This special issue of the Canadian Journal of Counseling focuses on one of society's greatest challenges: youth violence. This article provides counselors with a general overview of the major advances in understanding the etiology of youth violence, the highlights of promising counseling interventions, and the role of gender in addressing…

Examined records of 558 juveniles sheltered at short-term residential facility for five years to determine effect of Illinois' Minor Requiring Authoritative Intervention (MRAI) statute on status offenders. Results indicated that dispositions of clients MRAI legislation were not significantly different from earlier dispositions under old Minor in…

Reviews literature on social skills training with delinquent populations, with specific considerations of six questions pertaining to research in the field. Concludes that there is lack of information on social skills training with young offenders in an outpatient setting. Discusses future directions for research. (Author/NB)

Although adolescents face many potentially life-threatening choices, schools are ill equipped to offer comprehensive guidance for developing personal survival skills. This article outlines four conditions militating against schools' acceptance of this role, advocates collaboration between schools and community-based youth organizations, and…

Twenty youth, aged 13-17, adjudicated for acts of violence, displayed some characteristics consistent with Toch's typology of compensatory violence (insecurity or low self-esteem) and narcissism. Areas unaccounted for by Toch's typologies included failed childrearing practices, lack of a role in society, and inordinate concern for respect and…

Describes international congress on preventing children's behavior disorders that was attended by 600 participants from throughout Europe and beyond. Discusses topics of presentations which reported several theoretical orientations, problem areas, and intervention strategies. Describes prevention program presented at congress. Concluding remarks…

Studied occurrence of completed suicide by age in one-year age groups in adolescence and young adulthood via official Finnish mortality statistics and population statistics. Suicide rates increased sharply by age during adolescence, starting somewhat earlier among boys than among girls. (Author/NB)

Describes how the Oregon Transition Support Initiative aides youth returning to communities from juvenile correctional facilities. Stresses the importance of the child, parent or guardian, educational representative, parole officers, and members of the community working together with the assigned service coordinator to ease the difficulties of the…

Assesses Adolescent Concerns Evaluation (ACE), an instrument that has the potential to identify youths who are at risk of running away. Preliminary evidence suggests that ACE is a reliable tool and it may help social workers determine treatment goals and measure treatment progress in their work with runaway youths. (Author/JDM)

Introduces a collection of articles that represent some of the research and policy analysis of key issues affecting the lives of young people currently living in Northern Ireland, which is in the midst of an unparalleled political and social transformation. The articles focus on crime, drug use, criminal justice, families, divorce, and youth…

Explores the extent and patterning of drug use among young people in Northern Ireland, linking them to the major cease fires. Examines media and professional perceptions alongside evidence constructed from multiple indicators of drug use. Results suggest that most drug use has not increased since the cease fires, with the exception of the heroin…

Interviewed adolescents in Northern Ireland to investigate their experiences with the divorce process and help provided by family, friends, and professionals. They considered the separation/divorce process long, frequently underpinned by acrimony and violence. Extended family and peers provided great support. Many teens used specialist counselors…

Presents young women's story of growing up in the New York group home system. Recounts how the friendship of one young woman helped transform her from an angry youth to one with direction and purpose. (Author/JDM)

Reports that separation and divorce are associated with increases in behavior problems in children, regardless of the level of conflict between parents. Explains that in marriages that do not break up, high levels of marital conflict are associated with even greater increases in children's behavior problems. (Author/JDM)

The latent structure of a four-item problem-behavior syndrome (from Problem-Behavior Theory) was replicated for 2,250 American Indian adolescents. With inclusion of multiple indicators of problem behaviors, a single factor no longer provided satisfactory fit. With addition of multiple indicators of conventional behavior, a second-order latent…