This study examines the cultural and contextual factors that influence the decisions of underrepresented urban youth, who identify themselves as Black/African American, Latino, Arab, or Chaldean, to participate in youth programs. Although youth programs are increasingly recognized for their positive influences, little is known about the factors…

The goal of this article is to move beyond the more traditional question, "Does business have a role in public education?" A historical overview of education suggests that the involvement of the private sector is not a new phenomenon and is not likely to end in the near future. Here, the authors argue that a much more fruitful line of…

Using a multitheory approach, this study was designed to investigate the influence of urban adolescents' perceived autonomy and competence in physical education on their physical activity intentions and behaviors during leisure time. A transcontextual model was hypothesized and tested. Urban adolescents (N = 653, ages 11-15 years) completed…

Three social contexts--family, neighborhood youth centers, and peer relationships--were examined in relation to several measures of adjustment among 1,406 mostly minority, inner-city adolescents. Family and center involvement were directly related to 3 of the 4 adjustment measures (i.e., achievement orientation, emotion regulation, attitudes…

The number and complexity of health issues facing today's adolescents defy reason. Traditional health/sex education programs and those facilitating parent-adolescent communication are inadequate. Information alone, without access to a range of medical services, cannot prevent pregnancy among sexually active adolescents, help already pregnant young…

FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH DIFFERENCES IN THE EDUCATIONAL STATUS OF RURAL AND URBAN YOUTH ARE EXPLORED. TOPICS DISCUSSED INCLUDE EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT, ENROLLMENT RATES, PATTERNS OF SCHOOL RETARDATION, FACTORS RELATED TO SCHOOL ENROLLMENT, AND RETARDATION AND FUTURE EDUCATIONAL PROSPECTS OF RURAL YOUTH. THE RELATIVE EFFECTS OF REGION, AGE, SEX,…

A program to train professional aides to identify, recruit, and train indigenous volunteer leaders to conduct nutrition education programs with youth groups was tested. The program employed 24 professional aides, 56% being under 25 years of age (13 whites and 10 Negroes). The aides attended a 3-day orientation session, at which the procedure to be…

Analyzes data on drug use initiation among Black, urban adolescents who were interviewed in an ongoing health study begun in 1968. Compares drug use patterns (prevalence and heaviness of use) at two life stages (ages 18-23 and 26-31). Examines ages at risk of drug initiation, lifetime prevalence, cumulative drug involvement, and timing of onset.…

An Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a tax reduction and a wage supplement for low- and moderate-income working families. The federal government administers an EITC through the income tax, as do some states. States that enact EITCs can reduce child poverty, support welfare-to-work efforts, and cut taxes for families struggling to make ends meet.…

This report presents preliminary data for 1999 on births in the United States. U.S. data on births are shown by age, race, and Hispanic origin of the mother. Data on marital status, prenatal care, cesarean delivery, and low birthweight rate are also presented. Data are based on a more than 97% sample of births for 1999. The crude birth rate in…

The designated leaders of maternal and child health (MCH) in more than 70 major urban city and county health departments submitted profiles of urban MCH efforts as a requirement for federally subsidized attendance. When these profiles were reviewed, eight broad themes were apparent as lessons from MCH practice. The lessons are: (1) drawing in…

This resource guide brings together the latest available information on Latino adolescent violence prevention efforts and existing resources in Latino communities. It seeks to help maternal and child health (MCH) professionals better address the specific needs of Latino youth and their families by presenting ethnic-specific factors for…

As part of the Assessing the New Federalism project, this report examines the disparity in resources available to children across the states and in different living arrangements using data from the first wave of the National Survey of America's Families. Among findings is that, with adjustment for differences in family size, the median income…

This report documents the experiences of low-income, never-married fathers who have children receiving public assistance and who are required to establish paternity and pay child support. Seventy-one fathers were interviewed either in focus groups or individually. Each father was asked to describe his relationship with his children, his experience…

This document is designed to help men faced with the legal issues of paternity establishment and the child support system understand the processes and get an overview of the system. Because the laws of the individual states vary, the document is written in general terms and often indicates the circumstances under which the state law or policy will…