Advocacy
Children’s Rights: Policy and Practice, by John Pardeck, is a valuable tool for those who work in social services as well as for child advocates, parents and young adults. The book explains legislation, government policies and court rulings relevant to the children’s rights movement. The text emphasizes support for children and their families rather than correction, focusing on family structure rather than on individuals. 168 pages. $24.95. The Haworth Press, 10 Alice St., Binghamton, NY 13904. (800) 429-6784, www.haworthpressinc.com.
Communities
CBO Schools: Profiles in Transformational Education, by the Academy for Educational Develop-ment, highlights the success of schools run by community-based organizations around the country. Using information gathered from 11 such schools, the book argues that a well-funded and organized CBO can manage a successful school using “smaller settings, high standards and high expectations.” The book’s nine chapters touch on diversifying learning opportunities, maximizing potential and maintaining high and comprehensive standards. 136 pages. Free online. Academy for Educational Development, 1825 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20009. (202) 884-8267, www.aed.org.
Developing Community-Empowered Schools, by Mary Ann Burke and Lawrence Picus, presents teacher training material – including overheads and worksheets – as a guide for establishing a school-based community program. With information gathered from educators and other resources, the book is designed to help parents and communities improve education through school community programs. 116 pages. $24.95. Corwin Press Inc., Sage Publications Co., 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. (800) 818-7243, www.corwinpress.com .
Peer & Cross-Age Training, Youth Mentoring, and Action Projects, by Youth Crime Watch of America, are three training manuals to help community organizers tailor their own programs. Each manual takes the organizer through steps to conceive a plan, choose people to work with and implement the program. YCWA provides a concise and basic outline for aspiring youth leaders who need general guidance. 75 pages. $10 each. Youth Crime Watch of America, 9300 S. Dadeland Blvd., Ste. 100, Miami, FL 33156. (305) 670-2409, www.ycwa.org .
Street Reclaiming: Creating Livable Streets and Vibrant Communities, by David Engwicht, suggests ways to reduce neighborhood traffic to create safe places for play and social gatherings. Engwicht calls for a return to the days when streets were a center for festivals, dance and socializing, arguing that the streets have been stolen from the community. Engwicht’s inspiring call-to-arms includes illustrations and diagrams for community reclamation. 207 pages. $18.95. New Society Publishers, P.O. Box 189, Gabriola Island, BC V0R 1X0, Canada. (800) 567-6772, www.newsociety.com.
Disabilities
Alternate Assessments for Students With Disabilities, by Sandra Thompson, Rachel Quenemoen, Martha Thurlow and James Ysseldyke, discusses alternatives to the mainstream forms of evaluating a youth’s disability. Using one girl as an example throughout the book, the authors focus on high expectations and high standards to assess and treat disabled youth. They discuss alternate assessments and the potential for changes in school systems. 152 pages. $65.95. Corwin Press, 2455 Teller Rd., Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. (800) 818-7243, www.corwinpress.com.
The Silent Child: Bringing Language to Children Who Cannot Speak, by Laurent Danon-Boileau, provides accounts of six children confronting hurdles to expressing themselves through speech. A psychoanalyst and novelist from Paris, Danon-Boileau displays a deft talent for describing the complex and scientific in a poetic tone. Danon-Boileau shows readers that the lessons learned through working with mute children can offer insight into building successful connections with children whose lips do not always express what their minds think. 188 pages. $25. Oxford University Press, 198 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10016. (212) 726-6000, www.oup-usa.org.
Wild Child: How You Can Help Your Child with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Other Behavioral Disorders, by Don Mordasini, provides the views of parent, child and clinician on attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD). The first part describes and provides diagnoses of the disorders, while the second part focuses on treatment. The book shows parents and their children ways to understand the mentality and be-havior of ADHD sufferers, help raise their self esteem, and effectively treat the disorders. 236 pages. $18.95. The Haworth Press, 10 Alice St., Binghamton, NY 13904. (800) 429-6784, www.haworthpressinc.com.
