Journal of Adolescent Health
Volume 47, Issue 1 , Pages 26-34 , July 2010

Health-Risk Behaviors in Young Adolescents in the Child Welfare System

  • Laurel K. Leslie, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
    • The Child and Adolescent Services Research Center, San Diego, California
    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress correspondence to: Laurel K. Leslie, M.D., M.P.H., Center on Child and Family Outcomes, The Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies, Tufts Medical Center, 800 Washington Street, Tufts MC #345, Boston, MA 02111.
  • ,
  • Sigrid James, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • The Child and Adolescent Services Research Center, San Diego, California
    • Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California
  • ,
  • Amy Monn, B.A.

      Affiliations

    • The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota
  • ,
  • Milena C. Kauten, B.A.

      Affiliations

    • Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
  • ,
  • Jinjin Zhang, M.S.

      Affiliations

    • The Child and Adolescent Services Research Center, San Diego, California
  • ,
  • Gregory Aarons, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • The Child and Adolescent Services Research Center, San Diego, California
    • The University of California, San Diego, California

Received 30 October 2009 ,Accepted 30 December 2009.

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 The National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW) was developed under contract to RTI from the ACYF/DHHS. The information and opinions expressed herein reflect solely the position of the author(s). Nothing herein should be construed to indicate the support or endorsement of its content by ACYF/DHHS.

PII: S1054-139X(10)00018-2

doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2009.12.032

Journal of Adolescent Health
Volume 47, Issue 1 , Pages 26-34 , July 2010