Appx F-2a - Remote Adolescent Fact Sheet

Appendix F-2a: Adolescent (11-17) Fact Sheet

Adolescent (11-17) Fact Sheet F2a-1

Follow-Up Adolescent (11-17) Fact Sheet

Questions and Answers about the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being

What is the National Survey on Child and Adolescent Well-Being?

This is a nationwide study of children and families who have had contact with the child welfare system. The government wants to learn about the needs of youth and to improve programs and services for youth. We are talking to 4,000 kids about this study. We will also talk to parents of youth or the person who provides the most care. This information is used to learn about the needs of children and families and about the kinds of services they use.

Why should I take part?

By taking part, youth have a chance to talk about their needs and experiences from their own point of view. Youth will receive a $20 gift card plus a small gift of equal value for completing the survey.

Who is doing this study?

The federal government sponsors the study. A research company hired by the federal government will carry out the study. The researchers are not connected with the child welfare agency.

How was I chosen?

In doing this survey, we cannot talk to everyone in the country. That would cost too much and take too long. We selected a sample of children at random who have had contact with the child welfare system during the past 12 months. You may have been interviewed once before. We want to interview you again about your life experiences, health, and behaviors.

How is the study conducted?

If you decide to take part, we will ask you some questions over the telephone and others you will answer on the Internet. The interview can also be conducted in person. A parent or caregiver must provide permission before any youth can take part.

How long will it take?

The interview lasts will last about 45 minutes. The first part of the interview can take place over the telephone or in person. The second part of the interview will take place over the Internet.

An interviewer will read the questions and type the answers into a computer. After you finish the survey, the interviewer will tell you how to log on and finish the rest of the survey on the Internet. If the survey is conducted in person, the interviewer can provide a laptop for you to use to complete the section over the Internet. The interview includes questions about your health, how you behave at home or school, and your relationships with family and friends. We will also ask questions about your community and risky behaviors like sexual activity and drug use. We will schedule the interview at a time that works with your schedule.

Are the questions personal?

Some questions may seem personal to some people. All collected information is kept private. Youth who choose to take part do not have to answer any question that they do not want to answer.

What happens to the information?

We collect your survey responses using a secure computer. We send your responses to RTI through in safe and secure way. We combine answers with other interviews and report in summary form.

What about privacy?

We keep your responses private to the extent permitted by the law. We keep your interview answers on a secure computer labeled with an ID number. We do not identify you by name. All staff involved in this research signed a Privacy Pledge.

Part of the study will ask you to enter responses in a secure website. We expect taking part in this study presents no greater risk than everyday use of the Internet. Please be aware that if you email information in an unsecure manner, it could be read by a third party before it reaches our secure environment.

We have a paper from the government that promises that we do not have to give your information to anyone. This means the researchers cannot share the information they gather that may identify you. This paper prevents researchers from revealing this information even if it is ordered by a court.

This paper does allow researchers to share information in some situations. For example, researchers must follow reporting laws about child or adult abuse. Also, as a part of agreeing to be in this study, you are giving permission for researchers to share information if it is needed to prevent serious risk to yourself or others. The agency that funds this research (ACF), is also permitted to access information to confirm that the research is being conducted properly.

We never identify a single person in our reports. Your responses will be combined with others taking part in the study. When we write up the study to share it with other researchers, we will write about the combined information. You will not be identified in any published or presented materials.