Reviews issues related to school social workers' skepticism toward mentoring and the current mentoring movement. Discusses theoretical cornerstones of mentoring programs as well as principles of effective programs. Argues that school social workers are ideal candidates for developing, implementing, and evaluating those programs. (Author/GCP)

This study investigated the ways in which youth organizations support families, highlighting the role of youth organizations in strengthening youth and their families; what youth organizations need to know and do to enhance their prospects for successfully supporting/strengthening youth and their families; and the type of external supports and…

As environmental education strives to create an informed citizenry capable of addressing complex problems, critical thinking is an integral part of this effort. This research guides environmental educators in defining, teaching, and evaluating critical thinking by summarizing a pilot study with an undergraduate forest issues course designed to…

Early research indicates that a new supervisory program, interaction modeling, is effective; a learning process, rather than a theory being taught, interaction modeling is adaptable. Described are the program itself and several evaluation studies which have been conducted. Illustrations include tables of data and a typical interaction modeling…

This paper presents an evaluation of the Seaside Health Education Conference (SHEC) that, for ten years, has been held yearly for the purpose of promoting health education in Oregon schools by providing in-service programs for teachers. Each school district attending the SHEC comes as a team composed of health educators, other teachers,…

The Seaside Health Education Conference, held each June in Seaside, Oregon, offers resources and a model for wellness-oriented health education. Emphasis is on developing agent skills while sharing in a health education communication network. An evaluation of different aspects of the Seaside conference is presented. (DF)

Breaking the Cycle (BTC), founded in 1995, is an early identification, prevention, and treatment program for pregnant and parenting women who abuse substances. The authors explore the impact of substance abuse on early attachment relationships and on infant regulatory functioning. BTC focuses on building and enhancing the mother's relationships,…

Project "Open Horizons," in Buffalo and Niagara Falls, New York, was born out of a recognition that minority adolescents in disadvantaged communities face serious social and personal problems in the area of career development. The originators of the project were seeking an effective methodology for exposing disadvantaged youth to a…

Addresses difficulties in the mentoring relationship, especially of African-American youth. Suggests ways to avoid the risks of "drive-by" mentoring, notes the problem of social distance between mentors and students being mentored, identifies characteristics of ideal mentors, offers guidelines for providing necessary program structure…

An evaluation is presented of "Changing Lives Through Literature," a program designed as an alternative to jail. The study followed up the first 32 men to complete the program and compared them to a matched group of 40 probationers. Reconviction rate was favorable. Interview information and other influences on recidivism are considered.…

This article presents a matchmaking management strategy and guidelines from a school- and university-based mentoring program. Two community-based mentor projects implemented by the Wisconsin Center for Academically Talented Youth are shared. Student reports from the program demonstrate that the long-term benefits to gifted students are…

A study of 66 children with cancer and 43 siblings attending the Ronald McDonald Camp found that disease-specific camps allow children membership in a community of peers, which enhances self-esteem and social acceptance. A separate, longitudinal study of 38 beginning and experienced campers found that campers' intrapersonal and interpersonal…

Discusses findings from evaluation of national "School Friends" project set up by British Telecom (BT) in the United Kingdom, in which BT employees volunteered to assist with literacy learning in primary schools. Notes evaluation findings that industry role models raised students' confidence and enthusiasm for reading, especially among…

Recently, nonmaternal center-based child care has been linked to problem behavior in young children (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, 2003). In response, a comprehensive program to promote prosocial skills was evaluated in a classroom of 16 children between the ages of 3 years and 5 years. Classroom observations were…

This report summarizes the findings of a national conference on mentoring. Mentoring involves a structured relationship between two people, with the first imparting support, insight, and experience to the second. The following varieties of mentoring are discussed: (1) mentoring from the business community; (2) career mentoring within specific…