SRAE Entry-Exit Surveys
SRAE Entry-Exit Survey Orientation
Projects funded through SRAE are required to survey participants before and after delivery of evidence-based programs (EBPs). Collecting these entry-exit surveys helps us determine if the programming is having the intended effects of promoting healthy behaviors and reducing risky behaviors.
Implementing TOP?
SRAE providers implementing TOP are only required to implement TOP surveys, which are available through Wyman Connect. Any SRAE providers conducting TOP and another evidence-based program (EBP) will be required to conduct Wyman TOP surveys, as well as entry-exit surveys for the additional EBP.
Why use entry-exit surveys?
These surveys, which ask about participants' experience with the program, as well as their attitudes and perceptions of risky behaviors, are part of SRAE performance measures. The goal of EBPs in adolescent sexual health is to change behaviors that lead to unhealthy or unwanted outcomes. How do we know that what we are doing is working? Unless we measure change within individual participants, we can only make educated guesses as to the effectiveness of the program. Surveys that ask the same or similar questions of students before and after the program content is delivered can give some indication of program success.
Using the surveys is a requirement of SRAE funding.
What questions are asked on the SRAE entry-exit surveys?
The entry survey asks information about participant demographics, attitudes, and experiences regarding drugs, alcohol, self-efficacy, relationships, and sexual health. The exit survey has the same questions but tweaks them to ask about the impact of their experience in the program on their responses. The PDFs below show the questions asked on each survey. Participants will complete electronic surveys; these PDFs should only be used when preparing staff and arranging for permission to administer the surveys.
When should I use the surveys?
- Sessions. Educators give the entry survey to participants at the beginning of the first session of the cycle and give the exit survey after the last activity in the EBP is completed.
- Cycles. SRAE providers are required to use both surveys with every SRAE EBP cycle.
Administering Surveys: An Overview
Administering the surveys takes planning and time — time that may already be tight in any given program cycle. Preparation is key.
Survey Links
Paper surveys are not an option. Educators will need to administer surveys to participants through URLs and/or QR codes on a device that is connected to the internet. Here are some points to consider when preparing to administer surveys:
- Do participants have internet access?
- Do participants have cell phones?
- Do program facilitators have an electronic method to contact participants in order to send links such as email, social media messaging, or texting?
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Tablets previously purchased for survey administration can be used to access survey links as long as they are connected to the internet.
- Mobile hotspots are an option to help with internet access — please contact your DOH program advisor for more information.
Health Educator Supervisors can request the URLs and/or QR codes through the support tab in the Online Reporting System (ORS). ACT for Youth will then send separate URLs and/or QR codes for each specific combination of survey type (Entry/Exit), setting (NYC public school/non-NYC public school), and language (English/Spanish). Each URL and/or QR code can be used as many times as necessary for that particular survey type, setting, and language combination. Links and QR codes will be named based on these combinations.
Informed Assent
It is important that youth program participants know why you are asking them to complete this survey. Be sure to verbally state this information and check to see if anyone has questions. Here is a sample script for informed assent:
Sample Script
"We want to learn more about how well this program works, and that means we need to ask you, the experts, about how your thoughts and opinions may have changed from the beginning to the end of this program. I'll ask you to take a short survey now and again on the last day of the program. We want to learn how your thoughts and behaviors may be different at the end of the program. Both surveys will take just a few minutes. Both surveys are anonymous. That means your name does not go on the surveys and we will never be able to link your answers to you. I will not know which answers are yours, and your teacher/program leader and parents will never see your responses. Your answers will be combined with those from other young people. Both surveys are voluntary. While we hope you will finish both of them, you do not have to participate. You can skip any question you do not want to answer. The information you tell us will be used to help make this program better in the future."
Obtaining Permission
In order to conduct the surveys, you will need permission from the organization that is hosting the group, and you may also need to allow parents to opt their children out of the survey. The process for obtaining permission differs depending on whether the cycle is being implemented in or outside of New York City public schools (see below).
When introducing the survey, be sure to let administrators know that this survey and protocol have gone through rigorous review processes by Cornell University's Institutional Review Board and the New York City Department of Education (NYC DOE) Institutional Review Board. These boards have high standards for protecting the privacy, rights, and welfare of participants in research and evaluation projects, and they have approved this survey and protocol. If you need a copy of the Cornell University or NYC DOE Internal Review Board letters of exemption/approval, please contact act4youth@cornell.edu.
You may wish to emphasize:
- SRAE is a statewide initiative; survey responses from your sites will be combined with those from around the state as part of the evaluation of the SRAE initiative.
- Surveys are anonymous. Names are never collected with surveys. Program facilitators will not see individual survey responses, only aggregate data.
- Though survey administration is required, individual participation is optional. Parents and youth participants can decide NOT to take the surveys. Youth participants may also skip any question on the surveys.
In sites OUTSIDE New York City public schools
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Discuss the use of surveys with the site administrator or principal. (Note: NYSDOH permission is required for implementation within schools during school day.) ACT for Youth has developed a template with talking points you can use to initiate this conversation. The letter may be sent with the parent information/opt-out form below. Feel free to modify the template to fit your needs. Use of the template is optional.
- Send documentation of the site administrator's permission to use the survey to act4youth@cornell.edu. This can be as simple as a forwarded email exchange. This is required.
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If desired by the site, send the parent information/permission form home prior to survey administration. If a signed form is returned, be sure the youth participant returning the form does NOT complete surveys. Note: a youth participant without permission to complete surveys may still participate in EBP programming, if permission to attend the EBP was granted.
In sites WITHIN New York City public schools
Remember that SRAE program implementation within schools during regular school hours requires prior approval from the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH). Contact your NYSDOH program advisor.
Implementation of SRAE and the required surveys at New York City Department of Education sites also requires additional permissions and protocols which may be difficult for your organization. If you plan to implement SRAE programming in NYC DOE sites, set aside time to ensure proper preparation and discuss the process with ACT for Youth.
