NSFG 2009 ATT G1-AdvanceLetters

ATTACHMENT G1

ADVANCE HOUSEHOLD & RESPONDENT LETTERS

(all are printed on NCHS letterhead)

PHASE 1 ADVANCE HOUSEHOLD LETTER

From the Director of the National Center for Health Statistics:

My agency, part of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, needs your help.

We are doing an important study called the National Survey of Family Growth. The study asks questions about marriage and divorce, having and raising children, health and health care. The information is used for health services and health education programs.

We are asking a scientific sample of households to take part in a short interview. We have asked the University of Michigan to do these interviews for us. In a few days, an interviewer will visit your home to complete the interview. The visit will only take about 5 minutes and any adult who lives in the home can answer. You may be asked to complete our main interview, which is described in the enclosed brochure.

Your help is voluntary but is very important. By Federal law*, the answers you give are confidential and we will take all possible steps to protect your privacy. Your answers will be used for research only.

We look forward to speaking with you soon.

I thank you for your help with this important study.

S incerely,

Edward J. Sondik, Ph.D.
Director, National Center for Health Statistics
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs

*To read about the law that protects your privacy, the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002, visit the website http://scitech.dot.gov/research/human/docs/hfcc/title-v.pdf. The other two laws that protect your privacy are Section 308(d) of the Public Health Service Act which allows us to carry out this survey (4 USC 242 M) and the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 USC 552a).

PHASE 1 ADVANCE RESPONDENT LETTER

From the Director of the National Center for Health Statistics:

We are pleased you were chosen to take part in the National Survey of Family Growth. This important study is being done by the National Center for Health Statistics of the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

We plan to speak to a national sample of households. The interview asks questions about marriage and divorce, having and raising children, health and health care. It lasts about 60-80 minutes. The information is used for health services and health education programs.

The highly respected University of Michigan will do the interviews.

Your help in this study is voluntary but very important. Saying yes or no to being in the study will not change any benefits you get now or in the future. The interview is interesting and enjoyable for most people. Each person interviewed represents thousands of others. Your interviewer will arrange to do the interview at the time that works best for you. For your help, you will receive $40 as a token of appreciation.

By Federal law*, the answers you give are confidential and we will take all possible steps to protect your privacy. Your answers will be used for research only. We report the information in summary form. Individuals or families can not be identified. You may choose not to answer any question at any time. You may have questions about your rights as a participant in this research study. If so, please call the office of the Research Ethics Review Board at the National Center for Health Statistics, toll free, at 1-800-223-8118. Please leave a brief message with your name and phone number. Say that you are calling about Study Number 2006-01. Your call will be returned as soon as possible.

The enclosed brochure will help to answer your questions about the study. You can also learn more at our website: www.cdc.gov/nchs/nsfg.htm. To schedule your interview, please call the University of Michigan (toll-free) at 1-800-759-7947.

I thank you for your help with this important study.

S incerely,

Edward J. Sondik, Ph.D.
Director, National Center for Health Statistics
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs

*To read about the law that protects your privacy, the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002, visit the website http://scitech.dot.gov/research/human/docs/hfcc/title-v.pdf. The other two laws that protect your privacy are Section 308(d) of the Public Health Service Act which allows us to carry out this survey (4 USC 242 M) and the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 USC 552a).

PHASE 2 HOUSEHOLD ADVANCE LETTER

From the Director of the National Center for Health Statistics:

My agency, part of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, needs your help.

We are carrying out an important study called the National Survey of Family Growth. The survey gathers information on marriage and divorce, having and raising children, health, and the use of health care. The information is used for health and health education programs for men and women.

We are asking a scientific sample of households in the United States to take part in a short interview to be done by the highly respected University of Michigan. In a few days, an interviewer on the staff of the University of Michigan will visit your home to see if you or someone in your household is eligible for the study. The visit will only take about 5 minutes and any adult who lives in the home can answer. You may be selected for our main interview, which is described in the enclosed brochure.

We have enclosed $5 as a token of our appreciation for your help. It is yours to keep. If you would like to set up a time for our interviewer to visit you, please call the University of Michigan (toll-free) at: 1-866-764-5454, to set up an appointment.

Your help with this short interview is very important and completely voluntary. By Federal law,* the answers you give are confidential and we will take all possible steps to protect your privacy. Your answers will be used for research only. We look forward to speaking with you soon about this important, nationally recognized and highly respected study of people in America.

On behalf of the National Center for Health Statistics, I thank you for your help with this important study.

Sincerely,

Edward J. Sondik, Ph.D.
Director, National Center for Health Statistics
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs

*Here are the laws and the information you would need to read the law for yourself: Section 308(d) of the Public Health Service Act, which allows us to carry out this survey (42 USC 242M); the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 USC 552a); and the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002 (http://scitech.dot.gov/research/human/docs/hfcc/title-v.pdf).

PHASE 2 RESPONDENT ADVANCE LETTER

From the Director of the National Center for Health Statistics:

We are pleased you were chosen to take part in the National Survey of Family Growth. This important study is being done by the National Center for Health Statistics of the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

The interview asks questions about marriage and divorce, having and raising children, health and health care. It lasts about 60-80 minutes. The information is used for health services and health education programs. The highly respected University of Michigan will do the interviews.

We are asking your help to find a convenient time for you to talk with our interviewer. Interviewers work seven days a week, including evenings. Please help us by calling our toll-free number, 1-866-764-5454, to set up an appointment. For considering our request for your help, we are enclosing $40 with this letter. When the interviewer visits you to conduct the interview, you will receive an additional $40 as a token of our appreciation.

Your help in this study is voluntary but very important. Saying yes or no to being in the study will not change any benefits you get now or in the future. The interview is interesting and enjoyable for most people. Each person interviewed represents thousands of others.

By Federal law, the answers you give are confidential and we will take all possible steps to protect your privacy. Your answers will be used for research only.* We report the information in summary form. Individuals or families can not be identified. You may choose not to answer any question at any time. You may have questions about your rights as a participant in this research study. If so, please call the office of the Research Ethics Review Board at the National Center for Health Statistics, toll free, at 1-800-223-8118. Please leave a brief message with your name and phone number. Say that you are calling about Study Number 2006-01. Your call will be returned as soon as possible.

You may also learn more about the survey at our website: www.cdc.gov/nchs/nsfg.htm. If you would like to schedule your interview, please call the University of Michigan (toll-free) at 1-866-764-5454.

I thank for your help with this important study.

Sincerely,

Edward J. Sondik, Ph.D.
Director, National Center for Health Statistics
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs

*Here are the laws and the information you would need to read the law for yourself: Section 308(d) of the Public Health Service Act, which allows us to carry out this survey (42 USC 242M), the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 USC 552a); and the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002 (http://scitech.dot.gov/research/human/docs/hfcc/title-v.pdf).

2