Dear Parent or Guardian:
This fall some of our students will take the Healthy Kids Colorado Survey (HKCS). It is an important survey about student health and behavior. The survey will ask students about health topics including: exercise, diet, alcohol, tobacco, drug use, mental health, suicide, bullying, sexual behaviors, and how they have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey also asks students about school-life, school safety, trusted adult relationships, and other things known to be connected with healthy choices.
Your child is in a class that has been chosen to take the survey. Students do not have to take this survey. The survey is optional and anonymous. It takes no longer than one class period to complete. The survey process will protect your student’s privacy. No information is collected on the survey that can identify a student. Only your child will know how he or she answers the questions. Students do not get school credit for taking the survey, and there is no penalty for not taking the survey. Students who take the survey may choose not to answer any question.
The survey results will help state health agencies, your school, and community groups. The results will also help plan programs and services for youth. In order to get the most accurate information about youth health, we would like all students in selected classrooms to take part in the survey.
This survey was created in-part by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Colorado Departments of Education (CDE), Human Services (CDHS), Public Safety (CDPS) and Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). These groups provide funding to the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus to conduct the Healthy Kids Colorado Survey in schools biennially. This project has been approved by your school district and the Colorado Multiple Institutional Review Board (COMIRB).
Students will receive the survey during class time (either in-person or virtually) and are instructed to answer the questions or leave the survey blank. Students who are not completing the survey will do other schoolwork during the survey time. We encourage you to discuss the topic with your child and share your views on their choice to participate.
For more information about the study and to view a copy of the survey, please visit our website at
http://www.healthykidscolo.org or call the Healthy Kids Colorado Survey Director, Dr. Ashley Brooks-Russell, at 303-724-8437. For questions regarding IRB approval, please contact COMIRB at 303-724-1055.
Please sign and return this form to your child’s school within the next two weeks if you do NOT want your child to participate.