This investigation tested the internal structure of scores on the Mental Distress Response Scale (MDRS), a peer-to-peer mental health support screening tool, with a national sample of 237 adolescents from 111 high schools in 30 states. Results revealed psychometric support for the scores on the MDRS and demographic differences in students'…

College education plays a crucial role in upward social mobility. However, despite applying to and being accepted by colleges, students often fail to matriculate -- a phenomenon known as "summer melt". The summer after high school graduation is a vulnerable period for these students due to limited counseling support from both high…

This qualitative study investigated high school student peer counselors' experience of a mind-body medicine curriculum incorporated into a peer counseling program following a school shooting. A series of focus groups were held with peer counselors in 10th-12th grade (n = 24, mean age = 16.5 [SD = 1.0]; 71% female) participating in the mind-body…

Bullying affects a substantial proportion of school pupils, and peer counselling services have been established to help tackle this problem. The present study aimed to further the understanding of why affected pupils do or do not choose to utilise this form of social support. Pupils ("N" = 99, aged 12-16 years) from the UK were asked…

This article provides an overview of GED holders admitted into the Successful Transition and Retention Track (START) two-year pilot-project. An enhanced college-success course, career and mental-health counseling, and English and mathematics tutoring acclimated GED holders to college. Results suggest that postsecondary educational attainment of…

School-based mentoring programs which utilize peer mentors have become a popular and cost-effective way of providing support services to students. While several studies examining mentee outcomes appeared in the past decade, less research has examined characteristics of the high school mentors involved. This study examined social interest, social…

The Teen Outreach Reproductive CHallenge (TORCH) is a peer education program that provides information on various topics relevant to adolescent sexual health to a diverse audience, ranging from teens to health care providers. This information is disseminated through various projects by a group of New York City high-school students who are…

This article briefly describes how 20 students at Libertyville High School in Lake County, IL, are billing the new peer-counseling program they launched online in January. Students are able to e-mail questions about anything that's troubling them without revealing their identities, and their counterparts get back to them just as anonymously. The…

Drawing on the parallel literature on increasing student voice in the field of education and on building youth-adult partnerships in the youth development field, this article examines the place of young people in efforts to increase social justice in school settings. Through an examination of thirteen youth-adult partnership initiatives, it…

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of peer counseling on high school students who have previously failed two or more classes in a nine week quarter. This study was constructed by comparing who previously failed and were subsequently given peer counseling with a matched group of students who failed and did not receive peer…

To teach students how to become contributing members of society, Park View High School in Sterling, Virginia, focuses on collaboration, diversity, and volunteerism. Since developing leaders is part of being a community of collaboration, a curricular component supports its efforts to model the kind of leadership it wants its students to develop. To…