Skip to content

2019 HWRSD Parent Perspectives Survey (Grades 7-12)

This survey asks HWRSD parents/guardians of middle and high school students about some of the challenging issues related to raising teenagers, such as social media and attitudes about alcohol and drug use. The first set of questions will ask you to think about your own experiences and expectations, and the second set of questions asks you to think about how other parents in the community might view some of the same issues.

For this questionnaire, the term "teenager" broadly includes both middle and high school youth. If you have more than one child in middle or high school, please think about your oldest child and his/her peers as you answer the questions.

The survey is voluntary and anonymous. We will use input to help develop strategies that reinforce good decision making among students.  At the end of the survey you will be invited, through an additional link, to volunteer to participate in a follow-up focus group to discuss these topics, and survey results, in more detail.   Your survey responses will not be linked to your request for more information about the focus group.

It will take an average of 10 minutes to complete the survey, and the link will remain open until June 30, 2019. Should you have any questions please contact Dr. Gina Kahn at 566-5060 ext. 12.


1.I/we have a child/children attending HWRSDin the following grade(s)as of September 2018 (check all that apply):
2.Town of residence:
3.Please tell us your gender.
NOTE:  As you answer the following questions, if you have more than one child in middle or high school, please think about your oldest child and his/her peers.
4.Please indicate how frequently you do each of the following:
Always
Usually
Sometimes
Rarely
Never
I make sure to meet the parents of my teenager's closest friends.
I do not allow my teenager to attend a party if parents will not be home to supervise.
When my child is planning to attend a party or social gathering with peers, I will phone ahead to make sure that parents will be home to supervise.
When my child is hosting a social gathering at my house, parents call ahead to make sure that an adult will be home to supervise.
5.I would welcome a call from other parents to be sure I will be home to supervise if their child is coming to my home for a party or social gathering.
6.Please indicate to what degree you agree/disagree with the following statements:
Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
I believe that teenage alcohol use is harmful.
I believe that teenage marijuana use is harmful.
I believe that teenage use of prescription drugs not intended for them is harmful.
I believe that teenage use of e-cigarettes, vaping products, JUULs, and other nicotine delivery devices. is harmful.
7.Within the past 3 months, I discussed family rules and expectations about the following with my teenager.
Yes
No
Alcohol use
Marijuana use
Tobacco, Nicotine and e-cigarette use, including JUULs and other vaping products
The next several questions pertain to your general views on teen substance abuse issues in the HWRSD community.
8.Thinking about high school students in Hampden and Wilbraham, what percentage of teens would you estimate do the following?
Very few; less than 10%
A few; about 11-25%
Some; about 26-49%
Most; about 50-75%
Almost all; about 76-100%
Drink alcohol
Smoke cigarettes
Use e-cigarettes, including JUULS and other vaping devices
Use e-cigarettes to inhale other substances, such as marijuana/ THC
Use marijuana (in any form)
Use over-the-counter medicine to get high
Use prescription drugs not intended for them
Use heroin
Use opioids, such as vicodin, oxycodone, percocet, etc.
9.In your community, what do you think are the most common ways that high school students get alcohol? Please select up to 3 responses.
10.In your community, what do you think are the most common ways that high school students get marijuana? Please select up to 3 responses.
11.In your community, what do you think are the most common ways that high school students get prescription drugs not intended for them? Please select up to 3 responses.
12.In your community, what do you think are the most common ways that high school students get e-cigarettes, vaping products, JUULs, and other nicotine delivery devices?  Please select up to 3 responses.
13.How wrong do you think it is for high school students to:
Not at all wrong
A little bit wrong
Wrong
Very wrong
drink alcohol?
have 5 or more alcoholic drinks at one time?
drink alcohol and drive?
use marijuana (any form)
use marijuana and drive?
smoke/use marijuana a few times each week?
smoke/use tobacco regularly?
use e-cigarettes, vaping products, JUULs and/or other nicotine delivery devices regularly?
use prescription drugs not prescribed for them?
14.What are you most concerned about in relation to the potential consequences of teen use of alcohol, nicotine/vaping, marijuana, and prescription drugs?
15.In your opinion or observations, are there any local conditions or risk factors in the community that might unintentionally contribute to teen substance use... or make it more difficult to enforce family rules?
The next several questions pertain to social media and related issues that can impact school and community climate; and your thoughts on access to help and resources when concerns may arise.
16.Regarding my teen's online activities...
Never
Sometimes
Often
I talk to my teenager about what he/she does online, and situations that might be dangerous or make him/her uncomfortable.
I check text messages that my teenager has sent or received.
There are rules about time of day and amount of time that electronic devices can be used.
17.How confident are you about:
Very confident
Confident
Somewhat confident
Not confident
Your ability to respond if you learned that your teen had violated your family rule relative to substance use?
Your ability to recognize the signs and symptoms and communicate with your teen if he/she was experiencing a significant mental health or substance misuse challenge?
Your ability to access professional help at school if your teen was experiencing a significant mental health or substance misse challenge?
Your ability to access professional help in the community if your teen was experiencing a significant mental health or substance misuse challenge?
Your understanding of current State laws regarding social hosting, including homeowner/parental liability when alcohol is consumed by minors in private homes.
Now switch gears for a moment and think about parents of other teens in the community.  Of course you don’t know for sure, but what’s your best guess about what they think and do?  (Remember, if you have more than one child in middle or high school, please use your oldest child as your reference as you answer these questions.)
18.In your estimation, how many HWRSD parents make sure to meet the parents of their teenager’s closest friends?
19.In your estimation, how many HWRSD parents regularly discuss family rules about alcohol and drugs with their teenager?
20.In your estimation, how many HWRSD parents do not allow their teen to attend a party if parents will not be home to supervise?
21.In your estimation, how many HWRSD parents would be likely to phone ahead to make sure that there will be parental supervision at a party/ social gathering that their child is planning to attend?
22.In your estimation, how many HWRSD parents do not approve of their teenager drinking alcohol?
23.In your estimation, how many HWRSD parents do not approve of their teenager using marijuana (any form)?
24.In your estimation, how many HWRSD parents do not approve of their teenager using e-cigarettes, JUULs, vaping products and other nicotine delivery devices?
25.In your estimation, how many HWRSD parents believe that alcohol is harmful to teenagers?
26.In your estimation, how many HWRSD parents believe that using marijuana (in any form) is harmful to teenagers?
27.In your estimation, how many HWRSD parents believe that using e-cigarettes, vaping products, JUULs and other nicotine delivery devices is harmful to teenagers?
28.In your estimation, how many HWRSD parents consistently monitor their teenager’s use of the Internet and social media?
29.The following questions will assist the Hampden-Wilbraham Partners for Youth Coalition with program planning for the upcoming year.  If you have had an opportunity to participate in a Coalition-sponsored event this year, please check the event(s) that you attended.
30.If you did not participate in any of the above events, please tell us why (check all that apply)
31.The Coalition is interested in offering programs related to youth substance use prevention that are easy to access and are compatible with the needs and interests of the community, particularly parents/guardians.  As we plan future events or activities, what topics or areas of focus would be of greatest help to you?
32.In addition to possible topics, as we plan future events or activities, what suggestions can you offer to increase community participation?
33.Please use this space for comments on any topic covered by this survey.  If you have any additional questions, please contact Dr. Gina Kahn at 413-566-5060 ext 12.
FOLLOW UP:
Thank you for completing our survey.  We appreciate your assistance and look forward to continuing the conversation in the future.  After you hit "done," you will see an additional message with an opportunity to participate in an upcoming focus group where survey results and related topics will be discussed. 

Thanks again!