The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) was developed by the Centers for Disease Control to monitor priority health-risk behaviors among students nationwide. Chicago Public Schools has administered the Youth Risk Behavior Survey since the survey’s inception in 1991. The YRBS is administered every other year to a random sample of middle school and high school classrooms. Student participation is voluntary and anonymous. Topics covered include unintentional injuries and violence, tobacco use, alcohol and other drug use, sexual behaviors, dietary behaviors, physical activity and obesity and asthma.
The data are used to:
- Identify behaviors among youth causing important health problems
- Assess how risk behaviors change over time
- Provide comparable data among different populations of youth
- Plan and monitor health programs
- Inform professional development
Resources
website provides general information, comprehensive results, and publications.
online website lets you analyze national, state and local YRBS data from 1991-2009.
Office of Special Education and Supports
For more information, contact Coordinated School Health at (773) 553-1830.