Nearly 24 million youth, ages 10 through 17, were online regularly in 1999. Large numbers of young people, when on the Internet, are encountering sexual solicitations they do not want, sexual material they did not seek, and people who threaten and harass them. A national survey described in this paper and administered to 1,501 young people, ages…

This digest presents ways that school administrators can realistically assess their schools' security needs. It opens by reporting that some types of school violence are declining, such as self-reported weapon carrying and fighting on school property, which reflects an overall decline in youth violence. However, schools still must perform…

This California report examines the air pollution risk levels in the State's portable school facilities, the State's response, and recommendations for protecting children's and teachers' health in these types of classrooms. The report reveals that over two million California students spend the school day in buildings that may be harmful to their…

In fiscal year 2004, the Congress appropriated $6.8 billion to serve 919,000 poor children through 1,680 Head Start grantees nationwide. Recent reports of financial improprieties at a number of Head Start programs around the country raised questions about the effectiveness of the oversight provided by the Department of Health and Human Services'…

A discussion of 1996 federal legislation giving the Internal Revenue Service authority to impose, retroactively and for the first time, significant penalty taxes on "insiders" who benefit improperly from transactions with certain nonprofit organizations looks at the implications for colleges and universities. Background, objectives,…

Focuses on understanding how investments in information technology are reflected in the income statements and balance sheets of firms. Shows that the relationship between information technology investments and corporate profitability is much better explained by using risk-adjusted measures of corporate profitability than using the same measures…

Staff medications, except for time-critical medications, should be kept at the camp health center, separate from camper medications. Medication use should be documented, with efforts to insure confidentiality. Staff should be able to access their own medications unless they are controlled substances. Medication policies should be explained to…

Examines the potential threat of malpractice litigation against librarians involved in the reference process. Topics include the relationship between the librarian and the user, the level of service, expectations placed on the information provider, and legal precedents in information delivery. (Author/LRW)

The Accident Frequency-Severity Chart (AFSC) is a tool for correctly assessing and appropriately coping with risks inherent in adventure programs. The AFSC helps to measure risk frequency (likelihood of loss) and severity (amount of loss) of specific outdoor activities. The AFSC can also be used to compare safety records of outdoor activities and…

Discusses standard of care and accountability for errors and omissions in the work of design consultants such as architects and engineers. Emphasizes the responsibility of owners, the importance of communication, and strategies for risk management, such as professional liability insurance, third-party review, design/build, and modified contract…

Examines how risk management is reworking the doctoral supervisor/candidate relationship. Examines "soft marking" (grading) as a specific domain in which risk minimization is producing new relational identities for both supervisors and students involved in doctoral studies programs. (EV)

Defines limits of legal liability of the supervisor of technical theater in a secondary school if a student is injured while working on a production. Presents a system for development of a risk management program. (PA)

Analyzes the actions taken by an instructor when a student fell while climbing a gill (a gorge cut into the mountainside by a fast-flowing stream). Stresses the importance of instructors making quick decisions and remaining calm during a potentially dangerous situation. Suggests using a hand line in the future to alert students of risk involved.…

On a canoeing trip with a group of 8 14-year olds, the leader was faced with a paddler who floated away from the group, a capsizer, and a reluctant participant. Subsequent analysis of the situation suggests that a briefing on signals prior to the experience and an experienced assistant in two locations were needed. (KS)

Reviews the development and psychometric analyses of the Suicide Assessment Checklist (SAC), a 21-item, 2-part instrument constructed for use as a standardized component of a comprehensive suicide risk assessment and documentation strategy in the emergency evaluation of risk for suicidal behavior. Results suggest SAC is psychometrically sound.…