In collaboration with schools, community partners, and parents, the Hampden-Wilbraham Partners for Youth strives to implement a coordinated, comprehensive, and sustainable plan of evidence-based activities and services to prevent and reduce youth substance use and promote healthy childhood development.
Thank you for taking this important survey, asking HWRSD parents/guardians of middle and high school students, about some of the current issues related to raising teenagers, such as social media and attitudes about teen substance use prevention and misuse. The first set of questions will ask you about your own parenting experiences and expectations, and the second set of questions asks you about how you think other parents in the community might view some of the same issues. Your responses will help the Hampden-Wilbraham Partners for Youth coalition, in partnership with HWRSD, gain insight when developing programs and activities that help support raising safe, healthy, and drug-free youth in our community.

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, and takes an average of 10 minutes to complete. The Survey link will remain open until September 30, 2020. We will use input to help develop strategies that reinforce good decision making among students. 

At the end of the survey you will be given an option to request more information about participating in a follow-up Focus Group to discuss these topics, and survey results, in more detail, if desired.  People who indicate that they are interested in the Focus Group discussion will be directly contacted after the close of the survey.  Please note that your survey responses will not be linked to your request for more information about the Focus Group.

Should you have any questions, please contact Ruth DiCristoforo, Coalition Coordinator, by email at:  rdicristoforo@hwrsd.org or by phone at:  (413) 566 - 5060 (ext. 17).  Hampden-Wilbraham Partners for Youth Office of Health and Safety Thornton W. Burgess School 85 Wilbraham Road Hampden, MA  01036


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* 1. I/we have a child/children attending HWRSD in the following grade(s) as of September 2019 (check all that apply):

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* 2. Town of residence:

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* 3. Please tell us your gender:

SECTION  1
This first section of questions asks you about your personal parenting perspectives and experiences.

NOTE:  If you have more than one child in middle or high school, please use your oldest child as your reference when you answer these questions.

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* 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.

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* 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.

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* 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.

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* 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 ask about your personal views on teen substance use issues in Hampden and Wilbraham.

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* 8. In Hampden and Wilbraham,  what percentage of High School teens would you estimate do the following:

  Very few
less than 10%
A few
11-25%
Some
 26-49%
Most
50-75%
Almost all
 76-99%
All
100%
Drink alcohol
Smoke cigarettes (traditional/ tobacco)
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.

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* 9. In Hampden and Wilbraham, what do you think are the most common ways that high school students get alcohol? Please select up to 3 responses.

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* 10. In Hampden and Wilbraham, what do you think are the most common ways that high school students get marijuana? Please select up to 3 responses.

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* 11. In Hampden and Wilbraham, 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.

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* 12. In Hampden and Wilbraham, 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.

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* 13. How wrong do you think it is for high school students to:

  Very wrong Wrong A little bit wrong  Not at all 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?

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* 14. What are you most concerned about in relation to the potential consequences of teen use of alcohol, nicotine/vaping, marijuana, and prescription drugs?

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* 15. What do you feel may contribute to teen substance use or make it more difficult to enforce family rules about teen substance use?

The next several questions pertain to  your teen's use of technology, electronic devices, and accessing social media.

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* 16. Regarding my teen's use of electronic devices:

  Often Sometimes Never
I talk to my teenager about use of electronic devices for social media and communication.
I talk to my teenager about situations that might be dangerous or make him/her uncomfortable
I check messages that my teen has sent or received.
There are family rules about time of day and amount of time that electronic devices can be used.

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* 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.
SECTION  2
This next section of questions asks you about your perspectives on how you think other parents in the community might view some of the same issues you were asked in the last section.

NOTE: If you have more than one child in middle or high school, please use your oldest child as your reference when you answer these questions.

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* 18. What percentage of HWRSD parents make sure to meet the parents of their teenager’s closest friends?

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* 19. How many HWRSD parents regularly discuss family rules about alcohol and drugs with their teenager?

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* 20. What percentage of HWRSD parents do not allow their teen to attend a party if they know parents will not be home to supervise?

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* 21. 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?

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* 22. How many HWRSD parents do not approve of their teenager drinking alcohol?

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* 23. How many HWRSD parents do not approve of their teenager using marijuana (any form)?

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* 24. How many HWRSD parents do not approve of their teenager using e-cigarettes, JUULs, vaping products and other nicotine delivery devices?

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* 25. How many HWRSD parents believe that alcohol is harmful to teenagers?

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* 26. How many HWRSD parents believe that using marijuana (in any form) is harmful to teenagers?

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* 27. How many HWRSD parents believe that using e-cigarettes, vaping products, JUULs and other nicotine delivery devices is harmful to teenagers?

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* 28. How many HWRSD parents consistently monitor their teenager’s use of the Internet and social media?

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* 29. As a parent/guardian, what protective factors do you feel contribute to preventing teen substance use?

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* 30. Please use this space for comments on any topic covered by this survey.  If you have any additional questions, please contact 
Ruth DiCristoforo, Coalition Coordinator by email: rdicristoforo@hwrsd.org or by phone at (413) 566 - 5060 Ext. 17


                                                                  Thank you for completing our survey.  

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.  

Please visit the H-W Partner for Youth website for more information on how we support promoting positive youth development, and keeping our  youth  safe, healthy, and drug-free at:  HWP4Y.ORG.

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