State laws governing recreational and medicinal cannabis use are trending toward legalization, which has implications for school social workers and the students, families, and communities they serve. The patchwork of policies and conflicting public opinion sends mixed messages to youth and families who may lack sufficient information regarding…

Introduction: Quality professional development (PD) is critical for health teachers to positively impact student learning. PD elements include administrator support, teacher involvement, content-specific focus, collaboration time, and program evaluation. Purpose: This study investigated (a) whether PD was supported, (b) which PD opportunities were…

Background: An estimated 1 in 5 American children has a vision problem. Children living in poor urban environments have twice the normal rate of vision problems. Uncorrected vision problems can worsen over time and result in permanent vision loss. Early detection and treatment of vision problems is therefore essential in optimizing children's…

The Practice Notes section is intended to keep readers informed about health education practice around the country. It is an attempt to spread the word about exemplary strategies, initiatives, and programs and share successes in overcoming obstacles or challenges. Periodically, articles presenting perspectives on practice-related issues are also…

The purpose of this study was to examine the difference in effectiveness between comprehensive sexuality abstinence-based education and abstinence-only education. A survey was developed and distributed to over 140 individuals via a variety of sources such as: (1) the researcher's e-mail lists; (2) a group of City Core/City Year volunteers; (3) a…

This study assessed knowledge of HIV/AIDS among high school dropouts enrolled in a military structured at-risk youth program that offered them a second chance. Surveys of demographics, risk behaviors and attitudes, perceptions, and knowledge indicated that participants had low knowledge levels, though knowledge scores were higher on certain…

Previous research indicated that Catholic high schools in the United States were not addressing the topic of homosexuality in any significant and systematic way prior to the mid-1990s, though practitioners in Catholic high schools have begun to address the topic in recent years. This study, in sampling seven Catholic schools in the greater Chicago…

When the use of illegal drugs first exploded on college campuses in the late 1960s and ultimately became a part of the fabric of pop culture in the United States, fears about the possible effect of this phenomenon on adolescents and society as a whole began to consume the public. One of the most widespread and promising initiatives to emerge in…

This collection of student monographs includes: "Educating Older Adults About Medications" (Patricia Barrett-Schwer); "Health Educators' Role in Weight Management and Body Acceptance" (Melanie H. Brede); "Health Educators as Advocates for Organ Donation" (Jennifer L. Hawker); "Involvement of Illinois School…