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Aims & Scope

Focused on the well-being of the whole child, the NYAR Journal includes interdisciplinary articles on fostering the 5Hs: “Head” for intellectual achievement and talents, “Heart” for social and emotional skills, “Hands” for safety and protection, “Health” for physical and mental health, and “Home” for family and community support. The journal aims to promote the well-being of the whole child by educating the “whole village” of stakeholders who serve youth at risk including schoolteachers, school leaders, school counselors and psychologists, school and community social workers, intervention and prevention community therapists, community health and human service providers, juvenile justice professionals, volunteer youth service providers, business and community mentors, and last, but not least, parents and youth caretakers.

It is important to note that youth at risk are not limited to minorities, intercity youth, or youth from poverty backgrounds. All youth—including children and adolescents from every strata of society—can be placed at risk at some time in their development and to varying degrees. Youth may be placed at risk by problematic conditions that threaten their safety, health, social/emotional needs, or intellectual achievement. Problematic conditions affecting youth include but are not limited to poverty, racism, substance abuse, school violence, gangs, bullying, negative peer pressure, negative school climate, lack of relevant curriculum, passive instructional strategies, disregard for individual learning differences, ineffective and unfair discipline systems, low teacher expectations, unqualified teachers, inadequate counseling, teen pregnancy, sexual assault and harassment, unhealthy eating practices, abusive and neglectful parents, lack of community resources, and community violence.

Recommended Topics and Themes:

The list below is only representative. Other themes or topics aligned with the 5H Strands of the NYAR Conference are welcome. The NYARJ welcomes submissions across a broad spectrum of disciplines and topics covered at the conference. All submissions should describe programs, strategies, or interventions used by professionals working with youth placed at risk, including but not limited to:

Community Initiatives or Partnerships:

• Highlight collaborations between communities and organizations that address conference themes.
• Describe the initiative, its impact, and relevance to the conference. Include testimonials, case studies, or success stories.

Workshop Reports:

• Summarize key discussions, outcomes, and insights from a conference workshop.
• Include key takeaways, recommendations, and any collaborative efforts that emerged from the workshop.

Youth Advocacy Campaign Reports:

• Document the planning, execution, and outcomes of advocacy campaigns led by or for youth.
• Highlight successful strategies and lessons learned.

Resilience-Building Initiatives:

• Programs or interventions aimed at fostering resilience in youth.
• Discuss the impact on mental health, coping skills, and overall well-being.

Mental Health Support Strategies:

• Practical guides on implementing mental health support programs for youth.
• Address challenges specific to this demographic and effective solutions.