Students need opportunities for developing a strong self-image and for learning how to cope with life's problems safely and effectively. Programs should be provided that offer young people the opportunity to develop (1) a strong and secure sense of self-worth; (2) more effective communication skills; (3) the ability to cope with disappointment, rejection, and loss; (4) an inherent understanding that violence is never acceptable behavior; and (5) clearer and more realistic expectations about their roles in all relationships including marriage, parenting, family life, and career. The most successful programs are those that are a mandated part of the basic educational process, comprehensive, year-long, and taught by the best teachers. One program, "The Dynamics of Relationships," is a primary prevention curriculum that is taught by teachers and guidance counselors; it was piloted in 1985 in four Washington, D.C. high schools as a full-year, five-day-a-week, one-credit elective. Another 18-week program, "Skills for Adolescence," is designed to build self-esteem in youngsters so they can deal better with the pressures of growing up in a stressful and complex society. Instructions for obtaining information about these programs are provided. (MLF)