Louis J. Kraus, MD, is the professor and chief of child and adolescent psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry at Rush University Medical Center. He is the founding director of the Autism Assessment, Research, Treatment and Services Center (AARTS Center). He received his MD in 1987 from Chicago Medical School and completed his residency at Northwestern University and Fellowship training in child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Chicago where he served as the director of child and adolescent forensic psychiatry, the assistant director of inpatient psychiatry and was an assistant professor. From there, Kraus had and appointment of assistant professor at Northwestern University and was Chief of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry for Northshore University Health Services (currently named). He arrived at Rush University Medical Center in 2002 as an associate professor and as the Woman’s Board Chief of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Since his time at Rush, Kraus has been significantly involved in organized medicine including being on The AMA Council of Science and Public Health for eight years and ultimately being the chairman of Council of Science and Public Health for the AMA. He’s been the alternate delegate and now delegate for child and adolescent psychiatry to the AMA for the past 23-years. For the Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Kraus has been on a number of committees and for 14-years was chairman for the committee on juvenile justice reform. Kraus has held numerous offices at the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry including being chair of their assembly. He has been on their council and executive committee as well. At the American Psychiatric Association, Kraus has been chair of the council of children, adolescent and families for years and currently is on the council of psychiatry and the law. Kraus is on the American Psychiatric Association Foundation Board of Trustees and is the treasurer. He has had a variety of other positions at the American Psychiatric Association over the years.
Kraus has been an expert for the civil rights division of the Department of Justice, dealing with incarcerated youth. The civil rights institutionalized persons act (CRIPA, Division of the Department of Justice) continues to focus on mistreatment of youth in corrections. Kraus has worked for the past decade with the American Civil Liberties Union regarding a variety of civil rights cases dealing with both children and adults.
Over the years has consulted to well over 15 different school districts in the Chicago area and continues to do so regarding appropriate assessment of students and assistance in development of Individual Education Plans (IEPs).
Kraus is well-known nationally regarding clinical and forensic work with children and adolescents as well as adults. He speaks and has been consulted internationally as well. Kraus has a variety of chapters and scholarly articles, which he has written including the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Practice Parameter of Child Forensic Evaluations. He’s co-edited four books and two monographs. These include two editions of the scientific basis of child custody decisions and two monographs, a first and second edition, through the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry of Juvenile Justice Reform.
Kraus continues to focus on his clinical endeavors and forensic work focusing on child and adolescent custody and high conflict divorces, juvenile justice, complex civil rights issues, civil defense and a variety of other state and federal cases. Clinically, Kraus continues to assess and treat children and adolescents with a particular interest in children with an autistic spectrum diagnosis, mood and anxiety disorders and ADHD.
