Refusal Letters 2025

Screening

Resident
[STREET ADDRESS]
[CITY], [STATE] [ZIPCODE]

Dear Resident,
I am writing in response to a recent visit to your home by one of our interviewers on the National Household
Survey on Behavioral Health*. I understand at the time there were some concerns expressed. Your participation
is important, and I am hoping you will reconsider.
•

Your household cannot be replaced. A limited number of addresses in your area were scientifically chosen
to take part. Once selected, each household represents thousands of others.

•

Your privacy is important. Federal law requires us to keep all of your answers confidential. Your answers
are combined with the answers of thousands of other people and reported only as overall numbers.

•

We are not selling anything. We are gathering information that is needed for planning and support for
education, treatment and prevention programs related to substance use and mental health.

To participate in NHSBH, an adult member of your household answers a few general questions to determine if
zero, one or two household members aged 12 or older may be selected to complete the full interview. To answer
these questions online:
•

Visit nhsbh.rti.org/survey (or scan the QR code below).

•

Enter your Participant Code:

•

Follow the on-screen instructions to answer the questions. This will only take a few minutes.

Anyone selected to complete the full interview will be provided a unique link to begin that interview from any
internet-enabled device (though a desktop or laptop computer is recommended). Each person who completes the
full interview will receive $30.
To learn more about the study, visit nhsbh.rti.org. If you have any questions, please contact me toll-free at
[TOLL FREE NUMBER].
Thank you for your time. I hope you’ll choose to participate in this important study.
Sincerely,
[FS NAME], Field Supervisor
_______________________
*The National Household Survey on Behavioral Health is conducted by RTI International for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration, an agency in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. [samhsa.gov] [rti.org]

Interview [Adult]

Resident
[STREET ADDRESS]
[CITY], [STATE] [ZIPCODE]

Attention: [age] year old resident

Dear Resident,
I am writing in response to a recent visit to your home by one of our interviewers on the National Household
Survey on Behavioral Health*. I understand at the time there were some concerns expressed. Your participation
is important, and I am hoping you will reconsider.
•

You cannot be replaced. A limited number of people were scientifically selected to represent the
population of the U.S. If you choose not to participate, your experiences and views—as well as the
thousands of people you represent—will not be heard.

•

Your participation can impact important health-related decisions. Local, state, and national agencies use
the study findings to develop education, prevention, and treatment programs and monitor substance use
and mental health trends.

•

Your privacy is important. Federal law requires us to keep all of your answers confidential. Your answers
are combined with the answers of thousands of other people and reported only as overall numbers.

The interview takes about an hour and can be completed from any internet-enabled device (though a desktop or
laptop computer is recommended). As a token of our appreciation, you will receive a $30 gift card at the end
of the interview. To complete the interview online, please follow the steps below.

You must be a selected individual to participate in this interview.
To complete the interview, go to nhsbh.rti.org/survey, enter
your Participant Code, and follow the on-screen instructions.

Participant Code:

To learn more about the study, please visit nhsbh.rti.org. If you have any questions, contact me toll-free at
[TOLL FREE NUMBER].
Thank you for your time. I hope you’ll choose to participate in this important and beneficial study.
Sincerely,
[FS NAME], Field Supervisor
________________________
*The National Household Survey on Behavioral Health is conducted by RTI International for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration, an agency in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. [samhsa.gov] [rti.org]

Interview [Teen]

Resident
[STREET ADDRESS]
[CITY], [STATE] [ZIPCODE]

Attention: [age] year old resident

Dear Resident,
I am writing about a recent visit to your home by one of our interviewers on the National Household Survey on
Behavioral Health*. I understand at the time there were some concerns expressed. Your participation is
important, and I am hoping you will reconsider.
•

You cannot be replaced. A limited number of people your age were scientifically selected to help
represent the population of the U.S. If you don’t participate, your experiences and views—as well as a
thousand other young people you represent—will not be heard.

•

You can help inform important decisions. Local, state, and national agencies use the study findings to
develop education, prevention, and treatment programs and monitor substance use and mental health.

• Your privacy is important. Your answers cannot be viewed by your parents or anyone else. You can
choose not to answer any question. We combine your answers with those from thousands of other young
people and report them only as overall numbers. Federal law requires us to keep all of your answers
confidential.
The interview takes about an hour and can be completed from any internet-enabled device (though a desktop or
laptop computer is recommended). As a token of our appreciation, you will receive a $30 gift card at the end of
the interview. If you are interested in completing the interview online, please share this letter with a parent and
follow the steps below.
•

Choose a time when you and a parent are at home and in a private location.

•

Call a project representative at 1-800-848-4079.
Only a selected individual may participate in this interview.

Parent or guardian of selected child: Call 1-800-848-4079 to receive instructions about beginning the
interview and provide parental consent.
Selected child: To complete the interview, go to
nhsbh.rti.org/survey, enter your Participant Code, and
follow the on-screen instructions.

Participant Code:

To learn more about the study, visit nhsbh.rti.org. If you have any questions, please contact me toll-free at
[TOLL FREE NUMBER].
Thank you for your time. I hope you’ll choose to participate in this important and beneficial study.
Sincerely,
[FS NAME], Field Supervisor
________________________
*The National Household Survey on Behavioral Health is conducted by RTI International for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration, an agency in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. [samhsa.gov] [rti.org]

Interview [Parent]

Resident
[STREET ADDRESS]
[CITY], [STATE] [ZIPCODE]

Attention: Parent/Guardian of [age] year old resident

Dear Resident,
I am writing in response to a recent visit to your home by one of our interviewers on the National Household
Survey on Behavioral Health*. I understand at the time there were some concerns expressed about your child
taking part in the study. Your child’s participation is important, and I am hoping you will reconsider.
•

Your child cannot be replaced. A limited number of young people were scientifically selected to help
represent the population of the U.S. We need responses from everyone selected to get an accurate picture
of youth-related health issues.

•

It is not necessary to know anything about or have experience with tobacco, alcohol, drugs or mental
health issues to answer the questions.

•

Your child’s participation can impact important health-related decisions. Local, state, and national
agencies use the study findings to develop education, prevention, and treatment programs and monitor
substance use and mental health trends.

•

Privacy is important. Federal law requires us to keep all answers confidential. Your child’s answers will
be combined with the answers of thousands of other young people and reported only as overall numbers.

The interview takes about an hour and can be completed from any internet-enabled device (though a desktop or
laptop computer is recommended). As a token of our appreciation, your child will receive a $30 gift card at the
end of the interview. If your child is interested in completing the interview online, choose a time when you and
your child are at home and in a private location, then follow the steps below.
Only a selected individual may participate in this interview.
Parent or guardian of selected child: Call 1-800-848-4079 to receive instructions about beginning the
interview and provide parental consent.
Selected child: To complete the interview, go to
nhsbh.rti.org/survey, enter your Participant Code, and
follow the on-screen instructions.

Participant Code:

To learn more about the study, visit nhsbh.rti.org. If you have any questions, please contact me toll-free at
[TOLL FREE NUMBER].
Thank you for your time. I hope you’ll reconsider and choose to let your child participate in this important and
beneficial study.
Sincerely,
[FS NAME], Field Supervisor
________________________
*The National Household Survey on Behavioral Health is conducted by RTI International for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration, an agency in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. [samhsa.gov] [rti.org]