Successful Prevention Programs for Children and Adolescents / Edition 1

by Joseph A. Durlak

Overview

Successful Prevention Programs for Children and Adolescents presents a wide variety of exemplary programs addressing behavioral and social problems, school failure, drug use, injuries, child abuse, physical health, and other critical issues. The validity and generality of each study's results are given special attention, and outcomes involving actual behavioral change are emphasized. A special appendix lists resources on prevention, including other texts, special journal issues, national clearinghouses, resource centers containing videos and curriculum materials, and Web sites.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780306456459
Publisher:	Springer US
Publication date:	08/31/1997
Series:	Issues in Clinical Child Psychology
Edition description:	1997
Pages:	241
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.03(d)

About the Author

Durlak, Joseph A. (Loyola Univ Chicago)

Table of Contents

1. Basic Concepts in Prevention.- 2. Prevention of Behavioral and Social Problems.- 3. Prevention of Learning Problems.- 4. Drug Prevention.- 5. Programs to Improve Physical Health.- 6. Injury Prevention.- 7. Child Maltreatment.- 8. Is Prevention Cost-Effective?.- 9. Importance of Policy.- 10. Current Status and Future Directions.- Appendix A. Characteristics of Effective Skill Training Programs.- Appendix B. Helpful Resources on Prevention.- References.- Author Index.

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Robert Cohen, PhD (Medical College of Virginia at Virginia Commonwealth University)
Description: This book provides an overview of effective primary and secondary prevention programs directed at a wide range of problems, and targets child and adolescent populations. In addition to describing exemplary initiatives focused on a variety of behavioral and physical health problems (as well as educational and social problems), there is also discussion of critical issues and problems in the field of prevention.
Purpose: The author attempts to inform a broad audience about the scientific progress that has been made in the field of prevention. The book clearly explains how contemporary prevention programs are designed, implemented, and evaluated. Given the enormous human and financial cost of the problems addressed here, it is important for this audience to have a clear understanding of potential contribution of prevention efforts. For the most part, the author succeeds in achieving these objectives.
Audience: This book is worthy for preventionists, service providers, and students from a variety of health and human service disciplines. It appears to have been an extension of a well received review of prevention published by the author in 1997, is clearly written, and should be of use to the wide audience for which it is intended.
Features: Although some useful tables and figures are provided, the book basically follows a narrative format. The references are comprehensive and up to date and the table of contents and index appear to be sufficient. It is not a particularly attractive book, but the quality of the content compensates for its stylistic limitations.
Assessment: This is a well-written, timely book that gives the reader a good knowledge base and useful framework for understanding the current status of prevention programs for children and adolescents. Although it overlaps with other works on this subject, its comprehensive scope, up-to-date references, and balanced point of view make it a worthwhile addition. It should be included in any basic reference collection and is a useful text for courses dealing with prevention. Its primary limitation — acknowledged by the author — is that as an overview, it does not provide the reader with a thorough discussion of any of the specific topics or issues covered. In relation to its many positive attributes, this is a minor problem.

Doody's Review Service

Reviewer: Robert Cohen, PhD(Medical College of Virginia at Virginia Commonwealth University)
Description: This book provides an overview of effective primary and secondary prevention programs directed at a wide range of problems, and targets child and adolescent populations. In addition to describing exemplary initiatives focused on a variety of behavioral and physical health problems (as well as educational and social problems), there is also discussion of critical issues and problems in the field of prevention.
Purpose: The author attempts to inform a broad audience about the scientific progress that has been made in the field of prevention. The book clearly explains how contemporary prevention programs are designed, implemented, and evaluated. Given the enormous human and financial cost of the problems addressed here, it is important for this audience to have a clear understanding of potential contribution of prevention efforts. For the most part, the author succeeds in achieving these objectives.
Audience: This book is worthy for preventionists, service providers, and students from a variety of health and human service disciplines. It appears to have been an extension of a well received review of prevention published by the author in 1997, is clearly written, and should be of use to the wide audience for which it is intended.
Features: Although some useful tables and figures are provided, the book basically follows a narrative format. The references are comprehensive and up to date and the table of contents and index appear to be sufficient. It is not a particularly attractive book, but the quality of the content compensates for its stylistic limitations.
Assessment: This is a well-written, timely book that gives the reader a good knowledge base and useful framework for understanding the current status of prevention programs for children and adolescents. Although it overlaps with other works on this subject, its comprehensive scope, up-to-date references, and balanced point of view make it a worthwhile addition. It should be included in any basic reference collection and is a useful text for courses dealing with prevention. Its primary limitation — acknowledged by the author — is that as an overview, it does not provide the reader with a thorough discussion of any of the specific topics or issues covered. In relation to its many positive attributes, this is a minor problem.

This book provides an overview of effective primary and secondary prevention programs directed at a wide range of problems, and targets child and adolescent populations. In addition to describing exemplary initiatives focused on a variety of behavioral and physical health problems (as well as educational and social problems), there is also discussion of critical issues and problems in the field of prevention. The author attempts to inform a broad audience about the scientific progress that has been made in the field of prevention. The book clearly explains how contemporary prevention programs are designed, implemented, and evaluated. Given the enormous human and financial cost of the problems addressed here, it is important for this audience to have a clear understanding of potential contribution of prevention efforts. For the most part, the author succeeds in achieving these objectives. This book is worthy for preventionists, service providers, and students from a variety of health and human service disciplines. It appears to have been an extension of a well received review of prevention published by the author in 1997, is clearly written, and should be of use to the wide audience for which it is intended. Although some useful tables and figures are provided, the book basically follows a narrative format. The references are comprehensive and up to date and the table of contents and index appear to be sufficient. It is not a particularly attractive book, but the quality of the content compensates for its stylistic limitations. This is a well-written, timely book that gives the reader a good knowledge base and useful framework for understanding the current status of preventionprograms for children and adolescents. Although it overlaps with other works on this subject, its comprehensive scope, up-to-date references, and balanced point of view make it a worthwhile addition. It should be included in any basic reference collection and is a useful text for courses dealing with prevention. Its primary limitation -- acknowledged by the author -- is that as an overview, it does not provide the reader with a thorough discussion of any of the specific topics or issues covered. In relation to its many positive attributes, this is a minor problem.

Robert Cohen

Children and adolescents can indeed be prevented if enough attention is exerted, but the focus here is on programs that have demonstrated success at helping young people overcome behavioral and social problems, school failure, drug use, injuries, child abuse, poor health, and other difficulties. Focuses on programs that have been carefully conceptualized, conducted, and evaluated, and on those that have produced positive effects of behavior and adjustment as well as attitudes and knowledge. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Booknews

‘A well-researched and up-to-date text with useful appendices.'
Readings, March 1998

From the Publisher