This report contains highlights from a seminar on the role of parents in helping adolescents with their health problems. Comments by these panelists is summarized: Judy Areen, dean, Georgetown University Law Center; Barbara Popper, founder and board member of Children in Hospitals, Inc. and resource specialist at the Federation for Children with Special Needs; Vernon Oakes, professor of marketing at Howard University, and member of Toughlove; and Naomi Karp, second vice-president, Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health, and partner in Family and Integration Resources. These topics, discussed at the seminar, are summarized: (1) exceptions to the parent consent presumption; (2) parent notification in minors' abortion; (3) issues in health care for special needs adolescents; (4) Toughlove and Toughlove for minorities; and (5) the Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health. A background briefing report is also included which contains information about the special challenges of adolescent treatment; a legal framework; difficult clinical dilemmas; parents' roles in adolescent health and medical treatment; chronic physical illness and disability; the contribution of the parent movement; the role of public policy; and selected parent self-help organizations. (40 references) (LLL)