Risk-taking and abusive behaviors among ethnic minorities.

The health status and health outcomes of many ethnic minorities have remained poor, or have deteriorated, despite massive health promotion campaigns. Multiple factors that encourage ethnic minorities to engage in high-risk behaviors and those that discourage health promotive behaviors must be closely examined before any health interventions are likely to be successful in decreasing substance abuse, high-risk sex, accidental deaths and injuries, and violence. Cultural and contextual factors may put some ethnic minorities in jeopardy and at higher risk for poorer health than their White counterparts (B. W. K. Yee, 1995, in press). This review article identifies contributing factors in high-risk behaviors and highlights research gaps for Americans of African, Indian, Asian and Pacific Islander, and Hispanic descent.

Collaborative needs assessment for child mental health program development.

A needs assessment for child mental health program development involving a collaboration between a state university clinical psychology training program and a coalition of publicly funded child-serving agencies is described. The benefits of the joint research effort for all partners are highlighted as well as the lessons learned about the processes of such a partnership. Application of the results included curricular modifications to the university's training program, the addition of new programming and the improvement of existing services to address child mental health needs, and interventions to increase community awareness of available services.

Preventing violence in at-risk African-American youth.

Homicide and nonfatal injuries resulting from interpersonal violence are significant contributors to the excess early mortality and morbidity of African-American youth. Although there is growing recognition of the need for prevention programs specifically directed to these youth, culturally relevant programs to reduce aggression and victimization in high-risk racial and ethnic groups are virtually nonexistent. This article reports preliminary findings of a program to train African-American adolescents in social skills, an approach which shows promise as a means of preventing violence. The pilot study suggests a need for continued research on this and other prevention approaches to reduce the disproportionate--and preventable--risk of injury or death for this vulnerable population.