"The result was a decrease in the prescription of antidepressants to teens by over 50%, and an increase in suicides."

Labels: antidepressants, depression, medictions

"Virginity pledges emerged in the early 1990s based on the theory that young people would remain chaste if they had stronger community support - or pressure - to remain abstinent. Programs vary, but in most cases teenagers voluntarily sign a pledge or publicly announce their intention to abstain from sex."

Labels: abstinence, risky_behaviors, sex

"'Gang activity is on the rise. It is here, and we will be dealing with it for many years,' [Monroe County's Chief Probation Officer Steve] Houloose said. His office has worked with Pocono kids who are admitted members of the Bloods, Crips, Latin Kings and various branches of those gangs."

Labels: criminals, gangs, parental_involvement

"The film starts out with information on how HIV/AIDS is spread, including through sexual contact, the sharing of needles and blood transfusions. To the sounds of an ambulance siren wailing in the background, teens in the film explain the side effects of the disease for which there is no cure."

Labels: AIDS, risky_behaviors, sex

"The path to criminal behavior might begin with a bad childhood. If a child is raised in a community that is poor and the only people there to look up to are drug dealers or criminals, this sets an image for the child."

Labels: criminals, influences, parental_involvement

''A wonderful seed planted right here in Missouri is now to bear fruit all across America. See what happens when we all work together, reaching across party lines to do what is good and right for the people,' Kinder said."

Labels: education, influences, mentoring

"[Chief Assistant State Attorney Jay] Plotkin says most studies show teens who come through a program like this will not get in trouble with the law and will understand that if they make the wrong choices they will end up in jail."

Labels: consequences, jails, prevention

"'From what I've read, I think the approaches which try to shock students, either through videos of terrible accidents or other videos that emphasize the gruesome nature of things, the conclusions there are they are not effective and may be counterproductive,' [First Lady Nancy] Freudenthal said. Freudenthal isn't exactly sure why that's the case, but said it might be because students typically don't believe bad things can happen to them."

Labels: education, influences, prevention

"[Dr. Steve] Liptak said it is important for parents to know their children and be more watchful of those they have found to be risk-takers. A working relationship with the child - knowing what they are doing and where they are going, not interrogating them - is even more important for known risk-takers, he said."

Labels: communication, parental_involvement, risky_behaviors

"According to the center, the PEP program is a dropout prevention program for pregnant and parenting teens... The program offers help during the academic year to anyone enrolled in a Henderson County school and actively attending."

Labels: prevention, schools, teen_pregnancy

"Teen pregnancy is a complicated thing, [Pat] Horton said. 'It's not just about genitals...It's understanding that teens, especially girls, are looking for respect, love and commitment. Some want to be pregnant, thinking a baby will bring those things, he said."

Labels: girls, high_school, teen_pregnancy

"One frequently useful stance is to focus less on the 'evil' friend, and more on the behavior that you want your teenager to avoid. Maybe Danielle's parents don't want her hanging out with Ariel - but more to the point, they don't want her drinking or staying out late."

Labels: communication, friends, influences

"The youth foyer has been in the works for about four years, [Lorrie] Janatopoulos said, and will include 13 efficiency units and 2 two-bedroom units for parenting teens, along with a wide array of support services for the disadvantaged young adults aged 16-21."

Labels: at_risk, homelessness, support

"'A resolution and designated month will go a long way toward building awareness of the more than one million children and teens that are without homes and in crisis,' said Dan Schulman, CEO of Virgin Mobile USA. 'We trust November will serve as a call to action for Americans to learn more about this vital issue, as well as find ways to support the organizations working to help homeless youth in their own communities.'"

Labels: at_risk, awareness, homelessness