Presents arguments for conducting program evaluation as a reflection of concern for students. Seeks to "demystify" evaluation, noting that evaluation need not be done only by experts. Discusses types of evaluation and presents principles in planning and guiding evaluations. (JPS)

Examines racial factors within the juvenile justice and mental health systems that contribute to the overrepresentation of African American men and boys in correctional facilities. Recent efforts by lawmakers and academic institutions to address these inequalities are highlighted. Creation of the National Center on Education, Disability, and…

Profiles programs that provide academic and behavioral interventions, expectations, and support for children and youth, equipping them with the educational and social skills they need to be successful in the least restrictive environment. Describes Project ACHIEVE, The Bertha Abess Children's Center, Inc., and the Rhode Island Training Schools.…

Discusses three programs in which efforts are focused on reaching students with emotional and behavioral problems. The programs range from school-based partnerships and alternative schools to community programs. These programs address the needs of students at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. (Author/MKA)

Describes an alternative treatment model developed at Starr Commonwealth for sexually reactive and offending children and youth. This model's strength-based interventions have been shown to be effective in fostering positive connections to adults and peers and in breaking patterns of offending. (Author/MKA)

Provides examples of programs that teach children positive behavior skills for success in life rather than resorting to traditional punishment. Looks at the Positive Education Program, Boys Town, the Westerly School District, and the New Opportunities Program. Such programs help children learn appropriate skills that replace problem behaviors.…

With the acceptance of sex equity in society, pregnancy-prevention programs are being established to target men. These programs promote male responsibility. Describes five programs. Provides a list of national organization and state/local programs relevant to pregnancy prevention programs aimed at young men. (Author/MKA)

Describes a school program, developed in partnership with a treatment facility for troubled youth, that is committed to surrounding difficult students with the support and controls they need to succeed. Focuses on the Behavior Intervention Support Team in which teachers, counselors, and administrators respond with grace and not punishment. (RJM)

Service learning is an educational experience that provides students with the opportunity to participate in community-based activities and integrated classroom learning experiences. Presents service learning used in an intervention that builds on the inherent strengths of students with emotional and behavioral challenges. (Author)

Demonstrates the practical applications of a problem-solving curriculum called Personal Power. Discusses how to begin such a curriculum and describes the content of the program which teaches youth in conflict to weigh the costs and benefits of alternative solutions to problems. Offers a sample lesson in problem solving. (RJM)

Discusses various paradigms and treatment strategies in working with troubled youth. Proposes a shift from traditional approaches that stress deficits and pathology toward strength-based interventions that focus on positive development. Describes a range of specific innovations in program development that result when research on resilience becomes…

Describes a community intervention for a population of youth who are often distrustful of mainstream mental health services. Program focuses on not viewing youth as patients but as experts in working with adults to design youth-friendly interventions. Outlines the development and implementation of a support-group model tailored specifically to the…

Research and experience has shown that allowing children and youth to feel that they are contributing members of their communities, they are less likely to exhibit rebellious or delinquent behaviors. Describes three model programs that employ the principle of generosity as a key component of interventions for troubled children and youth.…

Describes the Wediko Children's Services program in Boston and the Boys Town Center for Adolescent and Family Spirituality in Boys Town, Nebraska. These residential treatment programs for at-risk and troubled youth help young people address inappropriate sexual behaviors and learn alternative skills to create positive and healthy relationships.…

A psychiatric-hospital administrator describes how she agreed to be a foster parent for a troubled girl who was medically fragile. Together, and with community help, they formed Golden Buckets, an organization that provides therapeutic foster care for medically dependent children and their families. (MKA)