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>>Adolescents
Adolescence is defined as the time of life between puberty (generally
fixed in common law as fourteen for boys and twelve for girls), and
maturity (Webster's Dictionary, 2000). During adolescence the individual
makes the transition from dependent child to autonomous adult. Major
developmental tasks during adolescence include forming an integrated
sense of identity, to reconciling sexuality and morality, and coming
to see oneself as a separate individual. Behavioral changes that help
to accomplish these tasks include risk taking which helps to develop
a sense of competence and rebellion and consequences, which helps
to ease separation from "parents".
It is during this time that many of the influences that have contributed
to the development of an individual's concept of self are demonstrated.
It is also a time when much of the direction of one's future is
decided. The potential impact of decisions made, at this point in
an adolescent's life, will likely have lifelong implications. Adolescence
is often a time of turbulence, and many adults and young people
have been hard pressed to find places that may help provide some
needed answers.
Below are some links to a variety of services addressing adolescent
needs. This is just a sample of the web-based resources that are
available.
Links:
http://www.aacap.org/publications/factsfam/
(A site that offers "concise and up-to-date information on
issues that affect children, teenagers, and their families.")
http://www.well.com/user/dgnw/tbiblio.html
(A site that links to articles and books of interest to those concerned
about the rights and responsibilities of adolescents).
http://www.nami.org/youth/newsletter.html
(Free subscription to a New NAMI Newsletter, which focuses on Children
and Adolescent Issues).
http://www.counseling.org/enews/volume_1/0111c.htm
(Part two of a four-part feature discussing eating disorders and
their prevalence among young populations).
http://www.copas.net.au/cah
(Link to The Centre for Adolescent Health, which aims to improve
the health and well-being of young people from 10 - 24 years of
age).
http://www.mid-attc.org/adolescent/
(The Second Mid-Atlantic Conference on Adolescents and Substance
Abuse 05.13 - 05.15.02).
http://www.adolescenthealth.org/
(The Society for Adolescent Medicine; A multidisciplinary organization
of professionals committed to improving the physical and psychosocial
health and well-being of all adolescents).
http://www.health.state.ok.us/program/ahd/
(Link to a site devoted to addressing the major challenges to the
safety of adolescents).
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