California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS) &
Youth Risk Behaviour Survey (YRBS)
“Over the years, the YRBS and CHKS has proven to be valuable
tools for providing vital information about the behaviors affecting
the healthy development and academic attainment of SFUSD youth.”
Historical Background: Before the 1990s, little
was known about the prevalence of behaviors practiced by young people
that put their health at risk. The California Healthy Kids Survey
(CHKS) and Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) now provide such information. The
CHKS and YRBS were developed by WestEd (www.wested.org/hks),
a public, non-profit educational institution and Centers for Disease
Control (CDC) (www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/yrbs/index.htm)
in collaboration with federal, state, and private-sector partners.
What is the goal of the CHKS and YRBS?
The goal is assess trends/co-occurrence of risk behaviors within SFUSD
to provide relevant information for program planning to improve health
programs. The health of young people and the adults they
will become is critically linked to the health-related behaviors
they choose to adopt. A limited number of behaviors contribute
markedly to today’s major killers. These behaviors,
often established during youth, include:
- Tobacco use
- Unhealthy dietary behaviors
- Inadequate physical activity
- Alcohol and other drug use.
- Sexual behaviors that may result in pregnancies, HIV infection,
and other sexually transmitted diseases
- Behaviors that may result in violence unintentional injuries, and
unintended (motor vehicle crashes)
Both surveys provide vital information on risk behaviors among young
people to more effectively target and improve health programs. The
CHKS and YRBS meet state and federal assessment requirements for
Title IV Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities.
Survey Content:
The survey monitors six categories of priority health-risk behaviors
that comprise of unintentional injuries and violence, tobacco use,
alcohol and other drug use, and sexual behaviors that contribute
to:
- unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs),
including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection;
- unhealthy dietary behaviors;
- physical inactivity; and
- environmental and individual strengths and assets.
Sexual behaviors questions are part of middle and high school surveys
only. Both the YRBS and CHKS were administered in 2003
and both will be administered.
How does it work?
SFUSD, in cooperation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) and the California Department of Education (CDE), administers
the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) (in grades 6-12), and the California
Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS) (in grades 5, 7, 9 & 11) in San Francisco's
schools. Classes are chosen at random to take part in
the survey. At smaller schools, all classes are asked
to take part. Surveys will be given to SFUSD students
during the 2004-05 school year. The survey takes about
one class period to complete. It is Voluntary. Students
do not have to participate in the survey. Students who
participate only have to answer the questions they want to answer
and they may stop taking it at any time. However, it
is very important that students complete the survey so that we can
continue to improve health education programs and support services
students in our district. It is Anonymous. No
names are recorded or attached to the survey forms or data. The
results are made available only under strict confidentiality controls. Parents/Caregivers
may exclude their child from participating in the survey.
Activities within SFUSD and School Health Programs Departments
that support California and Healthy
Kids Survey and Youth Risk Behavior Survey:
- Health Advocate, Healthy School Teams, Health Promotion Committee
- Health Promotion Committee
- Health Education Teacher Leaders
- HIV/AIDS Prevention Education
- K-12 Coordinated Health Education
- Nutrition and Physical Education Projects
For further information contact
us.
