Youth; Parent Survey Results

Every other year, Fairfield youths and parents are asked to complete a survey designed in collaboration with Positive Directions and Search Institute.  

The 2023 Fairfield Youth Survey fulfills the following objectives:

  1. Describes perceptions and experiences regarding substance misuse, mental health, social media, gaming, supports and family norms among Fairfield youth in grades 7 to 12 in the year 2023.
  2. Monitors trends in protective factors and risky behaviors over time through use of the baseline data.
  3. Utilizes information provided by youth, allowing community stakeholders to ‘hear’ from youth to enhance and plan initiatives and activities for youth in the community.

Survey Background
The 2023 Fairfield Youth Survey was adapted from several state and national survey tools including:

  • National Outcome Measures (NOMs), Office of National Drug Control Policy
  • Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey (YRBSS), Center for Disease Control
  • The Search Institute’s Developmental Assets Profile
  • Governor’s Prevention Initiative for Youth Student Survey (Connecticut)
  • Connecticut School Health Survey, Department of Public Health

Find the 2023 Youth Service Report Here.

In 2021, we utilized Search Institute's Developmental Relationships Survey. 

DR Survey Core ModulesThe core modules of this survey are:

2021 survey reports and results:

In 2019 and prior years, we administered the Attitudes and Behaviors Survey to measure:

  • 40 Developmental Assets, which look at external supports and internal strengths
  • 24 youth risk behavior elements (e.g., substance use, sexual activity, antisocial behavior)
  • 10 high-risk behavior patterns
  • Key social and emotional skills
  • 8 thriving indicators (succeeds in school, helps others, values diversity, maintains good health, exhibits leadership, resists danger, delays gratification, overcomes adversity)
  • 5 developmental deficits (alone at home, TV overexposure, physical abuse, victim of violence, drinking parties)
2019 survey reports and results: