Muskegon Sun

Michigan Profile for Healthy Youth

Parental Notification

Our school is taking part in the Michigan Profile for Healthy Youth (MiPHY) Survey supported by the Michigan Department of Education. The research survey will ask about the health behaviors of 7th, 9th, and 11th grade students. The survey will ask about behavior and attitude related to nutrition, physical activity, violence, tobacco, alcohol, other drug use, and emotional health. It will also ask about sexual behaviors that cause HIV, other sexually transmitted infections, and pregnancy.

Students will be asked to complete an anonymous online survey. The survey has been designed to protect each student’s privacy. Students will not be asked to provide their name or any other identifying information.

The results of this survey will inform educators on how to help students make healthier choices in the future. The survey is voluntary. No action will be taken against the school, you, or your student if the student does not participate. Students can skip any question that they do not wish to answer. In addition, students may stop participating in the survey at any point without penalty.

If you wish to look at the survey questions ahead of time, they are available in your school office to review at school.

If you object to your child’s participation in the survey, please complete the OPT-OUT form. You only need to complete this form, if you do not give your child permission to take the survey. This opt out form must be completed before May 31, 2022.

Please see the Fact Sheet below for more information about the survey. Thank you.

Fact Sheet for Parents/Guardians

Q. Why is the survey being done?

A. The Michigan Department of Education has provided this survey as a means for local school districts to assess student needs and develop education programs and other strategies to help reduce health risk behaviors.

Q. What kinds of questions are asked on the survey?

A. The MiPHY includes questions about a range of health risk behaviors and attitudes that can lead to serious health problems.

Q. Are sensitive questions asked?

A. Some questions may be considered sensitive. The only way to determine the extent to which adolescents are at risk, however, is to ask questions about these behaviors. Questions are presented in a straightforward and respectful manner and those that focus on risk behaviors always begin with an abstinence or non-use answer choice. In addition, students always have the option to skip questions.

Q. Will student participation be anonymous? Will student privacy be protected?

A. Yes. Survey administration procedures have been designed to protect student privacy and allow for anonymous participation. Students will not enter their names or other identifying information at any point during this survey.

Q. Will students be surveyed again to see how their behavior changes?

A. No. It will be impossible to track students who participate because no identifying information will be collected.

Q. How was my child selected?

A. Students in grades 7, 9, and 11 are selected and invited to participate in the survey.

Q. How long will it take to fill out the survey?

A. It will take approximately 30-40 minutes to complete the online, multiple-choice survey.

Original source can be found here.