Originally published in 1995, this book describes and analyzes the way urban parents view the problems of their adolescent children, and the way they have tried to cope with and seek help for them. Based on the study of parents as third-party help-seekers in and around Newark, New Jersey, the book sheds light on the types of problems experienced by adolescents in similar communities throughout the country. By focusing on the parents, who usually bring the youth into the legal or mental health system, this book provides numerous unique insights into the nature of problems among urban youths.

It describes how certain legal and psychological problems often coexist, examines the reasons for this, and shows how this knowledge can be used to improve the delivery of youth and family services.