Mental health services in New York City help first-time foster care children acquire ego skills needed for adjustment to foster care. Small-group, focused sessions help children deal with separation, abuse, neglect, and placement. Small-group sessions for foster parent participation are also arranged. Results of this approach have been positive.…

Investigates a randomized trial of a self-help smoking cessation program for pregnant smokers at the Kent County Health Department in Grand Rapids, (Michigan). Results indicate larger quit rates amongst program participants than those in the usual care group. Suggests that smoking cessation programs for low-income pregnant WIC clients are…

Describes the selection and training of volunteers to conduct a national health promotion program, Staying Healthy after Fifty. (JOW)

Describes "linkage agreement" system between Illinois community mental health centers and Anna Mental Health and Developmental Center serving 28 rural counties. Agreements specify responsibilities of community centers and hospital staff regarding referrals, client treatment, and discharge. Describes improvements over previous…

Describes development of a new modality for Puerto Rican adolescents which presents Puerto Rican folk heros and heroines in modeling therapy targeted towards enhancing adolescents' pride in their ethnic heritage. Evaluation of therapy using 21 adolescents indicated subjects increased in self-disclosure and self-confidence, gained pride, learned…

Reviews the book, "Within Our Reach: Breaking the Cycle of Disadvantage," which takes a new look at research about and programs for disadvantaged young children and their parents. (BB)

The adult problems of overweight, high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and diabetes are shared by the youth of our nation. Currently, corporations are providing assistance to national organizations in an effort to reverse this trend. A sampling of the array of support services the corporate sector supplies is presented. (JD)

Explored the employment of master's degree level counselors in substance abuse centers (N=435) and examined the direct care services and administrative duties they perform. Findings suggest that a high percentage of mental health counselors are employed in substance abuse centers and that mental health counselors function as individual, group,…

Overviews articles in this issue that focus on the current status of adventure therapy and describe efforts aimed at defining a framework for conceptualizing adventure therapy. Notes changes in the field, including introduction of state laws requiring licensure of programs, the drive for program accreditation, and growing training opportunities in…

Challenges counselors to adapt to the multidisciplinary approach for the delivery of mental health services in Canada by moving from the provision of direct services to individual clients to providing indirect services such as program planning, implementation, evaluation, consultation, training, supervision of other workers, and administration as…

Studied how multiple methods of follow-up can enhance the rate of response to mail questionnaires. The initial sample of 1,505 adults was contacted by mail for a health behavior survey. Follow-ups by mail and telephone resulted in an 89% response rate and demonstrated the efficacy of the follow-up methods. (SLD)

The intensive case management service provided by a mental health consumer team of case managers was compared to services of nonconsumer case managers. Results from 91 clients with serious mental illness found significant differences in outcomes after a year only in the areas of patient satisfaction and contact with family. (SLD)

Assessed self-responsibility for wellness of incoming college freshmen (N=404). Found no need differences between male and female students. Found a positive relationship between grade point average and age and self-responsibility scores. Results suggest need for comprehensive self-help programs that promote individual self-responsibility for…

A strategy to encourage evaluation used by the Centers for Disease Control in the Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH) is described. DASH personnel tried to make evaluation of human immunodeficiency virus education programs more attractive by providing materials and models for evaluation. (SLD)

Presents a descriptive analysis of 13 nationally available smoking cessation programs. To gather data, researchers used a review form that measured program setup, duration, cost, techniques, success rate, availability, and discussion of issues involved with smoking cessation. Researchers also examined program manuals and interviewed program…