Describes the innovative efforts of Mother Seton Academy to provide sixth through eighth graders from low-income families with free, quality education and numerous opportunities for academic and personal development. (YKH)

Portrays the church's emphases on human rights and educating for human dignity as critical dimensions of violence reduction. Stresses that instilling Catholic values helps prevent violence and can also help people deal with its negative repercussions. (EMH)

Reviews statistics on youth gangs and gang violence. Discusses the socioeconomic and psychological causes of gangs and gang membership. Describes "Making the Right Connection," a gang prevention program in inner-city Catholic schools in Los Angeles, utilizing a curriculum focusing on self-esteem, personal responsibility, value formation,…

Argues that teachers seeking to identify what constitutes a crisis for children must consider the child's response to and feelings about the experience, not just the event itself. Reviews common physical, psychological, and social symptoms of crisis. Discusses ways to help children in crisis while maintaining appropriate boundaries. (PAA)

Presents information about suicide among adolescents. Profiles the suicidal person and reviews general distress signals and events precipitating suicide. Suggests responses to potential or actual suicides, including intervention, prevention, and ministry strategies. Provides recommendations for educators and clarifies common myths about suicide.…

Describes the various programs and goals of St. Monica School, Kansas City, Missouri, and provides individual accounts of student success despite great adversity. Discusses different ways of combating the violence and poverty of urban areas to provide emotional, spiritual, and educational support and guidance. (YKH)

Describes the Ignatian Lay Volunteer Corps (ILVC), an organization of retired people who volunteer to serve the poor by teaching and counseling. Suggests that ILVC volunteers want to help others as a way of giving back what they have been given. (AJL)

Provides information on alcoholism and codependency to help teachers identify and respond to children of alcoholics (COAs). Discusses characteristics of alcoholic homes and problems encountered by children and adult COAs. Examines survival "masks" of COAs, including hero, rebel, adjustor, clown, and caretaker. Lists organizational,…

Reports growth in the number of chronically ill children attending Catholic schools. Describes the separate roles of home, school, and hospital in children's long-term care. Urges educators to obtain necessary information on children's attendance, peer interaction, education, and medical compliance. Reviews issues specific to chronically ill…

Describes a new program entitled Faith in the City created to strengthen and enhance every aspect of Catholic elementary education in Washington's center city, and to find ways to help the schools grow by working together. (YKH)

Argues that white, upper-middle-class adolescents are particularly vulnerable to depression, suicide, alcohol/substance abuse, date rape, anxiety, low self-esteem, and eating disorders. Discusses lack of parental involvement and the difficulties wealthy youth have in developing inner resources. Recommends involving students in service projects and…