This book focuses on the crucial role that relationships play in the lives of teenagers. The authors particularly examine the ways that healthy relationships can help teenagers avoid such common risk behaviours as substance abuse, dating violence, sexual assault and unsafe sexual practices. Addressing the current lack of effective prevention programmes for teenagers, they present new strategies for encouraging healthy choices. The book first traces differences between the 'rules of relating' for boys and girls and discusses typical and atypical patterns of experimentation in teenagers. The authors identify the common link among risk behaviours: the relationship connection. In the second part of the book, they examine the principles of successful programmes used by schools and communities to cultivate healthy adolescent development. An illuminating conclusion describes the key ingredients for engaging adolescents, their parents, teachers and communities, in the effort to promote healthy, non-violent relationships among teenagers.

David A. Wolfe is Royal Bank of Canada Chair in Children's Mental Health, director of the CAMH Centre for Prevention Science, and professor of psychology and psychiatry, University of Toronto. Peter G. Jaffe is professor and academic director, Centre for Violence Against Women and Children, University of Western Ontario. Claire Crooks is assistant professor, faculty of education, University of Western Ontario.

"From the first sentence to the last, this book demonstrates a blend of intellect and compassion. It is well grounded, with one foot in the world of rigorous research guided by developmental theory, and the other in a keen appreciation for the realities of prevention and intervention programming with adolescents and families."--James Garbarino, PhD, author of "Lost Boys "and "See Jane Hit"
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--James Garbarino