Insert Your Name, Title and Organization

 The Illinois Youth Survey (IYS) is a self‐reported adolescent survey administered in Illinois schools and funded entirely by the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS)  Conducted since 1993  The Center for Prevention Research and Development (CPRD) at the University of Illinois has been the state contractor since January 2011  All public and private schools in Illinois are welcome to participate

 The survey is given to students at the 8 th, 10 th and 12 th grade levels  Administered in the Spring of every other school year during even numbered years (2014, 2016, etc.) ◦ The school chooses a date between January and May 15 th to administer  Takes approximately one class period, or about 40 to 50 minutes

 Available in English or Spanish  Available in the traditional paper/pencil format or online  You receive everything you need 30 days prior to the survey date you choose: survey forms, pre-sharpened pencils, instructions, and even UPS shipping

 Designed to gather information from youth about a variety of health and social indicators including: ◦ Substance abuse (ATOD) ◦ Violence and bullying ◦ Perceptions of school climate ◦ Depression ◦ Nutrition and fitness

 Adolescent substance abuse, bullying, and other emotional and health issues are related to negative school outcomes: ◦ Absenteeism ◦ Academic difficulties ◦ Lack of motivation ◦ Interpersonal violence

local, up-to-date data from youth  Research shows that cost effective youth prevention strategies should be based on local, up-to-date data from youth doing and thinking  The IYS provides data to schools about what their students are doing and thinking in regard to emotional and health related issues  Data gathered through the IYS can be used to guide planning for effective prevention strategies to ultimately increase academic performance and healthy behaviors

 Data provides schools and communities the knowledge they need to develop and evaluate localized, targeted and effective solutions to youth substance abuse, violence and related issues

 Each participating school will receive their own individual school results ◦ Report will cover all survey items and includes state comparisons for selected items ◦ Schools can measure progress over time (when implemented every two years)  The data can be useful for a variety of school and community planning efforts  The data can be useful for grant reporting purposes and to help leverage additional funding

 No cost to the school when implemented in 8 th, 10 th or 12 th grades during the statewide surveying years  Schools can add questions to get data on local issues at no cost  Free training is provided on how to interpret and use the school-specific data for planning

 Participation is confidential ◦ The identity of the youth who participate is not collected or revealed ◦ Compiled survey data is shared only with the participating school ◦ County, regional and statewide reports are not released in a way that an individual school’s results can be identified

 The IYS produces valid results when conducted according to survey directions ◦ Questions are carefully designed and tested ◦ There are screening measures in place to detect and invalidate over-reporting and under-reporting ◦ Studies of similar surveys comparing self-report to actual use have showed substantial validity ◦ Patterns of use revealed by the IYS are consistent with other measures

For the price of 1 class period every 2 years, schools and their community partners can receive essential information to: Compete for grants that infuse needed resources Guide local community coalition efforts Track changes in health behaviors Reduce barriers to academic success

 Insert your name, organization Insert your address Insert your phone number  IYS website:  Jessica Thomas, IYS Coordinator ( 888) (toll-free)