Notes that increased emphasis on early intervention has created opportunities for greater involvement by counselors at prekindergarten level. Sees preparation for this role as requiring strong background in early childhood development and family systems orientation to intervention. Contends that professional perspective that counselor brings to…

Discusses the need for culturally specific approaches to effective substance abuse intervention among urban youth. Discusses high risk youth and the communities in which they live. Presents possible ethnocultural intervention strategies. (JS)

The papers in this collection were written by an interdisciplinary group to address two main questions: What conditions deter young 'involvement in politics and civic life? What reforms could enhance youth engagement? Most of the contributors met face-to-face in Washington, DC in March 2005 to discuss their papers and the general issue of youth…

Nine fact sheets relevant to children's emotional well-being are presented in this document. The first fact sheet, "Teenagers with Eating Disorders" focuses on anorexia nervosa and bulimia. The second fact sheet, "Children and Grief" describes age-related responses to death, and ways of coping with a death in a family that…

Describes experimental research agenda that involved incorporation of familiar activities into holistic emerging, student-directed curriculum for students labeled as exceptional, emotionally disturbed, conducted disordered, or generally at risk. Describes attempt to develop curriculum of the mind which could help reconstruct the child's way of…

This document reports on the threat of HIV/AIDS to young people in the United States and proposes ways in which the Federal government could further address the needs of adolescents. Analysis of data gathered from young people affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic and from professionals engaged in HIV research, prevention, and care revealed several…

Four fact sheets relevant to children's emotional well being are presented in this document. The first fact sheet, "Responding to Child Sexual Abuse" presents guidelines for responding to children who have been sexually abused. Information is given for reporting abuse to the local Child Protection Agency. Also discussed are issues regarding…

The high prevalence of alcohol and substance abuse by adolescents poses a significant threat to the wellness of youth. Adolescents appear to use drugs for a variety of reasons. In addition to the multiple etiologic and risk factors present for substance abuse, there are many pathways teenagers may follow on their way to substance abuse. The…

This report examines the potential impact of federal welfare legislation, Public Law 104-193, The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, on vulnerable families already in or at risk of entering the child welfare/child protection systems. The report includes an overview of the challenges states face; questions for state…

Adolescents at high risk for not making a successful transition into adulthood may become school dropouts, abuse drugs and other substances, exhibit poor problem-solving skills, and display a wide variety of nonproductive or destructive behaviors. An after-school program, Youth 2000 Visions, was designed to assist local adolescents in addressing…

Describes the increase in nonmarital childbearing in the United States in the past 50 years. Considers age differences in nonmarital childbearing and the disproportionate numbers of poorly educated unmarried mothers. Maintains that changes in sexual behavior of unmarried people and declines in marriages of unmarried pregnant women contributed to…

A psychosocial theoretical perspective creates a rationale for directing alcohol education efforts toward enabling youth to make low-risk lifestyle choices. Meeting students' psychological needs by implementing alcohol abuse prevention curricula to improve social skills is recommended. The article discusses the etiology and treatment of problem…

Reviews the warning signs of adolescent suicidal behavior and the interview methods that are appropriate for counselors to use in diagnosing suicidal tendencies in adolescents. Reviews questions counselors might ask to explore suicidal potentiality. (TE)

Found high rate of suicide attempts and ideation among 229 seventh- through ninth-grade American Indian students on reserves in Alberta. Prevalence of suicidality was very similar to rates reported for Navajo youth. Controlling for age, risk factors for suicide attempts were heavy alcohol use, no father in home, sleeping problems, and low…

Adolescents have no prepared, appreciated, approved place in society, so they tackle identity formation and development of self-worth and self-efficacy on their own. Society must change its view that youth are troubled or harmful and instead provide opportunities for meaningful roles for adolescents, particularly those without many years of formal…