Audience: This educational program is meant for all child and adolescent psychiatrists or other professionals who educate trainees, parents, and communities about adolescent health.

Program Description: Adolescents with behavioral and emotional problems are at markedly greater risk for the negative consequences of risk behavior, such as sexually transmitted diseases, early pregnancy, substance abuse, suicide, and motor vehicle accidents. Effective strategies for teaching and reaching these adolescents, their families and communities are reviewed in a plenary address by Larry Brown, M.D. from Brown University. Dr. Brown is among the most prolific contributors to the field, and has actively supported HIV prevention efforts in many communities across the country and internationally.

A panel discussion follows with clinicians who have worked in school and community settings with adolescents who exhibit high-risk behaviors focusing on specific educational strategies to effectively reach these adolescents and their families. Drs. Lynn Ponton, Nancy Rappaport, and Laura Whiteley join Dr. Brown in discussing the most effective strategies to teach adolescents about risk behavior including those focused on the media as well as the Internet.

Breakout groups allow participants to discuss the information that was presented in more depth, and to gain skills in the areas of effective responses and proactive strategies for engaging risk-taking youth.

By the end of the program, participants solidify the take-home educational points for best practices in community and school engagement regarding risk-taking behaviors in adolescents.