"The Challenge", a publication of the US Department of Education's office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools, provides critical information and resources to assist schools in creating safe and healthy environments for young people. This issue addresses the following topics: (1) Prevention Programs with Staying Power: What Makes Good Prevention Programs…

This report describes an evaluation of the Montana Tobacco Use Prevention and Education Program, which helps schools organize and deliver tobacco use prevention and education programs. Its emphasis is on policy and curriculum development in local schools; providing district-level training to develop knowledge, confidence, competency, and skills…

The Plain Talk initiative, developed by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, was designed to increase the amount and quality of communication that parents and community adults provided youth regarding responsible sexual decision making. It offered parents and other community adults information and skills necessary to communicate more effectively with…

The Science Communication Interest Group of the proceedings contains the following 7 papers: "Risk Perceptions and Food Safety: A Test of the Psychometric Paradigm" (Joye C. Gordon); "An Entertainment-Education Video as a Tool to Influence Mammography Compliance Behavior in Latinas" (Gail D. Love); "Promise or Peril: How…

This report details findings of a study which consisted of two main components: an analysis of the experience of international agencies in using mass media entertainment to stimulate changes in health behaviors; and an inventory of the main international projects which have utilized mass media entertainment for educational purposes. Following a…

This document presents a portrait of multiple risk-taking among teens. Using recent data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) and the 1995 National Survey of Adolescent Males, the report describes the extent to which teens engage in multiple health risk behaviors and contrast it with the extent to which teens…

This ten classroom-hour instructional model combines skill, cognitive and affective experiences in dental health. An integration of the skills and cognitions with affective reactions promotes positive feelings and improved values regarding dental health. Motivation principles and feedback systems give the students and the instructor incentive and…

Health risk appraisal tools, combined with an undergraduate health education course, appear to assist students in developing positive health behaviors. (CJ)

Reviewed research on the relationship between health, family communication, and support systems. Described a project encouraging family members to support each other's attempts to alter their diet and exercise patterns. Demonstrated that promoting social support for change among family members can encourage changes in diet and, less effectively,…

Professionals and policy makers are placing more faith and more money in education's promise to change individual habits and attitudes that result in poor health. Author finds little evidence that level of education attainment or specific instruction results in dramatic change in health behavior. (Editor/RK)

This study examined cardiovascular risk factors in Black first-year college students (N=238). Students completed surveys about blood pressure, cholesterol level, smoking, and physical activity. Results found low rates of high blood pressure, low awareness of cholesterol levels, and low numbers of students who smoked. Females had lower physical…

Reports results from an evaluation of "Living with Sunshine," a resource to help teachers encourage positive sun-related conduct by children ages 6-8. Results indicate that children who used the materials were knowledgeable about the sun's effects and aware of sun protection methods. Both teachers and students responded enthusiastically…

Reports a study that examined the utility of health and exercise locus of control and health and exercise value in predicting exercise behavior in 86 adults. Survey results indicated that exercise locus of control was a better predictor of exercise behavior than a more general measure of health locus of control. (Author/SM)

This study examined stages of drug habit acquisition and change among college students, basing the proposed stages of drug use on the Multi-Component Motivational Stages prevention model. Surveys indicated the model helped explain the stages of substance use. The proportion of youths at each stage differed by type of drug. (SM)

College students who did and did not attend an AIDS peer education program completed preprogram and postprogram surveys to determine their AIDS-related attitudes and behavior. Data analysis indicated students who attended the program were more likely to engage in preventive behaviors including condom use and HIV-antibody testing. (SM)