Once considered an adult onset disease, type 2 diabetes is increasingly being diagnosed in low-income Mexican American children. Studies have suggested that most of those so diagnosed were overweight, reported low levels of physical activity, and were generally unaware of their disease. The Bienestar Health Program was designed to reduce risk…

Elkind's (1967) theory of adolescent egocentrism proposes two distinct, but related, constructs--the "imaginary audience" and the "personal fable." A corollary to the imaginary audience, the personal fable (PF) yields a sense of invulnerability and speciality commonly associated with behavioral risk-taking. When regarded as a developmental…

This background paper on children's mental health indicates that less than one-third of the children who have mental health problems receive treatment. Types of mental health problems are discussed, including intellectual, developmental, behavior, emotional, psychophysiological, and adjustment disorders. Enviromental risk factors of poverty and…

A methodology is reported by which primary-grade children experiencing school maladjustment problems are classified according to specific problem types. Findings suggest that a generalized helping approach is likely to be differentially effective with different problem types. (Author/PC)

This paper addresses the role of the local Head Start program mental health consultant and outlines ways in which the program can assure optimal use of the consultant's services. The Head Start program incorporates the services of a local consultant to promote the mental health of children and parents. The specialist's role is to assist staff and…

Evidence and hypotheses concerning the relationships between health and nutrition factors in the family and fertility outcomes are examined in order to determine direct or indirect causal relationships. A review of evidence concerning the biological and behavioral effects of nutrition and health factors of fecundity and fertility, is followed by a…

University and college mental health services have historically modeled themselves after a traditional clinic model. Few delivery systems have been influenced by the community mental health model. The major reason for this lack of influence appears to be the "in loco parentis" stance of colleges and universities. A campus mental health service…

Consultation with community mental health agencies is necessary, the rationale being that: (1) traditional approaches of therapy are expensive; (2) consultation can interrelate total existing social service networks; and (3) community change requires cooperation between community agencies and community resources. The consultant and consultees can…

This paper reports results of a survey of elderly persons in a predominantly blue collar, New England town. Data about psychological distress and its relationship to demographic and social interaction characteristics are explored. Mental health services were not reaching elderly in need; there was minimal utilization of other helping services.…

This bulletin is intended to raise awareness of the magnitude and gravity of adolescent maltreatment and to provide information on public health program and policy interventions. A review of adolescent victimization, with a focus on vulnerable youth, provides background for the development of public health measures to promote prevention and ensure…

Emphasizes that from a practical point of view, it is important that studies with malnourished children emphasize the interactions between nutrition and environment rather than attempt complex, costly experiments which hopefully will assess the contribution of each of the components alone. (Author/JM)

The long-term effects of a preschool intervention program for 21 high-risk experimental children were asssessed. The experimental group was superior to that of the placebo control group at follow-up on the criteria measures of behavioral adjustment and achievement. (Author)

Worker and caller behaviors are studied and compared in sample of 100 suicide calls to three crisis intervention centers. Verbal behaviors of workers and callers are substantially different, leading to the conclusion that crisis intervention is dissimilarly practiced between centers but similar within them. (Author)

Major approaches to school-based substance abuse prevention for adolescents are reviewed, and school organizational issues for the implementation of such programs are considered. The need for multi-level interventions including parents, the community, and the media is discussed. Three models of school-based substance abuse prevention programs are…

A methodology was developed for conducting a benefit-cost analysis of an innovative supported employment intervention for the psychiatrically disabled. Results indicated that the program, which targeted 19 participants, approached cost efficiency of almost .90 of benefits to costs. The value of the methodology for program evaluation is discussed.…