The ACTION Workbooks and accompanying Therapist Manuals offer a sequential, step-wise program to teach 9 to 14-year-olds skills for overcoming depression. The ACTION Therapist Manual describes a 20-session group treatment program, and the ACTION Workbooks (there are separate workbooks for girls and for boys) provide participants with supportive materials and forms that facilitate completion of therapeutic homework.

The depression management strategies presented in the ACTION program are cognitive-behavioral in nature and involve integration of clinical and research procedures that have been found to be efficacious.There is also an accompanying program for the parents of the depressed youth, including a Parent Workbook (one for parents of boys, and one for parents of girls), and an accompanying Parent Training Manual.