This paper discusses the results of a study that examined the mental health needs of 796 adolescents who interacted with four types of service sectors that typically function as gateways to mental health services (education, child welfare, juvenile justice, and primary health). Prevalence estimates collected from the youth themselves were compared…

This report on the well-being of America's children focuses on the need for renewed commitment to children by all sectors of society. The foreword to the report exhorts governors to lead a culture change and show that states can more efficiently help their own children. This section also describes the mission of the Leave No Child Behind movement,…

This report discusses the outcomes of a study that examined the mental health referral patterns of youth referred to a public sector mental health system as the result of a judicial consent decree. The study included two samples of youth ages 13-17 from the entire state of South Carolina. The first group included incarcerated youth recruited from…

This report provides an account of the actions taken by Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families in the wake of the fatal school shooting in Jonesboro, Arkansas, to shape public policy affecting young children who commit serious violent crimes. Following some background information, the report's contents are: (1) "Responding to a…

This paper describes first-year activities of the Prime Time Project, a community-based intervention with adolescents who have a history of both severe emotional disturbance and involvement in the juvenile justice system because of repeated or violent offenses. The intervention aims to decrease criminal behavior, increase prosocial behavior, and…

For more than a decade, many researchers and practitioners have endorsed a "positive youth development" approach, which views adolescents as active contributors to their own development and as assets to their communities. As part of this shift, youth are increasingly being invited to engage in community governance. In youth…

Discussed are the origin and nature of visitatorial jurisdiction, the scope of that jurisdiction and the extent to which it is itself reviewable by the courts, and the issue of how relevant the visitor is to today's university. (AF)

Law firm analysis which reviews developments in Indian law, discusses holdings and implications of some important Supreme Court decisions (Boldt Case, Yakima Public Law 280 Case, Blackbird Bend Case), analyzes litigation trends which appear to be developing, and comments on the future conduct of Indian litigation. (DS)

Problem behavior theory predicts that adolescent problem behaviors are manifestations of a single behavioral syndrome. This study tested the validity of the theory across racial groups. Results indicate that multiple pathways are necessary to account for the problem behaviors and they support previous research indicating system response bias in…

Tracks the attitude changes of a group of abnormal psychology students following a tour of a juvenile correctional facility and a presentation by four of the inmates. A 25-item semantic differential scale revealed a noticeable improvement in the students' attitudes towards juvenile delinquents after the visit. (MJP)

Questions the ethical use of conflict mediation in situations where opposing parties with unequal power address social or institutional injustice, examining informal aspects of teaching and learning that occur when those with unequal power struggle for equal opportunity in public schools. Presents examples from an urban elementary school. (SM)

Discusses the moral exclusion of American citizens of Japanese descent during World War II. Compares perceptions of moral community, fairness, and redress for three groups. Contrasts the views of Caucasian Americans; the Nisei, interned American citizens; and the Sansei, children of Nisei born after World War II. (JS)

Provides background material for teaching Article Four of the United States Constitution. Suggests activities using primary documents in order to teach lessons on religious tests. The document chosen is a letter to John F. Kennedy from a citizen written in September 1960. Document may be reproduced for use in the classroom. (KO)

Outlines class activities to help students understand how the U.S. Supreme Court reaches its decisions and how the decisions change over time. Includes objectives, resources, issues and questions, procedures, and evaluations. Suggests that students will learn the facts and issues of important civil rights cases and form opinions on the decisions.…

Contends that the juvenile court system should be abolished because its paternalistic underpinnings fundamentally are inconsistent with children's rights. Asserts that current theories of human rights are tied to competency, which has been used historically to exclude women and minority groups from the category of rights holders. (CFR)