HHSmemo

October 17, 2007

From:   Laura Kann, Chief, SERB/DASH/NCCDPHP

 

 To:       CDC Information Collection Request Office, c/o Maryam Daneshvar, Acting Reports Clearance Officer

 Cc:      Danice Eaton, Project Officer

Renita Macaluso, OMB Contact for NCCDPHP

Re:       Time-Sensitivity of ICR entitled “Study to Examine Web-Based Administration of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey,” CDC ref. no. 0920-NEW

  

The Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH) requests that HHS considers the ICR entitled  “Study to Examine Web-Based Administration of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey,” CDC ref. no. 0920-NEW, as time-sensitive.  DASH requests that HHS submit the ICR to OMB no later than November 1, 2007 so that OMB review and approval can be obtained by January 1, 2008.  There are two reasons for this request. 

 

First, the proposed data collection is a school-based survey of students.  The data collection is planned to begin in January 2008 so that it can be completed in May 2008 when schools close for the summer.  Because 5 months are required for data collection, delaying the start of the study is not an option.  If the study cannot begin in January 2008 so that it can be completed by May 2008, the study would either have to be delayed until Fall 2008 when school resumes or cancelled, because conducting a study in Fall 2008 would jeopardize clearance and acceptance of the regularly scheduled spring 2009 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS; OMB #0920-0493). 

 

Second, this ICR is a critical methodological study designed to inform how the National YRBS will be conducted in 2009.  CDC has conducted the National YRBS biennially in odd-numbered years since 1991 using a paper-and-pencil mode of data collection.  The proposed methodological study will allow us to evaluate the feasibility of offering a new web-based data collection option for the 2009 National YRBS.  

 

Our timeline is as follows:

• Winter/Spring 2008 – conduct methodological study data collection

• Summer 2008 – analyze data from the methodological study

• Fall 2008 – incorporate evidence-based changes into the YRBS

• Spring 2009 – implement the YRBS with a web-based data collection option

If you require additional information, please let us know.

Laura Kann, Ph.D.
Distinguished Fellow
Chief, Surveillance and Evaluation Research Branch
Division of Adolescent and School Health

National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention