Defines primary prevention in mental health as the building of health and competencies from an early age to prevent adverse psychological outcomes. Describes potential approaches to primary prevention for young children, such as early detection and intervention; helper therapy; mental health education; competence training; social system…

The 1996 RETAIN (Retention in Education for Today's American Indian Nations) Conference addressed the low number of Native Americans enrolled in higher education and highlighted successful Native American retention and academic support models. Lists important features in a college program and questions that students should ask about college…

Problem behavior theory predicts that adolescent problem behaviors are manifestations of a single behavioral syndrome. This study tested the validity of the theory across racial groups. Results indicate that multiple pathways are necessary to account for the problem behaviors and they support previous research indicating system response bias in…

An intervention targets cultural and eco-developmental risk factors that predispose Hispanic adolescents to substance abuse. Parent participatory-learning groups foster family cohesiveness and communication, facilitate parent-school connections, and create supervisory networks among peers' parents. The multidimensional focus, parent empowerment,…

Effects of a school-based program to prevent antisocial behaviors that could lead to conduct disorder were assessed among 34 target students and 15 role-model peers in urban Head Start programs. Target students showed patterns of social interaction that began to mirror those of role-model peers, while nonparticipating control group students…

Provides advice on teaching children safe pedestrian and bicycling skills to reduce accidents caused by mistakes made in crossing streets. Provides an interactive safe-walker's story, tips for walking safely, step-by-step instructions for safe street crossing, bicycle safety information, a quiz for safe biking, and guidelines to ensure a proper…

Draws on the commonalities between multicultural counseling and dropout prevention efforts to produce a general framework for individual counseling with students who have potential to drop out of high school. Discusses issues of culture conflict or racial alienation in the school environment which may increase dropout risk. (LSR)

A study examined low-income Latinos' attitudes concerning diabetes. Focus groups and surveys of 160 California Latinos, primarily of Mexican descent, found that many at risk of developing diabetes were unaware of risk factors, had never been screened, and did not know where to get advice. Most believed that stress or strong emotion caused the…

A project to promote rural men's health through diabetes education and screening in the workplace involved 446 men aged 40-65 in Western Australia. Of the 287 men identified at high risk of developing diabetes and referred to their general practitioner, 76 percent visited their physician. However, physician's advice on lifestyle changes was…

The Navajo supervisor in the Office of Environmental Health in New Mexico identifies diseases and their risk factors, administers an injury prevention program, and ensures compliance with various health-related codes. She assists in the planning and direction of environmental health programs and public health education for local Navajo…

A six-week cooperative learning intervention using positive peer role models was used to teach interpersonal problem-solving skills to 42 first-grade boys at risk of antisocial behavior patterns. Participants showed an increase in academic engaged time. However, the intervention failed to produce significantly lower rates of externalizing…

Holistic approaches can help counter the declining college enrollment and graduation of Hispanics. Two retention programs are described: Valued Youth Partnership, a remediation and dropout prevention program; and Step-to-College, which helps Hispanic students make the transition from high school to college. (IAH)

Describes ways in which instructional media and educational technology can be used to improve the attitudes and interest of at-risk students to help keep them in school. Topics discussed include curriculum development; hardware; software; flexible programs for dropouts; and programs for homebound students that use telecommunications networks. (LRW)

Presents examples of appropriate intervention strategies for professionals working with school-based human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention among adolescents. A multidisciplinary approach is advisable because influencing adolescent sexual behavior is a complex matter. Consistent, continuous messages through multiple channels and by multiple…

Provided is an empirical method to train students to avoid physical disaster in their work experience. Discussed is a computer program, CHETAH, which can be used in advance of synthesis to classify the possible explosive nature of the products. Plosophoric and auxoplosive weights of many organic groups are listed. (MVL)