All too often, one behavioral intervention is used universally to handle a variety of problem behaviors, regardless of the function of the misbehavior. This article describes how a functional assessment of behavior can be used to identify the purpose of misbehaviors and plan effective behavioral interventions. (Author)

Programs serving troubled youth continuously struggle with the issue of using physical restraints and other coercive interventions. This paper revisits the issues and motivations surrounding restraint use. It offers an analytic perspective on the physical restraint cycle and the factors that tend to support its recurrence. (JDM)

The EQUIP Program teaches antisocial youth to think and behave more pro-socially and addresses motivating youth to use these tools. The Equipped for Life game is a motivational tool, which provides students with opportunities for social learning. Topics revolve around community reintegration and can be easily adapted to any cognitive behavioral…

This article describes a new training curriculum for educators, youth workers, and mentors which draws from research and best practices in positive youth development and positive behavior support. Response Ability Pathways or RAP focuses on three practical interventions: connect to others for support, clarify challenging problems, and restore…

A recent approach to dealing with adolescent problems is social skills training, which emphasizes specific prosocial alternative responses for problematic situational interactions. Research has shown that social skills training has positive outcomes. However, it is not known whether an emphasis on the cognitive might enhance maintenance and…

Examines national trends in the consequence of youth and adult behavior in four areas: violent crime arrests, violent deaths, total births, and alcohol-indicated fatal traffic crashes. Statistics indicate that youth mirror parents and society, responding better to measures which reduce problem behavior in both youth and adults. (SM)

The high levels of juvenile crime in Australian society are reflected in the schools. This paper suggests a number of issues and concepts on juvenile misbehavior which should be of interest to educators. Due to rapid changes, there is less agreement on the foundational principles of culture. It is argued that educators need to help society…

The following papers from a conference on emotional and behavioral problems of children and adolescents are presented: (1) "Eligibility and Need: Is There a Difference Between Being Disturbed and Being Disturbing?" (Howell); (2) "Prevention and Politics: Giving At-Risk Youth a Future" (Constable and Burton); (3) "The World…

Stresses the usefulness of teaching the arts, especially drama, in classes for behaviorally disordered students. Discusses the problems created by a lack of time, money, trained teachers, and the demand for a back to the basics curriculum. Concludes that inclusion of drama in curriculum can reap many benefits for troubled youth. (KO)

In response to increasing demands that Canadian school boards provide behavior adaptation programs to counter the effects of disruptive home environments, school violence, and victimization, this paper explores definitions and diagnostic criteria for the following behavior disorders: attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant…

As dropout rates, drug addiction, and other problems continue to increase among youth, there arises a need for more effective approaches in dealing with problematic students. This book offers therapists and other helping professionals some practice-based solutions for fostering the healthy development of children and presents a model of…

Recent research indicates that children exposed to certain risk factors in their families, at school, among their peers, and in their communities are at greater risk of becoming serious violent juvenile (SVJ) offenders. The Study Group on Serious and Violent Juvenile Offenders, a group of 22 researchers convened by the Office of Juvenile Justice…

This program was developed and implemented to resolve conflict among administrators, staff, and students, thereby reducing suspensions in a teen-parent school. Ranging from 12 to 20 years old, the target population was 160 female teen parents. The objectives for the program were for suspensions to be reduced by 15%; that 35% of the students would…