Truancy is the first sign that a youngster is in trouble and that he or she may need the help of parents, teachers, and community members to get back on track. Research shows that students who become truant and eventually drop out of school put themselves at a long-term disadvantage in becoming productive citizens. Dropouts are more likely to be…

This paper presents preliminary evidence for the effectiveness of a model of care designed to provide safe and effective services in both short-term shelter and short-term staff secure detention programs. Boys Town short-term crisis shelter programs were designed to provide a safe and therapeutic environment for homeless and runaway youth in need…

This report focuses on the causative factors of violence in school children. It summarizes information about the demographic and mental health characteristics of students who carry weapons to school and includes comments from students on the reasons why they carry them, as well as what the research says. Results of the 1999 Youth Risk Behavior…

Numerous counseling needs are generated in the aftermath of school crises, particularly crises involving school violence. Meeting these needs can be assisted when school psychologists involve classroom teachers in the planning and implementation of crisis counseling. This paper provides information about a crisis counseling intervention model…

This TIP is designed to teach juvenile justice, health services, education, and substance abuse treatment personnel about how to identify, screen, and assess people 11-to-21 years old who may be experiencing substance-related problems. It details warning signs of substance use disorders, when to screen, when to assess, what domains besides…

Teasing is an attempt to look better at the expense of someone else. This abuse may be as mild as verbal bantering or as severe as group violence against others. The chronically oppressed student may conclude that school is a frightening and unfriendly place. Teasing has recently become the focus of psychological research and this paper provides a…

Describes the development and pilot testing of a marihauna education program for grades 7-10. The five-lesson program included a health belief model and a legal deterrance model. Results of the pilot test showed the health program had the greatest impact. (JAC)

Discusses the health risks associated with adolescent pregnancy as well as the social consequences. Results indicate that though the use of contraceptives is increasing, half the sexually active students do not use any contraceptives. Suggests that age-appropriate sex education begin early and emphasize values and self-esteem. (JAC)

Discusses various aspects of youth (ages 15-24) unemployment in Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, illustrating youth's perception of their situation, their satisfactions/frustrations, their investment in work, and their means of making choices about work. Focuses on unskilled/early school leavers, middle…

Reviews and analyzes statistics and theories on causes of increasing youth suicides. Emphasizes the importance of identifying suicidal adolescents, accepting their feelings, and providing appropriate intervention. Illustrates categories of youth suicides--the loner, the depressed, the psychotic, the crisis suicide, and as a means to communicate.…

Responses of secondary students (N=478) indicate track position (college-bound versus non-college-bound students) is negatively associated with school misconduct and youth deviance. This pattern obtains when sex and social class are introduced as statistical controls and suggests that students may become involved in deviance as a result of a low…

Traced pathways between perceived coparenting support and child-rearing conflict, family interaction quality, and child self-regulation, academic competence, and behavior problems in families of 9- to 12-year-old African-Americans. Found that husbands' perception of coparental support was linked to family interaction quality; wives' perception of…

Presents an annotated bibliography of 22 trade books that deal with violence and its consequences. The books have been chosen for their power in dealing with tough subjects forthrightly and without compromise. Includes fiction and non-fiction suitable for intermediate (grades 3-5), middle (grades 6-8), and advanced (grades 9-12) levels. (MJP)

Compared substance use perceptions and behavior using a sample of 3,009 African American youth. Overall, substance abuse is perceived as a serious problem at school. Early substance use and peer influence are major determinants of later substance use, although important differences exist in the prediction of alcohol and marijuana use. (RJM)

Discusses research on adolescent substance abuse risk factors and their role in the management of adolescent substance abuse disorders. A selective literature review suggests specific intervention strategies; no generic approach fits all adolescent substance-use clients. Effective techniques require individual assessments, including the context in…