Describes how a 16-year-old African-American male, Tyrone, excelled in a mental-health day-treatment facility in which he was enrolled. Tyrone used the skills taught within the replacement-skills curriculum at the facility to compose a rap song that reminded him and his classmates how to react when faced with a difficult situation. (MKA)

Explores how the lack of awareness of human diversity can adversely affect the mental health care of nondominant ethnic groups. Proposes a three-dimensional cultural-interface model for assessing and treating mental health problems. (SLD)

The health of women involves their emotional, social, cultural, spiritual, and physical well-being, and is influenced by social, political, and economic factors, as well as by biology. This definition of women's health provides a framework for a relevant and effective approach to patient education, health promotion, and disease prevention.…

Relations among instruments used in community mental-health services for people with developmental disabilities were explored with 284 individuals. Correlation coefficients were evaluated for statistical significance and effect size for subtests of the Reiss Screen for Maladaptive Behavior, the Aberrant Behavior Checklist, and the Adaptive…

Demonstrates how a school-based mental health program helps create a caring alternative high school, based on data gathered by shadowing students; interviewing students, teachers, staff, and counselors; reviewing documents; and observing group-counseling sessions. Findings indicate that counseling allows students to experience caring, when…

Cluster analysis was conducted to examine clinical characteristics of 1,961 boys and 1,320 girls (ages 10-19) with serious emotional disturbances entering systems of care funded by the Center for Mental Health Services. Combining functional and behavioral characteristics of participants indicate that symptom measures alone could not adequately…

Examines outcomes of a Systematic Training for Effective Parenting program in several areas of family functioning identified by the McMaster model of family health. Finds that participants who completed the parent training did report more improvements in general family functioning than those parents whose children received routine mental health…

Studies the effects of a 12-session educational group intervention program for people with generalized chronic musculoskeletal pain. Results reveal that participants came out significantly better than the control group with respect to pain and pain coping, taking care of themselves, life satisfaction, and health care consumption. (Contains 69…

This article presents a description of the Child and Adolescent Services Assessment, a self- and parent-report instrument designed to assess use of mental health services by children, ages 8 to 18. The article provides information on interviewer training, coding of data, and psychometric data on clinical samples, and presents a case study.…

Focuses on lessons educators might learn from the Intensified Campaign for the Global Eradication of Smallpox. Outlines the history of smallpox eradication. Discusses the eradication effort's obstacles, campaign, and costs and benefits. Considers five factors relevant to the successful implementation of educational programs. (CMK)

Anecdotal accounts of work with two families illustrate how adventure family therapy focuses both on individual client needs and on the power and influence of the family and other interacting systems on behaviors. Sidebar explains why adventure experiences are useful in therapy. Contains 19 references. (TD)

Providers of mental health services will need to address the expected increase in the older adult population. More practitioners as well as more people trained in teaching and research about aging and mental health will be needed. (Contains 11 references.) (JOW)

Three customary performance guidelines (therapeutic relationship, satisfaction, and parent involvement) believed to be indicators of quality care were tested for their ability to account for improved mental health outcomes among 240 adolescent clients. Results showed statistically significant relationships between these commonly accepted measures…

Describes an integrated school-based mental health services model established in pilot schools in under-served areas of South Carolina. States the approach bridges preventive efforts across settings, and links interventions with youths and their families to changes in environments and systems. Reports that findings are supportive of a broad…

Continuous quality improvement efforts are vital to high-quality early intervention services. This article describes an ongoing quality improvement project within an infant mental health-based Early Head Start program. Both strategies and challenges in implementing issues and lessons learned in the initial 2-year phase of the quality improvement…