Divorce
What in the World Do You Do When Your Parents Divorce? A Survival Guide for Kids, by Kent Winchester and Roberta Beyer, provides brief answers to common questions younger children may have about divorce. The discussions include actual questions and responses of children from divorced families. This easy-to-read text answers basic questions (“What is divorce?”) as well as the more complicated ones (“What if I feel like a messenger?”). Winchester and Beyer are writing for pre-teens who are struggling with divorce in their families. They also include other divorce resources. 115 pages. $9.95. Free Spirit Publishing, 217 Fifth Ave. North, Ste. 200, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1299. (612) 338-2068, www.freespirit.com.
Education
Access to Success in the Urban High School: The Middle College Movement, by Harold S. Wechsler, examines the transition between high school and college. Wechsler reviews Middle College High School at LaGuardia Community College in Queens, an innovative program that focuses on at-risk youth. The school was started in the 1970s with a population of troubled youth who dropped out of school or were potential dropouts. Wechsler discusses the implementation of the idea and the issues raised by the creation of more such schools. 206 pages. $39. Teachers College Press, 1234 Amsterdam Ave., New York, NY 10027. (212) 678-3929, www.teacherscollegepress.com.
Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Education, by John Taylor Gatto, is a plain-worded slap in the face of mainstream education from one of its most decorated ambassadors. Gatto, who won the New York State Teacher of the Year award in 1991 and the New York City Teacher of the Year in 1990, presents his collected writings on the massive problems he says have accumulated over decades. Gatto does not mince words, and his unrelenting and well-defended charges make “Dumbing Us Down” a must-read for those who run or critically observe the education system. 120 pages. $9.95. New Society Publishers, P.O. Box 189, Gabriola Island, BC VOR 1XO. (800) 567-6772, www.newsociety.com.
National Charter School Directory, by the Center for Education Reform, lists the 2,431 charter schools in America in state and alphabetical order. Each entry includes the school’s address, phone contact, age, enrollment, age range and a brief description of its mission. 381 pages. $39.95. Center for Education Reform, 1001 Connecticut Ave. NW, Ste. 204, Washington, DC 20036. (202) 822-9000, www.edreform.com.
ScholarShop, produced by Citizens’ Scholarship Foundation of America, is a comprehensive curriculum that helps adolescents focus on what they want to do after high school. The program features seven modules, each with well-detailed guidelines for coordinators as well as planned activities for youths (ages 12-18). The first sections encourage youths to think about college or careers at an early age, while sections for juniors and seniors help prepare them for the significant changes that come with a move from structured high school life. ScholarShop comes with a substantial package of resources, including training sessions and technical assistance coverage. 218 pages (plus additional tools). $6,500. Citizens’ Scholarship Foundation of America, P.O. Box 297, St. Peter, MN 56082. (800) 537-4180, www.csfa.org.
Juvenile Justice
Family Empowerment as an Intervention Strategy in Juvenile Delinquency, edited by Richard Dembo and Nathaniel Pallone, chronicles the year-long experiment with the family empowerment intervention (FEI) approach in Hillsborough County, Fla. Half of the youths arrested received routine extended services (follow-up phone calls), while the others received family empowerment services (such as routine visits to the home by caseworkers). The result, not surprisingly, is that the FEI approach yielded lower recidivism and substance abuse rates, and Dembo and Pallone have compiled a technical and comprehensive account of their findings to that end. 113 pages. $24.95. Haworth Press, 10 Alice St., Binghamton, NY 13904. (800) 429-6784, www.haworthpressinc.com.
How to Work With Sex Offenders: A Handbook for Criminal Justice, Human Service and Mental Health Professionals, by Rudy Flora, is a comprehensive guide for dealing with sex offenders. Youth workers will take a particular interest in the later chapters of the book, which focus more acutely on reaching adolescents, females and handicapped people. Flora helpfully condenses and explains a lot of technical material in sections geared toward specific populations. 252 pages. $22.95. Haworth Press, 10 Alice St., Binghamton, NY 13904. (800) 429-6784, www.haworthpressinc.com.
Life Skills
Teaching Life Skills Through Chess: A Guide For Educators and Counselors, by Fernando Moreno, educates teachers and counselors on the usefulness of chess in a child’s academic and social achievement. Chess can be especially useful for children with poor behavioral and academic skills, says Moreno, by helping them learn alternative conflict-resolution skills and improving their decision-making abilities. The book cites examples of once under-achieving students who have shown marked improvement after taking up the game. 78 pages. $12.95. American Literary Press, 8019 Belair Rd., Ste. 10, Baltimore, MD 21236. (410) 882-7700, www.erols.com/amerlit.
