This report paints a collective portrait of the Baltimore City Schools dropouts of 2008-09 to summarize some of the commonalities that join their individual stories together. After examining the surface level demographic characteristics of these dropouts, researchers probed more deeply into their behavioral characteristics in the years preceding…

U.S. social programs, set up to address important problems, often fall short by funding specific models/strategies ("interventions") that are not effective. When evaluated in scientifically-rigorous studies, social interventions in K-12 education, job training, crime prevention, and other areas are frequently found ineffective or…

Rates of overweight in youth have reached epidemic proportions and are associated with adverse health outcomes. Family-based programs have been widely used to treat overweight in youth. However, few programs incorporate a theoretical framework for studying a family systems approach in relation to youth health behavior change. Therefore, this…

There is a large research base indicating numerous gender differences in prevalence rates of psychopathology, the expression of psychopathology, and the etiology of psychopathology across different disorders (Zahn-Waxler, Shirtcliff, & Marceau, 2008). Such documented gender differences in mental health among children and adolescents have…

This booklet on sexual harassment on college campuses covers sexual harassment law, harassment prevention, protection from liability, and handling allegations. Chapter 1, "What Is Sexual Harassment?" defines the term and gives an overview of sexual harassment law. Chapter 2, "How Does Sexual Harassment Law Apply in Actual Situations?" illustrates…

Law enforcement officials know the devastation that drinking can cause among the immature and the inexperienced. This guide is intended to be used by law enforcement agencies in cooperation with other segments of the community. It provides an overview of the problem of youth access to alcohol, a discussion of the legal and policy issues relating…

Parents and members of the public want safe schools that are free of violence. This document explicates Illinois' state plan for ensuring safety and order in its public schools. The plan contains 44 steps that are designed to commit the state to school safety; restore safety and order; implement conflict-resolution programs; prevent violence by…

Violence -- particularly violence directed toward and caused by youth -- is clearly a problem. This document systematically addresses this crisis by providing a framework that readers can adapt to their own school and community. The three primary goals are to: (1) demonstrate that violence is preventable; (2) show how individuals can set into…

Researchers, consulting professionals, and advocating agencies agree that school facility design is one essential component to a safe and successful school. This document addresses design-related concepts that can positively affect school climate and order. It describes and provides facility planning guidelines for crime prevention through…

This record of the Senate Juvenile Justice Subcommittee hearing concerns the problem of violent juvenile crime. Opening statements by subcommittee members are followed by testimonies from three panels of witnesses. The first panel presents statements by the founder of the Guardian Angels, the director of the House of Umoga, a home for juvenile…

Recent findings show that children and teens are most vulnerable either to committing or being a victim of crime between 2:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Community organizations with afterschool programs are particularly well positioned to counter some of the hazards that threaten children, especially urban adolescents: drug abuse, gang activity, and…

Many children do not know enough about the law to make wise judgments about their behavior. Educational strategies for teaching about lawbreaking and its consequences are presented. Six laws commonly broken by young people are described, first in legal terms and then stated more simply. Case histories follow. (PP)

Reviews and synthesizes recent literature on social problems in the lives of adolescents, including depression, suicide, substance abuse, sexual activity, sexually transmitted diseases, rape, sexual preference, and school dropout. Explores key factors in effective intervention and prevention programs for students with and without learning…

Examined why preschoolers struggle to learn sexual abuse prevention concepts that children a few years older learn easily. Determined that preschoolers need programs produced specifically for them, programs that are developmentally graduated, present concepts in a logical order, ensure comprehension, and utilize audio-visual production features…

Provides discussions of understanding violence in children's lives (Levin); helping children exposed to violence (Jackson); the role of day care centers in helping children cope with violence (Groves and Mazur); the influence of Power Rangers (Levin); creating a culture of nonviolence (Carter); listening to children to understand violence (Hopkins…