Youth Risk Behavior Survey
Created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the YRBS is a series of surveys, asking questions about the health-risk behaviors of young people; including Alcohol & Marijuana Use, Illicit Drug Use, Tobacco Use, Weight and Weight Control, Bullying, Depression & Suicide, and Sexual Activity. The YRBS also explores young people’s access, awareness, and usage of the Protective Factors in their lives and communities. Survey procedures are designed to protect the privacy of students by allowing anonymous and voluntary participation.
The YRBS is administered to Watertown High School and Middle School students every 1-3 years. The results help identify specific health-risk behaviors that are most-prevalent in Watertown adolescents.
The summaries and key findings specific to Watertown are compiled into The Well-Being of Watertown Youth Report.
The Watertown Youth Coalition (WYC) partners with Watertown High School and Watertown Middle School to help administer the survey, which is conducted during the spring semester of each year it is given. In addition, WYC produces these reports, based on survey results, which are available below.