+OK 5619 octets Received: from smtp00.nwnexus.com (smtp00.nwnexus.com [192.135.191.25]) by mail3.halcyon.com (8.8.8/8.8.8) with ESMTP id AAA24099; Mon, 21 Jun 1999 00:24:09 -0700 (PDT) Received: from mail.icehouse.net (root@mail.icehouse.net [204.203.53.2]) by smtp00.nwnexus.com (8.8.8/8.8.8) with ESMTP id AAA30470; Mon, 21 Jun 1999 00:24:03 -0700 (PDT) Received: from ppp-74.icehouse.net (ppp-74.icehouse.net [204.203.52.74]) by mail.icehouse.net (8.9.3/8.9.2/Debian/GNU) with SMTP id AAA12106; Mon, 21 Jun 1999 00:19:24 -0700 Message-Id: <3.0.5.16.19990621001011.414f4bb6@mail.icehouse.net> X-Sender: lmstuter@mail.icehouse.net X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Light Version 3.0.5 (16) Date: Mon, 21 Jun 1999 00:10:11 To: idzrus@earthlink.net, fredb001@dreamscape.com From: Lynn M Stuter Subject: ED: CDC 1999 Youth Risk Behavior Survey Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Status: Is a CDC survey on Youth Risk Behavior coming to the school near you? I have received two copies of the Centers for Disease Control Youth Risk Behavior Survey. The survey contains 92 questions and is computer scannable. Each survey is individually numbered and encoded, meaning that information is encrypted across the bottom of the survey. This makes the surveys easily student identifiable by merely recording the numbers according to classroom seat assignments. The cover on the survey states . . . "This survey is about healthy behavior. It has been developed so you can tell us what you do that may affect your health. The information you give will be used to develop better health education for young people like yourself. DO NOT write your name on this survey. The answers you give will be kept private. No one will know what you write. Anser the questions based on what you really do. Completing the survey is voluntary. Whether or not you answer the questions will not affect your grade in this class. If you are not comfortable answering a question, just leave it blank. The questions that ask about your background will be used only to describe the types of students completing this survey. The information will not be used to find out your name. No names will ever be reported. Make sure to read every question. Fill in the ovals completely. When you are finished, follow the instructions of the person giving you the survey." The first six questions are as follows: 1. How old are you? 2. What is your sex? 3. In what grade are you? 4. How do you describe yourself? (ethnicity) 5. How tall are you without your shoes on? 6. How much do you weigh without your shoes on? It is pretty obvious that these questions make participants identifiable. The rest of the survey contains -- 5 questions about personal safety; 10 questions about violence-related behaviors; 5 questions about depression and attempted suicide; 13 questions about tobacco use; 5 questions on alcohol consumption; 4 questions on marijuana use; 9 questions on use of cocaine and other drugs; 8 questions about sexual behavior; 7 questions about body weight; 7 questions about eating habits; 8 questions about physical activity; 5 questions about "other" health-related topics (including AIDS) The eight questions about sexual behavior are: 58. Have your ever had sexual intercourse? 59. How old were you when you had sexual intercourse the first time? 60. During your life, with how many people have you had sexual intercourse? 61. During the past 3 months, with how many people did you have sexual intercourse? 62. Did you drink alcohol or use drugs before you had sexual intercourse the last time? 63. The last time you had sexual intercourse, did you or your partner use a condom? 64. The last time you had sexual intercourse, what one method did you or your partner use to prevent pregnancy? 65. How many times have you been pregnant or gotten someone pregnant? The five questions about "other" health-related topics are: 88. Have you ever been taught about AIDS or HIV infection in school? 89. When was the last time you saw a doctor or nurse for a check-up or physical exam when you were not sick or injured? 90. During your last check-up, did your doctor or nurse discuss ways to prevent pregnancy, AIDS, or other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)? 91. When was the last time you saw a dentist for a check-up, exam, teeth cleaning, or other dental work? 92. How often do you wear sunscreen or sun block with an SPF of 15 or higher when you are outside for more than one hour on a sunny day? This survey is being distributed to public and private schools who have agreed to participate. The Centers for Disease Control are federally funded (the surveys were printed by the U.S. Government Printing Office), thus the disclaimer on the front of the survey that the survey is "voluntary". However, when rewards are given, points are given, or grades are given to participate, pressure is put on the students to complete the survey. While the survey says that not responding will not affect the grade, this is merely a disclaimer that absolves the CDC of legal liability in how the survey is administered in the classroom and what techniques are used by teachers to get children to participate. As the survey is not manditory, FERPA only applies if parents can prove that federal dollars were used in the classroom in the administering of the survey. This survey may have been given in your school. LynnS .