Robert J. McMahon & Ray Dev. Peters 
Preventing Childhood Disorders, Substance Abuse, and Delinquency 

Outcome studies have shown that treatment does not work if administered too late. Preventing Childhood Disorders, Substance Abuse, and Delinquency presents the newest research on the effectiveness of prevention and early intervention programs with children, from birth to adolescence. The contributors to this volume examine the theory and practice of leading programs designed to prevent social and behavioral problems–including violence and substance abuse–in children and adolescents. The innovative programs analyzed here focus on social skills training for children with conduct disorders, anger coping group work for aggressive children, parent training programs, life skills training for substance abuse prevention, and programs for high-risk youth and rural populations. All designed to intervene before the onset of disorders or to deal effectively with problems when they first appear, many of the programs also emphasize strengthening family, school, and community involvement for successful risk reduction. Clinical psychologists and human services professionals who work with children and youths will find Preventing Childhood Disorders, Substance Abuse, and Delinquency illuminating. This book also will be of interest to policy makers who are looking for more effective and efficient interventions to child and adolescent problems.

About the author

Dr. Peters is a Professor of Psychology at Queen′s University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. He has been involved in the field of child development and children′s mental health research for over 35 years. His major research interests concern the promotion of children′s well-being and the prevention of children′s mental health problems.

As Research Director for the Better Beginnings, Better Futures Project, he heads a multidisciplinary January 24, 2008iversities, and local research teams in disadvantaged neighbourhoods across Ontario. The focus of this research is evaluating community-based programs which influence the development of young children and their families. Dr. Peters has been a Visiting Scientist at the Mental Health Division of the World Health Organization in Geneva, and the Social Learning Center in Eugene, OR. He has been a member of the Executive Committee of the Banff International Conference on Behavioural Science since 1981, and chaired the March 2003 meetings on ‘Effective Progress for Early Childhood Development.’

He has also served as a member of the Expert Advisory Committee for the Canadian National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth, and is a member of the Directing Counsel for the Health Canada Centre of Excellence for Early Childhood Development.