The public is "mad as hell" about crime in their communities and many residents are taking positive steps to counter street violence. Several groups around the country have organized to combat the crime problem. (SI)

To attack their community's homeless student problem, the Houston Board of Education last February opened a "lighted schoolhouse" as a temporary shelter. Houston's superintendent, Joan Raymond, is convinced that more school districts will need to provide residential care. The 20 children using the shelter were turned over to Children's…

Provides a brief history of Federal agency involvement in programs for children and their families, examines factors that affect the development of Federal social policy, and suggests future trends. Includes a brief summary of the existing 93 programs operated by various agencies of the Federal government. (Author/BJV)

Discusses "aftercare services," which refers to a range of support services in the postplacement phase of foster care for foster adolescents. Focuses on legislative and policy trends related to independent-living services and aftercare, independent-living subsidies, and the aftercare project of the Arizona Young Adult Program. (RJC)

A 3-year study of 115 youth offenders ages 14-17 who were involved in a program that integrated wilderness or adventure therapy with a community-based component revealed significant positive changes in 10 out of 33 psychometric scales considered essential precursors to behavioral changes. However, no significant behavioral changes were observed.…

Presents a case study of the University of Minnesota's community-based program to serve the needs of children, youth, and families. Highlights the early history of the enterprise, noting the guiding principles and mission that have fueled its development. Summarizes the first three years of the consortium's operation and discusses a few of the…

Interviews with federal, state, and local officials about the federally funded youth-at-risk grant program found that federal and state philosophy and goals were similarly focused on developing community coalitions to address youth issues, whereas local leaders focused on developing school-age child care activities and viewed coalition-building as…

Brisk political winds are now converging behind national proposals for youth service. As several examples show, combining classroom work with service/social action projects can help produce dramatic improvements in student attitudes, motivation, and achievement. Learning through service succeeds because youth become active, needed members of their…

Many concepts forming the foundation of the outdoor/experiential learning movement have parallels in Native American traditions. The National Indian Youth Leadership Program focuses on key Native American values such as family commitment, service to others, spiritual awareness, challenge, meaningful roles, recognition, responsibility, natural…

In Brattleboro (Vermont), adventure activities contributed to efforts of the police department to move to a more cooperative model of community policing. Adventure-based workshops helped officers to build unified teams with common goals and develop trust, empathy, and communication skills, while police-sponsored adventure activities forged links…

Maintains that the mental "playground" of young people, the field of opportunities where they learn to grow into the person they are uniquely destined to become, has shrunk dramatically. Reflects on three models for youth ministry and religious education that can respond to this phenomenon. (MJP)

A weekly discussion group for high school students, held at a church before school, provided youth with a place to make connections across differences and to engage in stimulating debate with peers. Anecdotes illustrate how the youth group resisted unfair practices of adult authority while failing to openly recognize the power dynamics within the…

Provides an overview of the Intensive Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Program, a community-based, multi-agency, multimodal delinquency prevention program. Highlights how the six organizations involved in the program overcame three common barriers to interagency collaboration-funding, climate, and communication. (GCP)

Describes a survey conducted by the Washoe County (Nevada) Library to investigate youth services programs, using a planning grant from the DeWitt Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund, "Public Libraries as Partners in Youth Development". Discusses education and tutoring programs, including homework centers; career development and mentoring…

The Pribilof Islands Stewardship Program aims to preserve the rich species diversity of the islands and recover the sense of connectedness that once linked local Aleuts and their environment. The summer program draws on both science and traditional knowledge, offering Aleut youth the chance to assist scientists, protect the seals, and participate…