Encourages school health educators to include a unit on child abuse and neglect as a component of the health education curriculum, noting the current lack of attention to the subject, describing the magnitude of the problem, and explaining how early intervention can limit the damage. The paper likens such education to secondary prevention, a…

Examines progress in the research on adolescent sexual behavior and pregnancy over the past 20 years, discussing advances in research methodology in five areas, advances in understanding teen pregnancy and finding solutions to problems in five areas, and two new research-based pillars for pregnancy prevention (sex- and HIV-education programs and…

Discusses research which suggested that building specific developmental assets among adolescents related to lowered risk-behavior patterns and increased patterns of thriving behavior among an aggregate sample of nearly 100,000 secondary school students in 213 U.S. communities. The paper discusses issues related to the scientific foundations,…

Examines 15 common myths about adolescent suicide, presenting the actual facts corresponding to each. The myths relate to such issues as prevalence, warning signs, education about suicide, differences between males and females, common methods of adolescent suicide, mental illness and suicide, suicide prevention, genetic factors, poverty and…

Explores conceptions of health and health promotion that have emerged over the past decade, considering implications for school health personnel and presenting activities that incorporate the emerging ideas. Discusses health promotion principles and values; implications for school health personnel; and a community-level quality of life model that…

Describes the practices of homeopathy and how they affect the scope of practice of school nurses. Includes a definition of homeopathy, a discussion of remedies and the specific symptoms for which they are effective, and an examination of conditions treatable by homeopathic physicians. Nine guidelines for managing homeopathic products in the school…

Rapid proliferation of school-based health centers is occurring during the time that school systems are seeking to improve educational practice. Absence of connection between school reorganization and provision of human services may lead to failure. The emerging community school model integrates quality education with effective health, mental…

Discusses partnerships between school-based health centers and school nurses, clarifying the role of school nurses and school-based health centers in the areas of collaboration, communication, and cooperation and examining obstacles to partnerships. Elements for successful collaboration are reviewed (clarifying roles, sharing leadership and…

Collaboration of mental-health professionals from different disciplines with each other and with health and educational staff is essential for school health-service delivery. The paper discusses each profession's role in providing school-based mental-health services, noting training requirements within each discipline related to school mental…

Expanded school mental-health (ESMH) programs address the limitations of traditional mental-health agencies in meeting childrens' needs by offering a full range of services in school. Family involvement in ESMHs can enhance their effectiveness. This paper describes challenges of involving families, guidelines for determining program goals for…

Managed care organizations (MCOs) and school health programs share some common goals and some competing, conflicting priorities. Partnerships between the two are important for the effective coordination and delivery of comprehensive adolescent health services. This paper discusses adolescent clinical preventive services, school health services,…

In 1998, the Making the Grade National Program Office and the National Assembly on School-Based Health Care sponsored a workshop on the relationship between the State Child Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and school-based health centers. This paper presents information from the workshop and uses experiences from Colorado and Connecticut as case…

Supports findings from a 1996 meeting of two school health organizations that there is a need for additional research on school nursing, reviewing existing research, describing the group process used to establish a research agenda on school nursing, presenting results of the process, and offering recommendations for the next steps to be taken by…

Research has shown that adolescent tobacco users are much more likely to progress to illicit drugs than are nonusers. This article suggests potential psychosocial reasons for progression based on principles of learning theory, Theory of Reasoned Action, Health Belief Model, and Cognitive Dissonance. Also discusses neuropharmacologic components to…

Video and computer games have assumed a prominent role in the culture of U.S. children and adolescents. The paper examines the health effects of these games, suggests criteria upon which parents and teachers may evaluate the games, and notes some implications for health educators. (SM)