Overviews a counseling approach designed to help parents shift from focusing on negative aspects of their lives and children to a more positive focus. Discusses the counseling theory system which is based on social learning theory. Presents counseling strategies and describes a typical counseling series using this approach. (RC)

Investigated effect of father presence or absence in the home in New York City families: welfare AFDC families and lower-middle income families. Results indicated that children of surrogate fathers revealed significantly more behavioral difficulties. Cross-section children and mothers were more adversely affected by father absence than others.…

Evaluated effects of using conduct problem adolescents (N=18) as cross-age tutors for elementary school-aged mentally retarded students. When compared to students who received peer tutoring or group counseling, cross-age tutors improved significantly on social science and language arts grades, and had reduced rates of absenteeism and disciplinary…

The disciplinary policy at Chapelle Elementary School in Ypsilanti (Michigan), developed with staff participation, classifies some student behavior as "unacceptable" or "inappropriate." Either behavior requires the teacher to fill out a pink slip and send it with the student to the principal's office, but only unacceptable…

Provides data on behavioral problems and competencies, identifies differences related to demographic variables, and compares normal children and those referred for professional help. Parents' responses to Child Behavior Checklist items reveal significant differences in socioeconomic status, children's age and referral status. Behavioral problems…

PATHE program (Positive Action Through Holistic Education) seeks to identify and ameliorate problem behavior and potential failure in Charleston, South Carolina, schools. The affective and academic components are achieved by teams of counseling and curriculum specialists, with a strong emphasis on parent involvement and individual attention. (SK)

Drug misuse of prescription and OTC drugs was studied among 67 older subjects to determine the frequency of misuse and relationship to various psychosocial, medical and pharmacological factors. Drug misuse was found among 43 percent of subjects with number of prescribing physicians and number of pharmacies directly related to misuse. (Author)

Five symposium papers evaluate the usefulness of ideas associated with the life-span view for enriching, highlighting, or expanding issues, theory, and research pertinent to change processes during infancy, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood, and for intervention programs during these periods. (Author/MP)

Data from 87 high school students indicated significant differences between high and low psychoticism scorers on teacher appraisal, alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, marijuana smoking, and sex of student; no significant differences were found between high and low psychoticism scorers on television viewing and residence with one or both…

Discusses the implementation and utilization of specific behavioral skills and techniques designed to aid the parent or teacher in dealing with disciplinary and disruptive behaviors both within the home and the school, which enable the teacher or parent to effectively communicate with the child. (Author/CM)

Studied the social and emotional adjustment of women and children from single-parent families. Widows and divorcees did not differ significantly from married women on social and emotional adjustment but did report more positive and negative life changes. Children of widows and divorcees reported significantly poorer emotional adjustment. (Author)

Compared two levels of goal setting. In the first level adolescents were involved in setting goals for behavioral counseling. In the second level they were informed that goals were set, but were not involved. Results indicated greater degree of goal attainment and counseling satisfaction for participating pupils. (Author/JAC)

Presents a method of therapy for families with an acting-out adolescent or young adult. Aims at altering the underlying problem of immaturity. Outlines a four-phase process in working with the parents over an extended period of time. (Author/JAC)

An experienced teacher presents guidelines for starting Sustained Silent Reading in a classroom, including explaining the program to the students and dealing with those who forget their books, disrupt the class, or fidget. A list of teacher background readings is included. (SJL)

Thirty-nine students in classes for deaf-blind children were assessed using the Behavior Rating Instrument for Autistic and Other Atypical Children (BRIAAC). Each child was observed for two hours and was rated on the eight BRIAAC scales. The Behavior Rating Instrument evaluated the child's motivation as it emerged in daily context. (JN)