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Youth Voices Count Survey Overview-Connecticut
The Youth Voices Count Survey, expands upon the content of most student substance use surveys by including deeper
questions about substance use risk factors, mental health, gaming, gambling, social media, toxic stress and optional sections on
bullying, involvement in extracurricular activities, connected and thriving youth and sexual behaviors. While it is inclusive of
many assets and protective factors, it is designed to produce data that support local planning to address youth issues as well as
competitive data-driven grant applications.
In the past few years, 29 Connecticut school districts have implemented YVCS including; Andover, Hebron and Marlborough
(regional), Ansonia, Bolton, East Granby, East Haddam, East Lyme, East Windsor, Ellington, Enfield, Haddam-Killingworth,
Hamden, Hartford, Lyme/Old Lyme, Manchester, Meriden, Middletown, New Britain (bilingual Spanish and Arabic),
Norwalk, Region 1, Region 10, Seymour, Shelton, Somers, Stafford, Suffield, Vernon, Wethersfield, Windsor Locks and
Wolcott. Together these schools include more than 50,000 youth responses. Many of these school districts have completed the
survey process more than once to support ongoing needs assessment. Many others plan to implement within the 2024-2025
school year.
The online survey takes the average student 20 minutes or less to complete if all add-on sections are included. The survey is
approved by DFC Me and SAMHSA’s CSAP for utilization in the reporting of federal grant required data.
Our team will support preparation for survey implementation, including providing sample passive consent forms, as well as
scripts and samples to support the creation of community-specific, brief instructional videos for students, to help ensure they
understand the survey is confidential and how to access local substance use and mental health resources if needed.
Parent/Guardian Surveys are available upon request.
https://bwsmithconsulting.com/youth-voices-count/