Identifies barriers that keep education from contributing effectively to people's quality of life, focusing on typical community-based health promotion interventions concerning adolescent drug education, school readiness, and African American lifestyle choices. Resource people cannot determine a community's health education and promotion agenda.…

Discusses the importance of child life specialists and programs in helping children cope with the stress and anxiety of hospital experiences. These specialists and programs promote children's growth and development both in the hospital and after returning home. (BB)

Despite the need to change health behavior and the evidence that instruction can do so, health instruction is nonexistent or inadequate for most students in U.S. schools. The article recommends a national policy on sequential, planned comprehensive K-12 school health education. (SM)

Among the ways school districts can obtain the best possible health benefits at the lowest possible cost are the following: (1) reduce the number of full-time employees; (2) set up a utilization review committee; (3) enlist a preferred provider organization; (4) offer wellness programs; (5) develop a self-insurance plan; and (6) consider a…

Alcohol consumption affects virtually every organ and system of the body. The article examines the negative physiological and psychomotor effects of short-term alcohol consumption relevant to physical fitness and athletic performance. Educators must be responsible for reaching students and discussing the issue. (SM)

Presents guidelines to help parents and teachers promote good nutrition in their children. The article describes ways one Colorado school revised its nutrition policy to help the teachers work in the area of nutrition. A list of home activities for parents to support good eating habits is offered. (SM)

Categorized 68 gay men who earlier attended Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) prevention sessions as successful or unsuccessful in change maintenance. Resumption of high-risk sexual practices was associated with identified variables, such as age and number of past sex partners, and 86 percent of subjects could be classified as relapsers…

Reports survey of San Francisco Hispanics to identify relationship between acculturation and AIDS transmission knowledge. Indicates generally good transmission knowledge, but many erroneous beliefs. Knowledge strongly associated with acculturation level, with less-acculturated Hispanics harboring more errors, even controlling for education.…

Presents a checklist for choosing a good AIDS curriculum and provides several sources of resource materials for AIDS education programs. A position statement is included from the National Parent Teacher Association supporting the concept of comprehensive school health education programs that include AIDS as a topic. (IAH)

The results of a survey of 710 Indians in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho indicated that HIV, if introduced here, could decimate the population because of the large numbers of youth in the middle risk group: young, male, alcohol and drug users, and very active sexually. (DM)

Explores the racial differences in elevated arterial blood pressure between African American youth, especially adolescents, and their White counterparts. Argues that African American adolescents' perception of day-to-day stress is an important contributor to this condition. Considers a conceptual model of the sociopsychophysiological stress…

Sargent and other human service professionals have pursued visions of a rational, regulated life, a vision entertained by many professions. The paper critiques the human capital model (which unites these professions and delivery systems), presents a human development perspective, identifies its assumptions, and sketches its life-enabling…

Study assessed factors associated with teachers' implementation of health curricula. School representatives implemented one of three smoking prevention curricula in sixth or seventh grades. Experimental teachers received extensive curriculum training. Training significantly related to whether teachers implemented curricula. Variables outside…

Educational reform offers the possibility of effecting change in both educational policy and practice that can result in increased personal empowerment for teachers. However, changes brought about by school reform will result in increased levels of perceived stress for practitioners. Consequently, planners need to consider the role and value of…

Despite abundant information on playground safety, National Recreation and Parks Association members still search for ways to handle playground problems. Since each playground is unique, there is no simple answer. The paper makes recommendations on how to begin and create a playground safety plan. (SM)