Claims that meeting the health care needs of homosexual and bisexual teenagers has become public health imperative. Points out stigma of homosexuality often gives rise to psychosocial problems for teenagers in process of sexual identity development. Offers suggestions to support healthy development, assist recovery from stigma, and avert…

This document discusses whether young people with difficulty entering adulthood can be helped, or if accumulated effects of various adversitites have caused irremediable damage. First the developmental tasks that adolescents need to accomplish before they can take on adult roles are described. Next, two well-known explanations for youths' failure…

This document discusses the differences in maturity of late adolescents, aged 16 to 21, and how lack of readiness by some adolescents has a major impact upon communities and upon the individual. The document illustrates the tension between individuation and regulation with five vignettes of actual cases. Sources of variation, including biological…

This document describes the population of youth needing special assistance in the transition to adulthood and the special problems they face. It describes the social systems that attempt to serve these youth and examines the deficiencies of current social policies. Promising developments in policy and practice that can offer guidance in finding…

Storytelling is a common African tradition, and although it has many varieties, two pervasive themes are harmony with nature and concord in a cultural setting. These themes take form in stories of conflict resolution, rites of passage, and fantastic dramatization of events. (MSE)

Reviews the literature concerning homosexual identity development. Discusses at-risk issues (suicide, human immunodeficiency virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome infection, school problems) and developmental difficulties for gay and lesbian youth (sensitization, identity confusion, identity assumption, commitment). Proposes developmental…