Nonprofits
Fundraising On The Internet: The ePhilanthropyFoundation. Org’s Guide to Success Online, by Mal Warwick, Ted Hart and Nick Allen, helps charities get started with online fundraising. The book features advice from Internet fund-raising experts who discus topics such as organizational structure and accessing resources. Those discussions can help any nonprofit reach its full fundraising potential. 291 pages. $29. Jossey-Bass, 989 Market St., San Francisco, CA 94103. (888) 378-2537, www.josseybass.com.
Hard Works on Soft Skills: Creating a “Culture Of Work” in Workforce Development, by Ted Houghton and Tony Proscio, discusses four workforce development organizations that have successfully handled the social, cultural and self-control issues of employee training. The book emphasizes that the “soft skills” – like politeness and conduct – are just as important as “hard skills” such as typing or computer literacy. 56 pages. $10. Public/Private Ventures, Publications Department, 2000 Market St., Ste. 600, Philadelphia, PA 19103. (215) 557-4400, www.ppv.org.
Parenting
Freeing Our Families from Perfectionism, by Thomas Greenspon, breaks down the tendencies of young perfectionists and provides strategies for parents to give their children room for error. Greenspon first establishes in detail the traits of a perfectionist attitude: constant comparing, fear of risk-taking, frequent stress and difficulty in relationships with others, to name a few. He then dedicates the larger portion of the book to mapping ways for parents to confront their children’s perfectionism, and provides sound criteria for determining when to seek professional help. 115 pages. $14.95. Free Spirit Publishing, 217 Fifth Ave. North, Ste. 200, Minneapolis, MN 55401. (612) 338-2068, www.freespirit.com.
Respectful Parenting: From Birth Through the Terrific Twos, by Joanne Baum, addresses various parenting styles throughout the generations but emphasizes mutual respect between parent and child as the best option. The technique allows parents to set boundaries and rules, but permits children to have some control over their lives as well. Baum also reviews learning styles and discipline techniques for infants as well as children. This book seizes the concept that “respect breeds respect” and forges it into a primary parenting tool. Baum shares stories and experiences from families and children she has dealt with as a psychologist as evidence of the benefits of respectful parenting. 183 pages. $16.95. Child & Family Press of the Child Welfare League of America Inc., 440 First St. NW, Third Floor, Washington, DC 20001-2085. (202) 638-2952, www.cwla.org/pubs/.
The Natural Child: Parenting From the Heart, by Jan Hunt, delineates what the author calls the “attachment parenting” approach to raising children. Taking the reader through early childhood into young adulthood, Hunt drives home more of a philosophical model than a practical approach: Parents must “understand the critical importance of treating their children with dignity, respect, understanding, and compassion.” Hardly an earth-shattering revelation, but the book’s calming tone may help parents keep the end goals in mind. 192 pages. $14.95. New Society Publishers, P.O. Box 189, Gabriola Island, B.C., Canada V0R 1XO. (250) 247-9737, www.newsociety.com.
Sex
How to Talk With Teens About Love, Relationships, & S-E-X, by Amy and Charles Miron, arms parents with the information and strategies necessary to develop their child’s sexual education through “many small conversations” over time. The Mirons first reassure readers, citing research, that their decision to be open with their kids about sexual issues will decrease the chances of the children making a poor decision. The rest of the book is divided into two large portions: “Steps on the Way to Talking With Your Teen” and “Issues to Know About and Talk About.” With simple language and well-crafted approaches, “How to Talk With Teens” is a worthwhile recommendation for parents who are uncertain about how much – and when – they should tell their children. 254 pages. $16.95. Free Spirit Publishing, 217 Fifth Ave. North, Ste. 200, Minneapolis, MN 55401. (612) 338-2068, www.freespirit.com.
