Extended interviews with 50 Navajo men, aged 21 to 45, provided information on peer relationships and gang formation among male Navajo youth in the 1960s through the 1980s. Results suggest that gangs are an extreme example of traditional hell-raising among young Navajo men and that most gang members "age out" of their gangs. Suggestions for gang…

The distinguishing feature of today's youth is not technology, but aloneness. To reconnect with young people, educators should close the gap between school offerings and solitary net-surfing activities by offering computer gaming courses and guidance on approaching violent Internet imagery. Adult and youth cultures are interdependent. (Contains 11…

Discusses the importance of maintaining a critical perspective on questions related to the nature of youth and the possibilities of fruitful debate between globalization theory and youth cultural research. Considers examples from recent youth studies as a possible means of developing a continued critique of the "youth as trouble"…

Perspectives and challenges in doing alcohol and drug abuse prevention in rural Alaska are described through a fictionalized narrative of two consultants to a Native village and one person's development as village prevention specialist. Highlights include innovative programs and approaches to training and intervention that draw on indigenous…

Fritz Redl challenged professionals to examine situations in which adolescents stir up negative feelings in them. The author also applies Redl's concepts to his own work in administering a school for troubled students. (Author)

The Catholic Magisterium has made a distinction between homosexual orientation (disordered but not sinful), homosexual activity (sinful, but judged "with prudence"), rights of gay and lesbian people, and the Church's pastoral responsibilities to gay and lesbian people. Both the Vatican and the American bishops have clearly stated that the topic of…

This fact sheet contains data on teen pregnancy. The folowing information is provided: teen birth rate, 1960-1992; number of births to teens, 1960-1992; percent of non-marital teen births, 1960-1992; births to unmarried women, by age group, 1992; international comparison on teen birth rate; abortion rate among U.S. teens, 1973-1990; pregnancy…

This Conference focused on policy options for promoting the well-being of children and families in the United States. These conference proceedings present a range of strategies that have proven effective in building parental competence and providing the support needed to enable families to survive and function adequately. The keynote address,…

Research indicates that parents, grandparents, elders, foster parents, youth leaders, coaches, and others can play a major role in keeping young people from using alcohol, tobacco, or illicit drugs. This booklet provides caregivers some guidelines in communicating with youth about these potential problems. It is geared to the parents or guardians…

Thousands of children run away from home or placements each year. The many programs for these children require evaluation to determine effectiveness; one runaway program for at-risk children is examined here. It was felt that if the runaway youth could receive some counseling, then it might help these children and families to solve some of their…

Drug abuse and crime rates in the United States have surged to alarming levels in the 1990s and could increase to epidemic proportions if not addressed appropriately. The identification and evaluation of the programs that Idaho utilizes in fighting crime and reducing drug use are covered in this booklet. The report focuses on two different…

Peer counselors are individuals who have been trained in communication skills and who have learned how to apply these skills in helping another person. This booklet was written by a peer counselor and peer counseling teacher to fill a frequently expressed need for a quick, easy-to-read reference. Its purpose is to make available to peer counselors…

The years between childhood and adulthood are full of new experiences and new challenges. This guide is designed to help young people and adults participate in a study circle on youth issues. The study circles, which are small-group, democratic, peer-led discussions, offer a way for participants to work together as full partners in community…

The breakdown in parent/adolescent relationships, along with the increase in disruptive behaviors by adolescents, has become a major concern of parents and practitioners. The goal of this practicum is to review the literature on parent/adolescent conflicts and offer a conflict resolution program intended to enhance the coping skills of parents.…

Problem behaviors during adolescence can include substance use, low educational achievement, delinquent or conduct-disordered behavior, and indiscriminant, precocious, or risky sexual behavior. Despite the dissimilarities of these behaviors, some researchers believe that such actions share common underlying causes, which can be explained by the…