Describes the establishment and work of the Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development at the Peabody College of Vanderbilt University, presenting an overview of this theme issue, which highlights Kennedy Center contributions, roots of the Kennedy Center, and ongoing research at the Kennedy Center. Two appendixes list Kennedy Center…

Describes the work of the John F. Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, which for three decades has promoted interdisciplinary research on developmental disabilities. The paper describes how the Kennedy Center is an integral part of both the educational community and the surrounding civic community at the Peabody College of Vanderbilt…

Describes development over five years of Australia's Hunter Region Health Promoting Schools Project, noting barriers to health-promoting schools, examining the new approach to health promotion, discussing the minimum set of health-promotion actions for reducing risk behaviors (increasing knowledge and skills, modifying availability of products,…

Assessed sleep patterns, sleep disruptions, and sleepiness of second-, fourth-, and sixth-graders. Found that older children had more delayed sleep onset times and increased reported daytime sleepiness than younger; girls spent more time in sleep than boys and had increased percentage of motionless sleep; and 18 percent of children had fragmented…

Presents Flow Theory as a theoretical model to help those who work with children in physical activity environments better understand how to motivate children to become and remain physically active. Explains why children participate in and drop out of physical activities, what Flow Theory is, how to tap into flow experiences, and implications for…

An expanded nursing role in interdisciplinary team evaluations of students with special health needs includes systematically and sensitively seeking family perspectives. This article reviews family nursing assessment categories, reframing them for use in assessing family perspective regarding child health and educational needs and presenting a…

Self-esteem, modes of coping, and interfamilial relationships of asthmatic children and adolescents were investigated (N=51; mean age=12.26). Asthmatic children have lower scores on psychological factors, coping with stress, and family interaction measures. Medical and psychological findings are related, and psychological and educational support…

It is important to individualize exercise programs to safely achieve exercise goals. The article reviews several key points to help exercise leaders individualize new exercise programs or rejuvenate routine workouts, focusing on cardiorespiratory and muscular training. The article emphasizes that individualizing exercise programs reduces injury,…

Measured asthma outcomes after initiating an inner-city elementary school health center that emphasized asthma detection and treatment. Pre- and post-intervention comparison of students indicated that: hospitalization rates for asthma decreased; outpatient visits for care in the absence of symptoms doubled; numbers of students seeing an asthma…

Using data from a study of elementary Ontario teachers and principals, the paper examines difficulties in persuading teachers to report child abuse. Results suggest that teachers do not intentionally avoid reporting, but almost half of their suspicions never get beyond the principal's desk. Teachers' perceptions of the procedural process…

Introduced third-, fifth-, seventh-graders to an empirically based and culturally sensitive AIDS curriculum. Posttest and follow-up (11 months later) results indicated that, compared with students in control classes, subjects knew more about AIDS risk factors and AIDS generally, displayed more conceptual understanding of causes, and were more…

Discusses the role of families and schools in preventing eating disorders in children and adolescents, explaining that eating disorders are not just about food, but rather a misuse of food to resolve emotional problems; describing various primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention methods; and offering strategies for educators (activism and…

Reviews the evolution of efforts to develop effective, sustainable school health programs, arguing that efforts were significantly driven by public health priorities and have not adequately accounted for educational perspectives. A model illustrating linkages between different school-based inputs and strategies and long-term health and educational…

Outlines lessons learned during many missions undertaken in countries of the former Soviet Union and former Yugoslavia that were designed to set up psychosocial assistance programs to teach coping skills to children adversely affected by armed conflicts and the socioeconomic transition process from a planned to a market economy. (SM)

The Florida School Violence Policies and Programs Study assessed characteristics of violence prevention and control policies and education in Florida's school districts. Most districts report increased student violence. They have responded with policies and programs to a greater extent than have districts nationwide. Most districts offer relevant…