Appendix B: Youth Focus Group Consent and Assent Forms

Appendix B. Youth Focus Group Consent and Assent Forms

Appendix B

Parent Consent and Student Assent Form to Participate in Focus Groups for the Sexual Risk Avoidance Education (SRAE) National Evaluation Program Components Impact Study

Dear Parent or Guardian,

Your child’s upcoming [INSERT SCHOOL CLASS NAME] has been selected for an important research study. This study, sponsored by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is being conducted Mathematica. We are interested in learning about what your child thought of [INSERT SCHOOL CLASS NAME] and what they learned in the class.

Some students will be selected to take part in a 60-minute focus group to provide additional feedback about the class. If selected for the focus group, it will take place at school during the school day. They will meet with two researchers from Mathematica and up to seven other students selected for the focus group, to provide their feedback about the [INSERT CLASS NAME] and how it can be improved.

The back side of this paper requests your permission for your child to participate in the focus group, if selected. Your child must also sign the form if they wish to participate. We need your response whether it is “yes” or “no.” Please complete, sign, and return the attached [COLOR] form to your child’s [CLASS NAME] by [RETURN DATE]. Please keep the [COLOR] form for your own records

We want you to know that:

• The focus group information will not be seen by anyone at the school and will not impact your child’s grade in the class in any way.

• The focus group results are only for research purposes to improve the class for future students.

• Participation in the focus group is entirely voluntary. If you agree that your child can participate, you or your child can later choose to not participate with no consequences.

• All participants will be asked not to discuss anything talked about in the focus group with anyone outside of the group. Everything discussed should remain private.

• While no participants’ names or feedback will be disclosed or used, in identifiable form, for any other purpose except as required by law, your child will be in a focus group with up to seven other students and therefore those students will know your child participated in the group and the feedback they shared during the group.

• Students may choose to participate or not participate in the focus group. The only risk to your child connected with the study is that they may be uncomfortable answering some questions in the focus group discussion. If that happens, your child can refuse to answer those questions.

• We will follow all public health and social distancing requirements when collecting data for the study. This means that data may be collected in person or virtually. The specifics will be determined at the time of data collection in consultation with your child’s school

The feedback received from the focus groups will provide ACF and Mathematica with valuable information that will be included in a national research study to improve classes that include content that is like [INSERT SCHOOL CLASS NAME].

Study Participation Permission Form

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

PARENT SECTION

Your signature below indicates that your questions have been answered satisfactorily, and that you have read and understood the information provided above.

 I do not give permission for my child _______________________ to participate in the focus group.

Print Child’s Name

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­

 I do give permission for my child _______________________ to participate in the focus group, which will take place at

Print Child’s Name

school for 60 minutes.

__________________________________

Print Parent/Guardian Name

____________________________________ _______________________

Parent/Guardian Signature Date

_______________________________________________________________________________________

STUDENT SECTION

Your signature below indicates that your questions have been answered satisfactorily, and that you have read and understood the information provided above.

 I do not wish to participate in the focus group.

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­

 I do wish to participate in the focus group, which will take place at school for 45 minutes.

____________________________________

Youth Print Name

____________________________________ _______________________

Youth Signature Date

THE PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT OF 1995

The described collection of information is voluntary and will be used to provide the Administration for Children and Families with information to help refine and guide program development in the area of adolescent pregnancy prevention. Public reporting burden for the focus group is estimated to average 60 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and reviewing the collection of information. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB number and expiration date for this collection are OMB #: 0970-0356, Exp: 02/29/2024. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Tiffany Waits at [email protected].