characteristics among participants receiving community treatment through AOT and non-AOT referrals. METHODS: A total of 131 AOT and non-AOT charts were reviewed from three sites within one treatment agency in New York City. Intake information was coded for AOT eligibility information, suicide history, and risk of future violence according to the Historical Clinical Risk Management-20, version 3 (HCR-20V3), instrument. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between groups for measurable AOT eligibility criteria. Compared with non-AOT participants, the participants referred through AOT scored significantly higher on HCR-20V3 for risk of future violence; however, most charts, including almost half of AOT participants, received low risk ratings. CONCLUSIONS: Study findings raise questions about why some individuals, and not others, are referred to AOT in New York City.