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Dr. Karina Reyes
Office 1050D BSB
Phone (312)-413-2627
E-Mail to kreyes@UIC.EDU.

Research Interests



   My research focuses on resilience and protective factors and the 

prevention of high-risk behaviors in urban, minority children and 

adolescents.  My work is concerned with promoting academic 

achievement and high school completion in high-risk urban 

youngsters.  Specifically, I examine the factors that heighten 

youngsters' vulnerability for maladjustment during normative school 

transitions.  I investigate the role of peer, family and school 

support; youngsters' attitudes and perceptions about school; their 

involvement in high-risk behaviors, such as gang involvement, 

substance abuse, and premature sexual activity; and the role of 

environmental factors, such as school and neighborhood violence and 

other demographic variables, school administrative structures and 

policies, and social setting factors.    

   My work is conducted on site in urban school settings.  Projects 

are developed in collaboration with school staff and often involve 

the input of students as well.  Currently, I am involved in two 

major projects.  I am conducting an investigation that examines 

factors associated with school failure and dropout in a 

predominantly Mexican-American group of urban adolescents.  This 

study departs from a deficits approach and explores the variables 

that contribute to the academic success of youngsters at risk for 

school failure.  I have also developed a longitudinal study that 

both examines and intervenes to facilitate the process of adjustment 

to high school for urban, predominantly low- income, minority 

adolescents.  The intervention provides new freshmen with adult and 

peer support in the context of thrice-weekly classes in which 

students are taught important skills for managing the stress 

associated with the school transition and where they learn decision- 

making skills also designed to promote coping.  The curriculum for 

these classes is delivered by teachers and upper-class peers who are 

specially trained to be sensitive to the developmental needs of 

these youngsters.



Representative Publications

Reyes, O., and Jason, L. A. (1993).  Pilot study examining factors

       associated with academic success for Hispanic high school

       students.  Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 22,(1), 57-71.



Reyes, O., and Jason, L. A. (1991).  An evaluation of a high school

       dropout prevention program.  Journal of Community Psychology,

       19, 221-230.

To The Clinical Division Page
To Community and Prevention Research Division page.