CHATS Attachment H_revised_02272012

ATTACHMENT H

Introductory Letter

INTRODUCTORY LETTER

[DATE]

Resident

[STREET ADDRESS]

[CITY], [STATE] [ZIPCODE]

Dear Community Member:

You have received this letter because your household has been randomly selected and may be eligible to take part in a new study called Children’s Health after the Storms (CHATS). CHATS has been developed in response to concerns by parents and local community groups about potential health issues children faced after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. CHATS will begin the process of finding answers.

CHATS will look at the health of children who are now ages 3 to 15 who lived in the region during and after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Participation in CHATS is completely voluntary. You can refuse to take part in any aspect of the study. The enclosed brochure will tell you more about CHATS.

As the parent or guardian of the child who participates, you will get a copy of your child’s blood, urine and breathing test results. You will also get a copy of the results of an air quality test we will do in your home. If there are any concerns about your child’s health, CHATS will provide you with a resource list of clinics and doctors to contact for help. All of the identifiable information you give us will be kept strictly private. RTI has obtained a Federal Certificate of Confidentiality from the Department of Health and Human Services for the CHATS study to protect privacy our participants. Having this Certificate means that we cannot be forced to give your names or other identifying characteristics to anyone not connected with the CHATS study, even if in a court of law, unless you say it’s okay.  In addition, if you choose to participate, your family may receive up to $125 or $135 depending on the age of your child and your decision to take part in some or all of the study.

The study is being conducted by RTI International (RTI), a non-profit research organization and leader in children’s health research, with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and our Gulf Coast partners, the Louisiana State University (LSU) Health Sciences Center and Coastal Family Health Centers.

CHATS is also a community effort, and several community groups are joining us by supporting the study. Ask about CHATS wherever you see the CHATS logo displayed. If you have any questions, please visit our website at www.chats.rti.org, or call our toll-free telephone number, 1-877-834-7088 and leave your name and telephone number. One of our CHATS team members will return your call within 24 hours.

In the coming days, an RTI staff member will visit or call your home to tell you more about the study and to see if your family is eligible to participate. If so, I hope you will consider taking part in the study. It will provide your family with important information about your child’s health that may be helpful both now and in the future.

Thank you.

S incerely,

Diane Wagener, PhD.

Project Director

Children’s Health after the Storms

Introductory Letter H-2