This book tells the story of children and families whose lives are affected by alcohol. It also provides a guide to school personnel who are interested in developing programs for children of alcoholics (COAs). The program described herein, ESCAPE (Enhancing Social Competence and Personal Efficacy), was designed to be integrated into existing school curricula. This approach is based on psychological and educational theory and research, and reflects an application of theory and research to practice. The book provides school personnel with information about the effects of alcoholism on families and children, and offers ideas for designing school-based prevention and intervention programs for COAs. The book opens with the theoretical model and rationale for the ESCAPE program. Chapter two provides a review of research on COAs and lists effective interventions for this group. The third chapter instructs how to design, implement, and evaluate school-based prevention programs, while the next chapter presents the ESCAPE program. Chapters five and six offers an annotated bibliography of books and films and lists of other resource materials. The programs described should also help educators develop approaches to enhance the personal-social competence of children and adolescents in general. (RJM)