Illustrates associations between substance abuse and leisure experiences. Presents rationale for leisure interventions for adolescents designed to remediate this social and behavioral problem. Suggests leisure education and counseling for inclusion in prevention or intervention strategies for substance abuse. Provides recommendations for…

Reality of widespread adult/teen sex--as revealed through age-specific pregnancy, birth, and sexually transmitted disease (STD) statistics--has profound implications for public school sex education and efforts to reduce incidence of teen pregnancy and STDs. Many public school "prevention" measures have failed because male half of "teen" pregnancy…

Examined career aspirations of pregnant teenagers (n=94) enrolled in program designed to minimize their chances of dropping out of high school. Adolescents completed demographic data form that included questions on career aspirations. Data were coded by Holland type. Data revealed number of trends with implications for career counseling of these…

An alternative model of AIDS prevention for women, now being tested in Botswana, uses peer education/support groups coordinated by a nurse. The groups focus on counseling, referral to health services, and support for lasting behavioral changes that prevent transmission. (SK)

Synthesizes existing literature on group counseling and psychotherapy with Asian Americans. Provides some guidelines on how to prevent premature terminations among these clients. Concludes that success with Asian American clients in group counseling and psychotherapy will rest largely on the group leader's ability and willingness to acquire…

Focuses on what can be done in intermediate or middle school to identify potential dropouts and conduct effective counselor groups and mentoring programs to keep these high-risk students in school. Describes program designed to provide potential dropouts with support system that helps them develop positive attitudes about themselves, resulting in…

Reviews literature on dropouts and considers group counseling as a possible solution to the dropout problem in high schools. Emphasizes the need for early identification and intervention with potential dropouts. Discusses school counselor's role in working with these at-risk students. (NB)

Describes a program developed by the Area University Affiliated Health Education Center for Developmental Disabilities at the Ohio State University to (1) develop state-of-the-art materials on prevention for adults and teens and (2) establish an ongoing statewide mechanism for education in the prenatal prevention of developmental disabilities.…

Though efforts to improve playground safety are consistent and ongoing, there has been no significant reduction in the rate of serious injuries. The article lists factors to consider when designing a safe playground, emphasizing the risk-taking inherent in children's play. (SM)

A survey of 181 tenth graders in New York high schools revealed that they were most uncertain of their ability to refuse sex under pressure or after using alcohol/drugs and to purchase condoms and use them consistently. Students with lower self-efficacy were twice as likely to have had sex and five times less likely to have used condoms…

A checklist/safety quiz from the National Fire Protection Association examines individual knowledge of how to escape if a home fire breaks out. The organization recommends that every household develop a fire escape plan and practice it at least twice a year. (SM)

Children need to be taught about food safety. The paper includes safety tips to remember when selecting, cooking, and eating meals, both at home and away from home. Information is included on grocery shopping, home storage, food preparation, cooking, serving, and leftovers. (SM)

The effectiveness of a research protocol which utilized the perinatal period to detect risk factors for child abuse and provide appropriate intervention for new parents in Poitiers, France, is examined, given the death of a one-month-old baby girl from child abuse. The paper emphasizes the difficulty with prediction and the limits of prevention…

The Consumer Product Safety Commission's "Handbook for Public Playground Safety" stands as the industry's reference tool and is a primary source for measuring liability in accident claims. Today's playground accidents are usually caused by poor maintenance, antiquated design, or layout problems. A series of tests are available for…

A 1988 school bus disaster in Kentucky killed 27 passengers. A new book, "Reckless Disregard: Corporate Greed, Government Indifference, and the Kentucky School Bus Crash," by James S. Kunen, recounts the accident and the long court struggle to prove why the children died. Cites federal standards for bus safety that have been upgraded several times…