New ways of tackling problem behavior among children and young people may achieve better results than existing programs, but are they cost effective? A study comparing court-ordered treatments for young offenders who misuse alcohol and drugs underlines the importance of measuring value for money.
November 2012
26 November 2012
Children living in unsafe neighborhoods are more likely to be depressed, but physical activity may buffer the negative link between neighborhood safety and mental health among children aged 9-12.
22 November 2012
Children spend around 20% of their waking hours in school. Should all of the remaining 80% be counted as free time or a chance for further learning? Proponents of expanded learning programs argue it’s the latter – but do such programs work?
19 November 2012
A US study showed that a family-focused intervention, the Adolescent Transitions Program (ATP), helped parents improve communication and problem-solving at home. In turn, these improvements helped to reduce their teenagers’ depression – even though the young people had very little treatment themselves.
14 November 2012
For more than 40 years, intensive family preservation programs have been regarded as the best way to keep families in crisis together. Now a review of research suggests that in most cases they don’t work. So what do we do when what we thought was true comes into question?
06 November 2012
Delivered 15 minutes a day for three years, the Positive Action program belongs to the “little and often” school of thought – and it works, according to a recent trial. The program reduced substance use, violence, and bullying among elementary-school students in Chicago city schools.
