Budding Sociopath?

I am a court apptd special advocate for a 5yo boy who was removed from his home. The boy has been placed in foster care and has been biting and sticking safety pins into a baby he is placed with. According to his father, he also tortures small animals. He is developmentally advanced for his age and was born prematurely and marijuana exposed. I am tasked with making recommendations to the court as to services which may benefit this boy, but am uncertain where to head. I realize he's far to young to be designated sociopathic, I have thus far recommended psycho-social assessment, but this child will need far more. Any recommendations?

[specialmom]

I think the mental health evaluation is what he needs most.  He will most likely need counseling as he sounds as if he has been abused as well (guessing only).  You don't really provide any information other than his need for psychological testing.  I am not sure what developmentally advanced means.  There are many delays (ODD, ADD, sensory) that have nothing to do with intelligence but you really don't give any information about these areas.  So, with info given----  mental health evaluation by a psychiatrist and counseling by a psychotherapist would be important.  Good luck.  You have a thankless job-----  but I will thank you for doing it!!!

[margypops]

It may also be a good idea to make sure the foster home has no small animals or any animals for him to hurt, and definatly he needs an evaluation it is possible he has also been abused and it is a learned behavior.