Saturday, October 12, 2024
10/12/2024
The New Jersey Department of Human Services (NJ DHS), Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) will conduct surveillance of adolescent health behaviors and risk factors through the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) in New Jersey (i.e., the New Jersey Student Health Survey [NJSHS]) and the New Jersey School Health Profiles (Profiles) to examine the need to improve adolescent health and mental health, reduce risk factors, adverse childhood experiences and substance use, and to target interventions that address these needs for adolescents in NJ. The NJSHS includes questions for high school students on alcohol use, tobacco use, drug use, sexual behavior, violence, bullying, suicide, and general student health behaviors. Comparison of NJ specific data to national data and trend data showing increases and decreases in risky behavior over time, helps to identify problem behaviors to address. The Profiles assist NJ agencies to monitor and assess characteristics of bullying prevention, mental health, chronic illness, health education, nutrition, physical education and physical activity, professional development, school connectedness, school organization to guide health policy, sexual health, and tobacco prevention. Project outcomes are awareness of and NJ’s understanding of short-term and long-term trends of youth risk behaviors and experiences and school health policies and practices by education and public health agencies. To support survey administration, DMHAS will establish a YRBS coalition consisting of stakeholders from NJ State Departments, organizations with an interest in adolescent health and well-being, parents, and students. Eight traditional Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) questions will be added to the NJSHS with input of the YRBS Coalition. DMHAS will partner with Montclair University, Center for Research and Evaluation on Education and Human Services to conduct the NJSHS among a scientifically-selected sample of all public-school students in grades 9 through 12 and the Profiles among all public middle schools and high schools in NJ according to survey administration procedures outlined in the YRBS and Profiles Handbooks. DMHAS will disseminate data from the NJSHS and Profiles though data tables, fact sheets, and summary reports to its stakeholder listserv that includes mental health and substance use disorder provider, advocacy and professional agencies, and government agencies. Information will also be available for download on the DMHAS website and will be highlighted across various social media outlets. Reports on priority health risk behaviors and school health policies and practices will help to target interventions, establish funding priorities, and support development of State, local and school health policies and practices that will reduce priority health risk behaviors among youth.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
