Dr. Garrett announced that this week in Advisory, that both sophomores and seniors will be taking the Oklahoma Prevention Needs Assessment Survey, via the weekly school newsletter. Following is the passive consent letter sent out in the newsletter.

January 21, 2022

Dear Parent or Guardian:

The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services is conducting an important survey on student behaviors and beliefs. The survey is called the Oklahoma Prevention Needs Assessment (PNA) Student Survey. Your child’s class is set to take this survey in Advisory on February 10th.

The purpose of the survey is to gather information needed to plan prevention and intervention programs in our community and schools. These programs will address problems of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use, school dropout, delinquency, violence, and other problem behaviors in our schools and communities. Information will also help judge the effectiveness of current prevention and intervention efforts. I have a copy of the survey instrument at the school office if you wish to stop by and review it.

The survey is entirely anonymous and confidential. Students will not include their names or any other identifying information. All results from the survey will be presented only in group summary form.

The survey asks questions about behaviors students or students’ friends may or may not have done. It is important to remember the survey is anonymous, so no student’s response will ever be able to be connected with that student. For the survey, students will be asked to respond to questions such as “How wrong do you think it is for someone your age to pick a fight with someone at school?” “Which of the following activities for people your age are available in your community?” “On how many occasions (if any) have you used marijuana in the past 30 days” “If you skipped school, would you be caught by your parents?”

Your child’s participation in the survey is completely voluntary. Each child will be given the option of skipping any question that he or she prefers not to answer. You may decline to have your child participate if you wish. Please remember this survey offers your child the opportunity to share his or her confidential opinions on very important issues being faced by our youth today. If you do decline, your son or daughter will be allowed to read or participate in some other alternative activity while his or her classmates are taking the survey.

The survey is being conducted by the OSU Center for Family Resilience, under a contract with the State of Oklahoma. If you have any questions regarding the OPNA or your child’s participation, please contact the Center for Family Resilience at (918) 594-8336 or [email protected].

Please let Alexis Zanotelli, Student Advocacy Coordinator, [email protected] know only if you do not wish your son or daughter to participate in the study. You may do this by sending her a short email requesting your child not [to] participate. Feel free to contact Ms. Zanotelli if you have any other questions about this important study.

Sincerely,

Dr. Kim Garrett

Principal, Norman North High School