Let’s blaze the trails for YRBS Success!

Training Objectives As a result of this webinar, participants will: Identify the purpose of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey Administer surveys in all designated schools and classrooms in a standardized manner, and Submit complete and accurate YRBS documentation to the YRBS Coordinator.

The YRBS Story: History and Purpose Developed by the CDC in collaboration with more than 800 representatives from state, local, and federal agencies The first YRBS was conducted in 1990 and has been conducted biennially since Developed to monitor priority health risk behaviors that contribute to the leading causes of mortality, morbidity, and social problems among youth in the United States. Currently, the YRBS is the largest and most respected source of such data

Health Risk Behavior Behaviors that result in unintentional injuries and violence; Tobacco use; Alcohol and other drug use; Sexual behaviors that result in HIV infection, other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and unintended pregnancies; Unhealthy dietary behaviors; and Physical inactivity.

Purposes of the YRBS Focus the nation on behaviors among youth that cause the most important health problems Assess how risk behaviors change over time Provide comparable data.

Characteristics of the YRBS School-based survey conducted among middle and high school students Administered in a collection of randomly drawn sample schools Designed to be completed in one class period Completely anonymous

How is the data used? Describe risk behaviors Create awareness Set program goals Develop programs and policies Support health related legislation Seek funding

Describe Risk Behaviors Shows the prevalence of health risk behaviors overall and among subgroups of youth Shows how risk behaviors are interrelated Pinpoint key areas of concern within a particular state, region, or subgroup

Create Awareness Among: Legislators, boards of education, and school administrators School staff Students Parents Community members Media

Develop Programs and Policies School health programs and policies Programs and policies for youth in high risk situations Instructional guides and materials Professional development programs for teachers

Support Health-Related Legislation School health program requirements School health council requirements Drug-free and weapon-free school zone laws Minors’ access laws Drinking and driving laws Competitive food policies

Seek Funding Seek funding requests to federal, state, and private agencies and foundations

The Value The YRBS results have tremendous value at the national, state, and local level. Results allow health and educational professionals to track the prevalence of youth risk behaviors over time To compare their state to other states or to the nation, To empower local communities to measure themselves compared to the rest of the state.

Coordinated School Health Program Physical Education Health Education Health Services Nutrition Services Counseling, Psychological Services Healthy School Environment Health Promotion for Staff Family and Community Involvement

School Health Councils Change existing school policies Add new policies Show school boards, administration, students, parents, etc. trends in student health behaviors Design school health programs Propose changes to existing curricula Track health behaviors of students to evaluate school health

Classroom Instruction Health Education Classes Physical Education Classes Biology, Anatomy & Physiology classes Family and Consumer Sciences Allied Health Classes Math/Algebra Classes English Classes

Other Venues for Using Data School cafeteria Student organizations Teacher professional development & training Community forums or town hall meetings PTA meetings After-school programs

Mississippi YRBS Program Collects data representative of Mississippi students in the areas of tobacco use, physical activity, nutrition, weight management, obesity, drug use, and risky behaviors Tracks MS data over time to show trends Markets results to members of state and national organizations as well as school administrators, staff and faculty Provides valuable resources to school health councils

Putting Together the Pieces

Scheduling How long does it take to fill out the questionnaire? One class period Approximately 10 minutes for the survey administrator to distribute survey materials and read directions to the students Approximately minutes for students to record their responses. Allow enough time for students to complete the survey without feeling rushed

Scheduling Avoid administering the survey on the following days: The days right before or right after spring break Any Monday or Friday, especially the Friday or Monday before of after a holiday

Scheduling So that we may follow-up with you on your survey administration please return the Survey Administration Date Form by February 1, Remember the survey administration period is February 4, 2013 through March 29, 2013.

Survey Administration Date Form

Parental Permission Passive Parental Permission Parents must send back a signed parental permission form only if they do not give permission for the student to participate. Otherwise permission is assumed.

Parental Permission Each student must take home a permission form. Allow 2-3 days Permission Forms sent via

Passive Parental Permission Form

Parental Permission The classroom teacher plays a critical role Since these forms will be distributed by the classroom teacher it will be beneficial to inform the teacher of the importance of YRBS. YRBS flipchart CDC website

Confidentiality Survey Administrators are responsible for protecting the confidentiality of schools and the anonymity of students

Confidentiality Agreement

Confidentiality Survey Environment Students need to sit as far away from each other as possible. Encourage students to use a blank sheet of paper to cover their answers. Neither survey administrators or teachers may wander around the classroom while students are taking the survey.

Confidentiality Questionnaire Design and Content No names or other personal identifications are required

Administration

Survey Administration Follow the Script. You may make minor changes to reflect your teaching style, but the overall content and order of presentation should stay the same. Present the script in an unbiased and enthusiastic manner in order to increase the likelihood of accurate reporting. Always refer to the instrument as a “survey” or a “questionnaire”. Do NOT call it a test. Remind students about the importance of the survey Voluntary, their responses are anonymous, and their grade in the class will not be affected by whether or not they complete the survey. If a student cannot participate in the survey they should remain quietly seated in the class Encourage students to use an extra sheet of paper to cover their responses as they work.

Survey Administration Stress the importance of correctly completing the scannable form. Ensure that all students use a #2 pencil Ensure that answer bubbles are filled in completely If answers are changed, erase old answers completely Also, remind students to completely erase any stray marks before turning in the survey.

Survey Administrators Script

Documenting Participation Classroom-Level Sample Information Form Used to document participation in each sampled classroom

Classroom-Level Sample Information Form

Documenting Participation Classroom-Level Sample Information Form Record the following information The number of students enrolled in the class The predominant grade in the class How many students actually participated in the survey This form must be completed even if no students in the class complete the survey Must explain the reason

Returning Surveys Bundle the Classroom-Level Sample Information Form and all the questionnaire booklets or answer sheets together. Do this for each of your sampled classes. If you are conducting the survey at more than one school site, make sure that all classroom bundles are grouped together by school. Return all completed survey material by March 31, 2013; using the FedEx slip you have been provided. The mailing address should be as follow: Shalonda Matthews MDE, Office of Healthy Schools 359 North West Street Jackson, MS

Returning Surveys

Survey Administrators Checklist Very important document Activities to do before you get to the classroom Administering the survey Returning the questionnaires or answer sheets to the Mississippi Department of Education

Mississippi Department of Education Program Contact Direct Line: Shalonda Matthews, HIV/YRBS Coordinator Thank You & Good Luck Team! Contact us if you need more material or have any questions.