Programs and services that prevent substance abuse and mental health disorders have the potential to lessen an enormous burden of suffering and to reduce both the cost of future treatment and lost productivity at work and home. The availability and accessibility of these interventions to Americans whose health care is provided by managed care…

This manual is designed to help the Latino community in its work of incorporating young people into disease prevention efforts and health education. It provides basic information on 12 health themes along with suggestions and resource materials for the instructor. The young people trained through this manual may work in a number of education and…

This publication describes the importance of promoting healthy eating habits among school-age children, discussing the benefits of healthy eating (e.g., prevents child and adolescent health problems and health problems later in life) and noting the consequences of unhealthy eating (e.g., hungry childen are more likely to have behavioral,…

Drug courts are designed to stop the abuse of alcohol and other drugs and the related criminal activity by offering individuals, whose criminal activity stems from substance abuse, the choice to participate in treatment. In exchange for successful completion of a treatment program, the court has the option of dismissing the original charge,…

This report contains information based on 47 interviews with administrators and educators from technical centers, approved and recognized independent schools, recognized schools, state operated facilities, state approved programs, and state approved tutorials in Vermont. The information in this report is based on self-reporting by individual…

This document is intended primarily for use by policymakers, healthcare providers, nutritionists, and nutrition educators. The information in the Dietary Guidelines is useful for the development of educational materials and aids policymakers in designing and implementing nutrition-related programs, including federal food, nutrition…

This study examined state adolescent immunization requirements and the regulatory context in which immunization programs operate, identifying current state regulations on informed parental consent. Data from the LEXIS-NEXIS legal database and surveys of state immunization program officials indicated that parental consent was standard in 43 states.…

Uses a model of social identities to explore the incidence of cigarette smoking among adolescent girls. Found a sharp increase in girls' smoking at about 14 years of age related both to age and to puberty. The model identified "never smoked" and "regular smoker" groups but not occasional smokers. (RJM)

The Harlem Health Connection is a three-year project to develop and test smoking control interventions for African Americans, primarily those in Harlem (New York). Surveys of people from public housing, health care institutions, and churches found the highest smoking rates in public housing residents and people attending health care institutions.…

Discusses contraindications to athletic participation, examining the cardiac, respiratory, and central nervous system conditions that warrant activity disqualification. Provides guidelines about when it is safe for individuals to participate, and discusses the physician's responsibility. (SM)

Introduces a collection of articles that proposes standards for empirically supported prevention programming for children and youth and steps to integrate prevention science with practice. Articles highlight key research findings and common principles for effective programming across family, school, community, health care, and policy interventions…

Uses a review-of-reviews approach across four areas (substance abuse, risky sexual behavior, school failure, and juvenile delinquency and violence) to identify characteristics consistently associated with effective prevention programs. Programs were comprehensive, included varied teaching methods, provided sufficient dosage, were theory driven,…

Provides an overview of this special issue that examines the implementation of the Safe Schools/Healthy Students (SS/HS) Initiative in seven local communities. An overview of the SS/HS Initiative is provided. Critical lessons learned from the seven sites are discussed with a focus on the special role that school psychologists can play in…

The Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative in Pinellas County, FL, emerged as a part of a broader local effort to implement creative educational and mental health programs to support children and families. Describes Pinellas County's plan, and highlights the instrumental roles played by school psychologists, which included grant writing, program…

A top-down approach to British community development is rooted in Victorian paternalism, a bottom-up approach in radical action. The case of ACHIEVE (Academic Centre for Health Improvement and Evidence of Effectiveness) shows how the current government's top-down approach is inadequate and potentially exploitive. It emphasizes development and…