The Maryland Youth Risk Behavior Survey/Youth Tobacco Survey (MYRBS/YTS) is conducted by the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) in collaboration with the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The survey is given every two years (biennial), and Garrett County Public Schools (GCPS) is scheduled for Fall 2024 administration. The survey provides the state with data on youth health risk behaviors identified by the CDC. The Maryland YRBS/YTS is an on-site survey of students in Maryland public middle and high schools, focusing on behaviors that contribute to the leading causes of death and disability, including but not limited to alcohol and other drug use, tobacco use, sexual behaviors, unintentional injuries and violence, and poor physical activity and dietary behaviors. Students are encouraged to participate so that state and local programs can address these risk behaviors.
Things to know about the survey:
- The entire survey is confidential and completely anonymous
- The survey is specifically designed to protect student privacy
- The survey is voluntary
- Students will not put their names anywhere on the survey
- Students may skip questions that they are not comfortable answering
Dates of Administration:
- Northern High – Friday, December 6th
- Southern High – Tuesday, December 3rd (Students in grades 7-8 will receive the middle school survey, while students in grades 9-12 will receive the high school survey. Sixth-grade students at Broad Ford Elementary will not participate in the survey.)
- Northern Middle – Wednesday, December 11th
We appreciate your cooperation and partnership in this survey. Please know that this data is used in many ways as we combat risk factors such as underage alcohol usage, the frequency of youth vaping, child nutritional habits/obesity data, etc. Our schools, the local health department, and other agencies use this data in grant applications to secure funding to improve youth risk factors here in Garrett County.
If you do NOT want your child to participate in the survey, please complete the opt-out form (2024 MD YRBS-YTS Permission Form), then return it to your child’s school front office. Paper copies of the form will be sent home with each 6th-12th grade student starting this week.
If you have questions about the survey, its content, and/or usage, please contact Mr. John Hummel, GCPS Director of Student Services, at john.hummel@gcps.net.