Substance Abuse
Prevention That Works! A Guide for Developing School-Based Drug and Violence Prevention Programs, by Cynthia Knowles, discusses how past and current drug and violence prevention programs have been unsuccessful within the school system and proposes effective programs to keep students safe. Knowles takes readers through the stages to build successful anti- drug and violence programs, including objectives and goals, effective teaching and organizational methods. 225 pages. $29.95. Corwin Press, Inc., 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. (800) 818-7243, www.corwinpress.com.
Technology
Teens.library, by Linda Braun, emphasizes the need to implement Internet features in libraries to accommodate the demands of an increasingly tech-savvy youth population. Access to instant messaging, e-mail and youth websites will keep libraries popular gathering spots for youth, Braun says. Such access will also introduce librarians to numerous quality programs and sites to consider. 90 pages. $28. American Library Association, P.O. Box 932501, Atlanta, GA 31193. (866) 746-7252, www.alastore.ala.org.
VIDEOS
Bullying
Gossiping, Taunting, Bullying: It’s All Harassment, by Sunburst Technology, addresses various forms of harassment for youths in grades five through nine. The film is set in a classroom in a California middle school, where a school counselor shows the students a video with adolescent actors demonstrating the effects of gossiping, taunting and bullying among youths. An expert from the University of California at Santa Barbara discusses different types of harassment, conflict resolution skills, ways to cope with emotional and physical pain and effective ways to combat harassment in school. 22 minutes. $129.95. Sunburst Technology, 101 Castleton St., Pleasantville, NY 10570. (800) 431-1934. www.sunburst.com .
Foster Care
Beyond the System, produced by the Youth Advocacy Center, chronicles two years in the starkly different experiences of two youths preparing to enter a world outside of foster care. Sashine meets periodically with a counselor, who has set up an interview for her at a design school and helps her prepare her answers. Meanwhile, Donald has aged out of foster care at 21. With little but a pat on the back from a counselor, he has high ambitions and no money or assistance to get himself started. The film is short on solutions, but highlights how important the minute details of a foster care system are. 20 minutes. $15. Youth Advocacy Center, 281 Sixth Ave., New York, NY 10014. (212) 675-6181, www.youthadvocacycenter.org.
Rape
Rape Under the Influence, produced by Discover Films, takes viewers to a San Diego college campus to discuss date rape. The basic message: legal consent cannot be given while intoxicated or drugged. The video carries a sharp warning to young men that date rape carries the same ramifications as holding a woman at gunpoint, but is light on practical advice for girls looking to avoid dangerous situations. 30 minutes. $149. Discover Films Video, P.O. Box 24758, New Orleans, LA 70184, (866) 222-8338, www.discover-films.com.
Sex
What is Love? What is Sex?, produced by Human Relations Media, asks a group of high schoolers about their struggles to differentiate between love and sex. The glaring problem with this, however, is that none of the youths is able to do so. Each teen interviewed, ultimately, understands there is a difference between the two. Uncertain, they choose to abstain. The video should work well with younger audiences who hang on every word from older peers, but teens who have had sex may feel alienated. 27 minutes. $141.75. Human Relations Media, 41 Kensico Dr., Mt. Kisco, NY 10549. (800) 431-2050, www.hrmvideo.com.
Substance Abuse
Social Norms: The Truth About Teen Alcohol Abuse 101, by Discover Films, uses students at a New York high school to discuss facts and fictions about teen drinking. An initial discussion reveals that the diverse panel of teens thinks most people are categorized as drinkers by association with a group. The video then cuts to interviews done in conjunction with a school-wide survey. Most of the youths guess that 80-90 percent of their peers drink, and are shocked to find that the survey shows 70 percent do not. “Social Norms” is an excellent video to show a group of younger high-schoolers. 30 minutes. $149. Discover Films Video, P.O. Box 24758, New Orleans, LA 70184. (866) 222-8338, www.discover-films.com.
CD-ROM
The Coolien Challenge, produced by Applewood Centers, is an interactive violence prevention program. The viewer becomes the human partner for an alien who must keep peace for an entire day at a school by choosing the correct action to quell potential conflicts throughout the virtual day. The graphics and humor will pass among elementary school students. Two discs. $89. Center for Research, Quality Improvement and Training, 2525 E. 22nd St., Cleveland, OH 44115. (216) 696-5800, www.applewoodcenters.org.
