This first book in the Prevention Practice Kit overviews the prevention field and Kit contents, and highlights key points emerging through the historical evolution of prevention. It gives special attention to elements that are infused throughout all books: a systemic, ecological approach and community and multi-disciplinary collaboration.

Essential competencies needed for delivering prevention programs are identified, such as the collaborative attitude and skills necessary to cross boundaries between health and mental health professionals and between scientific and community experts. All this attention to prevention concepts and skills culminates in an extensive application of prevention focused on bullying, so that readers can see an illustration of how prevention practice can occur. Finally, to further boost applied practice, examples are sprinkled throughout the book accompanied by a set of learning exercises. An extensive set of references concludes the book.

This book is part of the Prevention Practice Kit: Action Guides for Mental Health, a collection of eight books each authored by scholars in the specific field of prevention and edited by Dr. Robert K. Conyne and Dr. Arthur M. Horne. The books in the collection conform to the editors' outline to promote a consistent reading experience. Designed to provide human services practitioners, counselors, psychologists, social workers, instructors, and students with concrete direction for spreading and improving the practice of prevention, the series provides thorough coverage of prevention application including a general overview of prevention, best practices, diversity and cultural relevance, psychoeducational groups, consultation, program development and evaluation, evidence base, and public policy.

This book is endorsed by the Prevention Section of the Society of Counseling Psychology of the American Psychological Association. Fifty percent of all royalties are donated to Division 17 of the APA.