Adolescent & Family Health, the Journal of the Institute for Youth Development is a peer-reviewed publication for objective, scientific research that focuses on the common factors influencing adolescent adoption or avoidance of alcohol, drugs, sex, tobacco, and violence. The Journal reports unpublished original research and evaluations of youth risk-avoidance program outcomes, particularly those that take a comprehensive approach to involvement of family and other significant influences that lead to avoidance or abandonment of risk behaviors.

The mission of the Journal is to augment the scientific knowledge base regarding factors that influence youth health and have strong practical applications. The ultimate purpose of this Journal is to empower families, professionals, community organization, and policy leaders to develop and enhance effective programs that protect America's youth.

Topics of Interest

Adolescent & Family Health seeks articles that illuminate the relationships between adolescent risk behavior and the influence of such factors as parents and family, adult mentors, extracurricular activities, sports, faith communities and activities, academic achievement, peer groups, and the media.

Although documentation of demographic, socioeconomic, ethnic and other characteristics of differing adolescent cohorts is critical to research, the focus should include a broader interpersonal and individual perspective. The Journal seeks to present research, evaluation, and analysis that illuminates the central processes in the development of adolescent self-esteem and other character traits that empower youth to make self-directed decisions for risk avoidance.

Suggested topics of interest may include:

• The role of parents, family structure, and extended family on goal setting and decision-making
• Mentoring and educational programs and their impact on risk behaviors
• Significance and impact of religiosity on risk avoidance
• Adult outcomes regarding education, family and career following adolescent risk behaviors
• The role of health professionals in addressing youth risk avoidance
• The impact of community or school sexuality and abstinence education
• Preadolescent traits and determinants regarding risk-taking behavior
• Promoting healthy life choices
• Role of faith communities

Articles regarding these and other topics will be welcomed for publication. As an interdisciplinary publication, the Journal invites contributions from researchers in the fields of clinical medicine, behavioral health, sociology, education, and public health as well as from the humanities and the arts.

Articles should be empirical or evidence-based, although discussion of underlying concepts and theory is welcomed in the data and conclusions. The intention of Adolescent & Family Health is to publish three to five original peer-reviewed articles and one review article per issue. The news section will report on activities of the Institute, federal grants that support research and programs in the field of adolescent and family health, and other news pertinent to the target audience. Informational resources will be featured for researchers seeking current topics of interest to federal agencies, and funding sources for additional programs and research. Descriptive summaries of specific publications, such as the Institute for Youth Development publication, The Federal Grants Manual for Youth Programs, will be available in each Journal issue.