Bibliography assimilates two decades of research focusing on youthful sexual offending. Articles are categorized into six areas (literature reviews, theories of sexual offending, conceptualization, assessment, intervention/prevention strategies, research methods in the investigation of youthful sexual offenders), based on primary focus, with…

Examines the evolution of a parenting class that combines concepts and interventions associated with solution focused and strategic family therapy. The class is targeted for all types of families and parenting situations. Parents reported that the class was very helpful and gave them access to information that had not received from other parenting…

Over the past several years, increased interest in preventing youth problems and promoting healthy youth development has led youth and family practitioners, policy makers, and researchers to develop a wide range of approaches based on various theoretical frameworks. Although the growth in guiding frameworks has led to more complex models and a…

Reviews familial characteristics associated with conduct disordered youth and their parents. Identifies family treatment strategies found effective with this population, including variations of parent training, problem-solving communication training, reciprocity training, and multisystemic treatment approach. Includes list of intervention…

Presents a family therapy model for working with "no problem problem" families of first offense adolescent substance abusers. Illustrates applications of this model through a case example. Describes the model as a practical therapy approach that is present- and future-oriented and seeks to build on family strengths. (Author/ABB)

Reports on an investigation that used the Process Model of Parenting Competence to explore factors posited as predicting parenting competence among adult and adolescent populations. Results revealed expected associations, suggesting that the variables suggested by the model, such as maternal competence, are congruent with several hypotheses of…

Using past experience, describes important issues in working with adolescent parents. Discusses why teenage parenthood is a vital social concern, who is at risk, what methods promote competent parenting among adolescents, how can parental competence be promoted among youth, and what issues require further attention from researchers and…

Reviews research dealing with the causes of adolescent runaway behavior and the negative physical and psychological consequences of being away from home prematurely. Gender differences are also noted. Concludes that running away must be viewed as both an adolescent and a family problem. (Author/JAC)

Hawaiian children are most likely to become chronic runaways, perhaps due to an available family network for shelter. Caucasians and those from single parent families were least likely to become chronic runaways. There were no sex differences. (JAC)

Proposes a risk/protective theoretical perspective grounded in ecological and developmental contextualist theories. Principles extrapolated from the theory are illustrated with the success of Wisconsin Youth Futures, a campus/community partnership that has built 18 community coalitions to promote positive youth development and prevent behavior…

Examined factors related to the quality of home environments that 83 teenage mothers provided for their 12-month-old infants. Findings show that teens who fostered supportive environments were less depressed and more empathic, had infants who were heavier at birth, received more support from the father, and lived in relatively safe neighborhoods.…

Compared the social support of 92 homeless and 115 permanently housed low-income mothers. Results reveal that homeless mothers had less contact with their friends/relatives, could count on fewer people for help and child care in times of need, and felt their social networks were less helpful than housed mothers. (RJM)