The needs of families of autistic children are discussed and a program designed to prevent unnecessary institutionalization by providing comprehensive services and reducing the stress in the child's family is described. Parents participate through voluntary, program related, and support activities. The family services include respite care and…

Presents Project Adapt, a psychogeriatric rehabilitation service developed to integrate assessment, behavior and medication management, and outcome evaluation to meet needs of mentally ill in nursing homes. Notes that mental health staff perceived significantly more improvement among participating nursing home residents than among those not…

The article discusses the celebrated case of Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb, two highly gifted boys who were convicted of a murder that the author states was caused in large part by their giftedness. (DLS)

The real issues of importance to teenagers are managing their lives more effectively and learning practical social survival skills. (JD)

Discusses the importance of rituals and concrete things to help children deal with the death of a loved one. Eight books of fiction for elementary students that portray young people dealing with death are summarized, and ideas for classroom and library activities are suggested. (PEN)

The 2006 National Resiliency Response Initiative for Katrina's Kids is a systematic approach to providing resiliency support to the over 200,000 children victimized by one of the worst natural disasters in American history. From the Gulf States region, children suffered trauma during and after Hurricane Katrina as they became displaced young…

Although strategies for rewarding teachers abound, many of these schemes are failing because they do not acknowledge the psychological nature of teachers. This paper explores the role of these psychological factors in incentives, motivation, and commitment to the profession. (MT)

Refutes sociological and anthropological theories about the generation gap held by Kingsley Davis, Margaret Mead, and Ruth Benedict. Argues for a psychological interpretation of intergenerational conflict. The latter is not a product of adult rigidity, but a natural consequence of adult generational responsibility toward youth. (MLH)

Teachers often have difficulty responding to emotionally upset children in ways that help the students solve their problems. Examples of commonly used "put-downs and put-offs" and suggested techniques that teachers can use to lend emotional support are offered. (DF)

The sources and elements of a model for teaching persons with diabetes the importance of adhering to a prescribed regimen are discussed, including perceived threat of the disease, benefits of therapy, barriers to compliance, personal variables, individual state of health, and social pressures. (MC)

Studied the use of computer games with a group of 50 frail elderly nursing home residents. Four computer games were especially modified for this population. Moderate mental and physical impairments did not hamper the residents, who indicated the games were fun, challenging, and improved self-esteem. (JAC)

Young people with chronic conditions experience more difficulties with psychological adjustment than healthy young people. A chronic condition is one that persists for longer than 3 months; a clear diagnosis is not required before a problem can be defined as chronic. Various approaches to improve the psychological outcome for young people with…

Parental abduction encompasses a broad array of illegal behaviors that involves one parent taking, detaining, concealing, or enticing away his or her child from the parent having custodial access. When the abducted parent intends to permanently alter custodial access by hiding the child or removing the child to another locale, the effects on the…

Demonstrates through the writing of one second-grade student how some of life's crises can be successfully worked out through the writing process. (HTH)

Caring for a pet can give handicapped children a new sense of responsibility and self-esteem. The value of pet therapy is discussed, and examples of the sometimes dramatic response of handicapped children who participate in such programs are cited. Guidelines for choosing a pet are included. (PP)