Developmental Advocacy: Twenty‐First Century School Counseling

Characteristics of current and emerging school counseling program models are reviewed, and their limitations and challenges in serving students' needs in the 21st century are enumerated. The authors discuss the implications for these models of recent advances in developmental theory and research and in positive psychology, along with the integration of nontraditional counseling functions. Developmental Advocacy is described and offered as a way to enhance the effectiveness of the contemporary school counselor.     

Nonchildhood Sexual Abuse in Mexican American and Mexican College Students

This study aimed to assess and compare sexual abuse (SA) rates in female and male Mexican American college students (N = 514) and 2 samples of Mexican college students (N = 161 and N = 227). Participants responded to the Sexual Experiences Survey Victim Form (SES-SFV). SA prevalence and frequency rates were compared between sample groups for 3 categories of SA: nonchildhood SA (SA-NC, experienced since age 14), SA experienced in the previous 12 months (SA-12M), and lifetime self-labeled SA (SA-LL, any experience identified as abuse or rape by participants). Higher rates of self-reported SA were consistently found for Mexican versus U.S. samples. However, SA incidence was also consistently higher in older individuals and females; more recently experienced SA was reported at lower rates and with greater gender congruence than more distal SA; and variation between Mexican samples was roughly equal to variation between Mexican and U.S. samples. Findings show cross-national variation in SA rates.     

Life Direction Seminars: Facilitating Human Development at a Women's College

A seven-session Life Direction Seminar was designed both to familiarize female college students with the effects of socialization on their development and to expose them to the multitude of options available to them. The objectives were for each student to develop an awareness of her assets and capabilities, to develop an awareness and knowledge concerning alternative roles and life-styles, and to learn to develop short-range goals. The exercises, films, and reading materials used in the small groups are described.