Q: What has changed with this new unified effort?
A: Starting in 2013, the HKCS will collect both state and regional data. The state-funded sample will increase from about 80 schools and 2,500 students to over 300 schools and 30,000-40,000 students and with the intent to provide local data. Instead of using different surveys for different health topics, the three state agencies will use the standardized HKCS instrument, with input from the new Advisory Committee. The University of Colorado Denver’s Community Epidemiology and Program Evaluation Group (UCD-CEPEG) has been chosen as the contractor to support survey administration and reporting. For information visit:www.hkcs2013.org
Q: Who is the Steering Committee and the selected vendor?
A: In 2011, the new Healthy Kids Colorado Survey Steering Committee was formed based on guidance from the Governor’s office. The Steering Committee is comprised of two representatives from each of three state agencies:
- Colorado Department of Education
- Colorado Department of Human Services’ Office of Behavioral Health
- Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
Project management staffing comes from the CDPHE. The University of Colorado Denver’s Community Epidemiology and Program Evaluation Group (UCD-CEPEG) has been chosen as the contractor to support the unified survey recruitment, administration and reporting.
Q: Who is the Advisory Committee?
A: The HKCS Advisory Committee is a multi-disciplinary group including school district staff, local public health and other experts. The purpose of the Advisory Committee is to provide input into the new HKCS methodology, and advise the Steering Committee on informing the school health and public health fields in administering the survey in 2013.
Q: What if my organization would like to collect additional data, beyond the schools and classrooms selected in the random HKCS sample?
A: The state-funded effort will obtain state and regional data every other year within randomly selected schools and classrooms. If schools, districts, local public health or community partners would like to collect additional survey data there are options to pay for this service. Contact the CDPHE Survey Project Manager, Amy Dillon, at 303-692-2398 for additional information or to answer questions.
Q: Why are there two High School “modules?”
A: 2013 High School Module A is based on the 2011 Healthy Kids Colorado Survey (HKCS) instrument and will continue to be used in 2013 for comparison purposes from previous years. To allow the addition of new questions into the survey for 2013, the Steering Committee will also add Module B. This Module will include a “core” of questions that are on Module A, with approximately 40 new questions, selected by the Steering Committee with input from the Advisory Committee and partners. Both Modules are considered the HKCS instruments and will be interleaved when they appear in classrooms in order to produce data across old and new questions alike.
Q. Where are the 21 Health Statistics Regions in Colorado?
A. Learn more about the Health Statistics Regions here.
Q. How will I know if my school or district has been selected?
A. The University of Colorado Denver’s Community Epidemiology and Program Evaluation Group (UCD-CEPEG) will manage recruitment of schools selected in the random sample. CEPEG will make every effort to collaborate to address local needs. For up-to-date information on the 2013 administration, visit:www.hkcs2013.org