The theme of this issue--discovering virtues in delinquents--is an excellent reminder of the power of perception. "Virtue" and "delinquents" are two words that do not seem to belong in the same sentence, and by positioning them together, one is challenged to perceive them in a different way. What one often fails to recognize is that seeing a…

Advances in neuroscience are providing fresh insights about emotional and behavioral problems of children and youth. However, the flood of brain-related articles is a mixed blessing. Some popular authors on the brain, as well as certain researchers, take a very narrow view of attributing complex social problems to brain disorder. The effect is to…

While rhetoric about strength-based approaches abounds, this perspective has not penetrated the front lines of practice. Many programs serving troubled youngsters are still mired in a deficit and deviance orientation. This article provides practical strategies for assessing the strengths of children and developing interventions to tap their assets…

American social and educational interventions are often designed for children and youth who have risk factors or destructive behaviors. Effective strategies can be designed to assist youth to grow up to be happy, healthy, productive adults before they show negative characteristics. Restorative Practices, an emerging interdisciplinary field, offers…

The performing arts can provide an avenue for creativity and healing to youth and adults in correctional settings. (Contains 1 endnote.)

Many programs serving troubled youth struggle with behavior management systems that are not focused on treatment and do not provide the skills needed by youth to transition back to their communities. Looking outside the boundaries of traditional point and level systems can be one way to eliminate these problems. This article describes the authors'…

Autonomy is a basic human need having influence on motivation. Facilitating student autonomy is an essential ingredient of effective programs for maximizing internalized change and increasing motivation in troubled and troubling youth. This article examines the theoretical concepts of autonomy and control related to choices and considers their…

This intervention targets distortions in thinking which contribute to conflict with students and staff. After numerous assault charges in her school, June was placed in residential treatment. During her first sixty days, she experienced several crisis situations which included assaults on staff and students, physical restraints, and eventual…

When used within a comprehensive positive behavioral support program, the CPI Postvention model can serve as a facilitation tool, guiding staff through functional behavioral assessment for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Challenging behavior is defined as behavior of such intensity, frequency, or duration that the physical safety of the…

Aggression Replacement Training (ART) is a potent K-12 intervention that responds to many of the developmental and natural needs of aggressive and antisocial students. Woven into the curriculum preventatively or as a stand-alone course in response to an antisocial school climate, ART facilitates the learning necessary to reach and provide lasting…

The two most powerful forces for directing change in troubling young people are trust and relationship. The degree to which they are present between youth and adult is the degree to which positive change is possible. This article draws upon principles from the book, "The Resilience Revolution." Children are most primed to turn to trusted…

For more than 50 years, adolescent peer group treatment has been both glorified and criticized. Quality control has been a problem for the Positive Peer Culture (PPC) treatment modality throughout its history. The following article includes observations and commentary on the history, strength-based elements, and criticism of PPC.

Programs desiring to offer true alternatives for troubled children and youth can focus efforts through a developmental lens. Adults who focus their intervention decisions through beliefs based on healthy social-emotional developmental theory and practice provide a strength-based alternative, a sturdy foundation, and an oasis of hope for youth to…

There are major differences in perspective between the traditional medical model of treatment for troubled children and more recent strength-based approaches. This is particularly evident when widespread use of psychoactive drugs becomes a substitute for interpersonal therapeutic interventions. Drugs and relationships both impact the brain, but in…

The previous article in this series introduced the triune brain, the three components of which handle specialized life tasks. The survival brain, or brain stem, directs automatic physiological functions, such as heartbeat and breathing, and mobilizes fight/flight behaviour in times of threat. The emotional (or limbic) brain activates positive or…