Schools across La Plata County will be participating in the biennial Healthy Kids Colorado Survey this fall. This survey asks students (grades 6-12) to anonymously report on various health topics, including physical activity, nutrition, alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use, mental health and suicide, bullying and other forms of violence, health care, and sexual behaviors (high school students only). The survey also asks students about school engagement, school climate, youth-adult connectedness, and other protective factors known to be associated with healthy behaviors.

The survey was developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Colorado Department of Education, Colorado Department of Human Services, and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. These agencies provide funding to the University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus to implement the survey state-wide. This project has been approved by local school districts and the Colorado Multiple Institutional Review Board. The anonymous survey results will help policy-makers, school personnel and local community groups better understand the nature and extent of risk behaviors among our youth while providing crucial data for evaluating current youth programs and initiatives in La Plata County.

Survey coordination is being provided in La Plata County by Celebrating Healthy Communities, a 23-year-old prevention coalition compromised of numerous organizations with a mission to increase thriving among our youth. For more information on the survey or the coalition, contact Lauren Patterson at [email protected] or visit the coalition’s website at www.ourhealthycommunities.org.