95 - Brainstorm Ways to Prevent Opt-out of Participation in Student Risky Behavior Surveys and Reporting Survey Results

Abstract Information: Data that provides insights about what students are doing and thinking related to risky behaviors is valued and used by schools, health agencies, community groups, legislators, etc. This particular survey (Youth Risk Behavior Survey supported by the CDC) covers health-related behaviors that contribute to the leading causes of death and disability among youth and adults, including
• Behaviors that contribute to unintentional injuries and violence
• Sexual behaviors related to unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases
• Alcohol and other drug use
• Tobacco use
• Unhealthy dietary behaviors
• Inadequate physical activity
• Other health-related issues
as well as protective factors.

For the 2023 surveys there was a higher percentage of parents and students opting out of the survey. During the 2023 AEA Birds of a Feather session a few shared that their community and even a state moved to require active parental consent (opt-in). Our participation increased tremendously at all levels when our state changed from active to passive consent; we struggled to meet CDC’s requirement of 60% of eligible students completing a usable survey to get weighted results and were not able to for some subgroups.

Anecdotal explanations include parents just sign anything without reading (don’t realize they are opting their child out of the survey when instructed to only sign and return form if they want to opt their child out) but also parents are objecting to time taken away from instruction, don’t want their child exposed to some of these topics, and even mistakenly associate the survey with an initiative that they do not support (e.g., Covid-19 vaccination). Students complained that they were surveyed out.

Join us to brainstorm ways to encourage participation and reduce the need for active consent. One way is to share results in ways that they are useful to schools and other stakeholders (e.g., students, teachers, administrators, community groups, legislators, practitioners, and the general public) but not scare those who might push for active consent.

One of our partner agencies maintains a website that contains query able results including subgroup, race/ethnicity, grade level, sex, and year. A double-sided, one-page brochure contains the information in a nutshell, but it is rather dense. We’ve created eye-catching infographics (paid a graphic designer to create the infographics) on three major topics. The intent was to add additional topics, but the time and cost prevented this. However, the infographics were updated with new results. Content area specialists make presentations and prepare specialized reports. These are just some of the ways to make the results accessible to stakeholders. Share ways that you disseminate results or methods you have seen and hope to employ.