Refusal Conversions and Nonresponder Cover Memos

Appendix D:
Refusal Conversion and Non-responder Cover Memos

2019 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS)

Sponsored by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
DATE:

[MONTH DAY, YEAR]

TO:

[SUPT/PRIN], [DISTRICT/SCHOOL]

FROM:

[RECRUITER]

SUBJECT:

2019 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS)

Earlier this school year, we sent you information about [School name(s)]’s selection to participate in the
2019 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS), which is being conducted by the US Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC). recognize that when we last spoke, your [District/School] was unable to
participate. We do not yet have enough participating schools to produce valid, national results and I am
reaching out to you again now to see if there is any possibility that you might reconsider. Only 330
schools nationwide have been selected to participate in the 2019 NYTS and selected [districts or
schools] cannot be replaced. Your [district or school]’s participation is critical to the study’s
success.
The NYTS is the most comprehensive, nationally representative source of data regarding youth
tobacco-related behavior [and the ONLY source of such data for middle school students (grades
6‐8)]. Results are used by national, state and local educators and health professionals to support the
design, implementation and evaluation of effective tobacco use prevention and control programs.
In summary, please consider the following:
•
•
•
•

•
•

Only a small number of classes, [one/two per grade level X through X], will be randomly
selected to participate.
The NYTS is a tablet-based, electronic questionnaire administered by specially trained field staff
on a mutually convenient date before the end of your school year.
The survey follows a skip-pattern logic based on the student’s answers and takes 20-25 minutes
or less to complete.
Survey protocols are designed to protect student privacy and allow for anonymous participation.
Students sign into the survey application using a randomly generated, five-digit access code and
no personally identifiable information is collected.
Participating districts, schools, and students are not identified in any published reports.
Your school will receive a $500 school award in appreciation for your time and support.

As an educator, you understand that healthier students are better learners. I look forward to discussing
the NYTS with you and I sincerely hope that your school will be able to participate in this important
national student health initiative. For your convenience, I am enclosing copies of the original invitation
materials, including a study fact sheet and a sample NYTS questionnaire.
Thank you for your consideration. I will call you in the next few days to discuss this with you. In the
meantime, I can be reached directly at 301-572-XXXX. I look forward to talking with you or a member of
your staff.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ICF | 530 Gaither Road, Suite 500 | Rockville, MD 20850 | Toll-free Phone 800-675-9727 | Fax 877-757-8069

2019 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS)

Sponsored by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
DATE:

[MONTH DAY, YEAR]

TO:

[SUPT/PRIN], [DISTRICT/SCHOOL]

FROM:

[RECRUITER]

SUBJECT:

2019 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS)

Earlier this school year, we sent you information about [School name(s)]’s selection to participate in the
2019 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS), which is being conducted by the US Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC). recognize that when we last spoke, your [District/School] was unable to
participate. We do not yet have enough participating schools to produce valid, national results and I am
reaching out to you again now to see if there is any possibility that you might reconsider. Only 330
schools nationwide have been selected to participate in the 2019 NYTS and selected [districts or
schools] cannot be replaced. Your [district or school]’s participation is critical to the study’s
success.
The NYTS is the most comprehensive, nationally representative source of data regarding youth
tobacco-related behavior [and the ONLY source of such data for middle school students (grades
6‐8)]. Results are used by national, state and local educators and health professionals to support the
design, implementation and evaluation of effective tobacco use prevention and control programs.
In summary, please consider the following:
•
•
•
•
•
•

Only a small number of classes, [one/two per grade level X through X], will be randomly
selected to participate.
The NYTS is a tablet-based, electronic questionnaire administered by specially trained field staff
on a mutually convenient date before the end of your school year.
The survey follows a skip-pattern logic based on the student’s answers and takes 20-25 minutes
or less to complete.
Survey protocols are designed to protect student privacy and allow for anonymous participation.
Students sign into the survey application using a randomly generated, five-digit access code and
no personally identifiable information is collected.
Participating districts, schools, and students are not identified in any published reports.
Your school will receive a $500 school award in appreciation for your time and support.

As an educator, you understand that healthier students are better learners. I look forward to discussing
the NYTS with you and I sincerely hope that your school will be able to participate in this important
national student health initiative. For your convenience, I am enclosing copies of the original invitation
materials, including a study fact sheet and a sample NYTS questionnaire.
Thank you for your consideration. I will call you in the next few days to discuss this with you. In the
meantime, I can be reached directly at 301-572-XXXX. I look forward to talking with you or a member of
your staff.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ICF | 530 Gaither Road, Suite 500 | Rockville, MD 20850 | Toll-free Phone 800-675-9727 | Fax 877-757-8069