Tell It Like It Is: St. Johnsbury Area Youth Survey
 

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Welcome to the 'TELL IT LIKE IT IS' St. Johnsbury Area Youth Survey. Why are we doing a survey? Several groups in the county are talking about how to make this area a better place for people your age. To do that, we need to know what you think is already good about your area, and what you think is bad. Needless to say, there are no right answers - just thoughtful opinions. That's what we're asking you to give.

In fact, we value your opinions so much that we're willing to pay you for them. That's right - we'll give you $5 for filling out this survey (it'll just take a few minutes).

Eventually we hope to get about 200 young people ages 14-21 to fill out this survey. When we reach 200, it's all over.

HOW WILL WE KEEP TRACK OF WHO'S FILLING THIS OUT? We'll ask you to give us your BIRTHDATE, and the name of the STREET you live on. This gives everyone filling out the survey a unique identity (it's a survey thing, trust us). You don't have to tell us your actual name, unless you want to.

HOW WILL WE GET YOU YOUR CASH? Depending on where you're filling this out, you may be able to get it immediately. Or you may need (or just want) to get it through the mail. If you do want it mailed to you, you'll need to give us your name and address. We'll ask about this at the bottom of the survey.

No matter how you decide to get the cash, we won't use your name in the final report in which these survey results will appear.

Thanks for doing this - you are really, really helping us. More important, you're helping make your community a better place for young people. Do you have questions about this survey, or about the overall project we're working on? Contact Jen Smith at jsmith@nenetwork.org or (603) 616-4200.

WAIT!! ONE MORE THING, AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT: This survey is about the COMMUNITY you live in. When we talk about your community, we mean everything that surrounds you - the schools, parks, streets, businesses, stores, religious institutions, and social service agencies, plus all the people who work in those places or are part of your life. So, as you answer these questions, think of the WHOLE community around you, how it affects you, and what it offers you and doesn't offer you.

TO GET PAID FAST ...

1. Answer This Survey As Soon as You Get It! Be Serious and Give Your Best Ideas
2. Read the Instructions Carefully, and Answer All the Questions

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* An asterisk by a question means you are required to answer that question. The survey will prompt you in red to answer those questions before you can submit.
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1. In this box, write your BIRTHDATE, the name of the STREET on which you live. That's two pieces of information. Ex: "3/24/1989 Main St."

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2. Gender

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3. Age

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4. Race

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5. What good things are there for people your age to do in this area? Name things you think are cool or fun, or that are going to help you achieve your life goals. (Note: This question asks about THINGS TO DO.)

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6. What people or places in your life encourage you to succeed and do well in life? Say why. (Note: This question asks about PEOPLE and PLACES.)

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7. What people or places drag you down, worry you, or upset you? Say why.

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8. What do you do with your free time? Is there something else you wish you could be doing? Please answer both questions, and be specific.

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9. High school has been (or was):

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10. Any young person in this community who really wants to succeed - to get a good education and a decent job - can find lots of ways to do it.

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11. I'd say that this area:

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12. Name three things your community could do to make life better for young people:

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13. In the future, I plan on leaving this area either for college or for better job opportunities.

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14. Which one describes you?

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15. What would you say the job market is like for young people in your community?

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16. Describe what kind of jobs (including internships, apprenticeships or other kinds of opportunities) that you would like to see available for young people in your community. THE MORE DETAILED YOU ARE, THE MORE HELPFUL YOU WILL BE!

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17. What’s it like getting around your town to do things for fun, work or school?

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18. What would be the ideal transportation system for someone your age? You can check as many as you want - but only select the ones you would use, or your friends would use.

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19. Rate how easy or hard you think it is (or would be) to make it on your own, as a young adult, in this area. Speak from your own perspective, considering your own personal circumstances. Think about the cost of renting an apartment, transportation, paying for food and utilities - the whole thing.

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20. Do know any people your age who don't have a regular place to live? Think about anyone you might know under age 21 who left home or got kicked out, and now is living somewhere temporarily.

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21. Please give us your email address or another way of reaching you, like a phone number. We won't contact you unless we have a question about how to send your cash to you.

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22. Do you want us to mail your cash to you, or do you want to get it now, on-site?

23. If you are getting your cash on-site, please write in the location where you filled this out.

24. If you want us to mail it to you, give an ADDRESS below, with your NAME. (Again, we won't use your name in the report or give it to anyone. We promise.) Don't forget to say which TOWN you live in.


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25. Are you interested in becoming a youth advisor to any work we end up doing in your community?

26. If you do want to be involved, make sure you've given us information to reach you!