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SRAENE 2.0 Community Settings Study: Protocol for Youth Focus Groups 
Focus group information 

SRAE provider name

Focus group location or the name of SRAE program implementation site

Mathematica project team present
Moderator:
Notetaker: 
Date of focus group 

Number of youth present 


Introduction and youth assent 
Moderator and co-moderator introductions
Thank you for taking the time to speak with us today. We are from Mathematica, an independent research firm, and we are here to learn about your experiences with [SRAE program name]. My name is [name], and my colleague is [name].
Explanation of project and purpose of discussion 
We are doing a study on classes like [SRAE program name]. The study team would like to hear directly from youth that participated in the programming to understand their experiences, feedback, and suggestions. The study’s findings may help improve future programming for youth in these settings across the country. 
During our discussion today, we are interested in learning about your impressions of these classes, the topics covered in class, and your interactions with the program facilitator. We will use the information you share with us to write a summary of what we have learned, but we will not use any of your names, so please feel free to talk openly about your opinions. All information will be kept private to the extent permitted by law.
Ground rules for discussion
Before we start our discussion, we want to give you some ground rules about how our time together will go:
    • Participation in today’s discussion is voluntary. That means you do not have to participate, and you can choose to stop participating at any point.
    • Please do not discuss anything we talked about in today’s focus group with anyone outside of this group. Everything we talk about should remain private within this group. 
    • Please avoid sharing any personal or sensitive information during the focus group so that information can remain private. 
    • The discussion will last about 40 minutes. 
    • There are no right or wrong answers to the questions we will ask. We are interested in learning each of your opinions. We very much appreciate your participation today.
    • To keep us on schedule, I may change the subject or move ahead from time to time. 
    • We will be taking notes and audio recording the session, but everything you say will be kept private to the extent permitted by the law. 
    • The recording and notes will be kept in a secure location for the study team to use, and we will destroy the information at the end of the study. 
    • We might share the recordings with outside partners to transcribe notes, but your name will not be included in the recording.  
    • You will receive a gift card for participating in this conversation. 
    • Does anyone have any questions before we begin?
Please note: 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 for this information collection is 0970-0531 and the expiration date is 09/30/2028.
Do you agree to participate in this discussion? 
Do we have your permission to record the discussion?

SRAE programming experiences 
    1. How would you describe yourself and the other teens who participate in [SRAE program] with you? (If they are unsure how to answer, moderator can ask if they can describe the age range of youth, any strengths youth have, or common life situations youth have faced) 
    2. Have you ever attended another class or program that covered similar topics as [SRAE program]? 
        a. If yes: What was the class or program and when/where did you participate in it? 
    3. Are you required to attend [SRAE program] sessions?
        a. If no: What made you choose to sign up for [SRAE program]? 
    4. How often do you attend [SRAE program] sessions?
        a. Did you have any challenges or issues with attending SRAE sessions? 
    5. How would you describe the [SRAE program]? What do you learn about during program sessions?
    6. What topics or activities have been the most helpful for you? (If they are unsure how to answer, moderator can ask if there are specific topics they cover that are helpful, such as [include 1-2 examples from curricula], or do they find it helpful with the sessions include [mention 1-2 types of activities, such as role playing, videos, etc.]).
    7. Do you think the SRAE program is relevant for you and other teens who participate in the program? By relevant, we mean whether you think the information covered in the program applies to you. 
        a. Why or why not? 
        b. What information in the [SRAE program] is the most relevant to you? Least relevant? 
        c. What could be done to make the program feel more relevant? 
    8. Has any part of the program helped you make decisions or think about things differently than you did before the program? If yes, which parts and how? If no, are there ways the program could have helped you to reconsider decisions?
    9. Would you say you and other teens who participate in the program with you are engaged during program sessions? When we talk about engagement, we mean whether you are paying attention, listening, participating, and so on.  
        a. What [SRAE program] content or activities are the most engaging? Least engaging? 
        b. Do you have suggestions on how the lessons could be more engaging? 
        c. Did you feel comfortable participating in the activities? Why or why not? 
        d. Do facilitators do anything when teens who are participating in the program are not paying attention or do not seem interested in a topic or activity?
    10. Did you feel comfortable asking questions to the facilitators during the lessons? What could the facilitators do to help you feel more comfortable? 
    11. Were the facilitators able to answer any questions that you or other teens asked? 
    12. Is there anything that you think would make the [SRAE program] better, including anything that could be added that would be helpful for the [SRAE program] to cover?
Wrap up 
    13. Is there anything else you want to share with us today?
Thank you so much for participating in this discussion. We really appreciate you taking the time to talk with us today. [Describe process for getting gift card.] 
My email address is [moderator’s email]. You can send questions to me or to my colleague Betsy Keating at [email protected].
Have a great day!