A participatory study of school dropout and behavioral health of Latino adolescents.

The dropout of Latino adolescents from public schools has been linked to behavioral health issues such as delinquency and family conflict. Greater understanding is needed about the interplay of cultural, social, and developmental factors in this process. This article reports the findings of 14 group interviews conducted using a participatory approach with Latinos in a large school district in the southeastern USA. Findings support the need for comprehensive school-based interventions along the continuum from early intervention to intensive treatment for Latino adolescents who are at risk of dropping out. Participatory research is recommended for identifying strategies that integrate culturally and developmentally appropriate adaptations into existing behavioral health and dropout prevention services.