Healthy Youth Development

Best Practices Index

Childhood and adolescence is a time of great change. During school years and early adulthood, people form the physical, cognitive, emotional and social foundations that will shape the rest of their lives. We want to insure that children and youth have access to the resources they need to develop in healthy ways. School supports healthy youth development through academic instruction and interaction with adults and peers. Therefore measures of student’s behaviors and experiences in the school environment can serve as indicators of youth development.

The Healthy Youth Survey^[1] is conducted across Washington State schools every two years. The participation rate for each of the grades surveyed was between 49% and 66%. This participation level suggests that the results may be representative of the larger student body.

Highlights of the Healthy Youth Survey 2006

King County 6^th Graders reported the following behaviors and attitudes:

Behavior / Attitude	King County	WA State
Smoking cigarettes in the past 30 days	1.3%	1.9%
Drinking alcohol in the past 30 days	3.6%	4.3%
Using marijuana or hashish in the past 30 days	1.8%	1.5%
Carrying a weapon at school in the past 30 days	2.7%	2.6%
Being bullied in the past 30 days	28.8%	31.6%
Enjoyed being in school over the past year	54.8%	54.3%
Feeling safe at school	88.6%	88.6%

King County 8^th Graders reported the following behaviors and attitudes:

Behavior / Attitude	King County	WA State
Smoking cigarettes in the past 30 days	4.6%	6.4%
Drinking alcohol in the past 30 days	12.5%	15.4%
Using marijuana or hashish in the past 30 days	5.8%	7.0%
Carrying a weapon at school in the past 30 days	5.3%	5.5%
Being bullied in the past 30 days	25.7%	27.2%
Enjoyed being in school over the past year	47.0%	47.2%
Feeling safe at school	83.4%	81.6%

King County 10th Graders reported the following behaviors and attitudes:

Behavior / Attitude	King County	WA State
Smoking cigarettes in the past 30 days	12.2%	14.9%
Drinking alcohol in the past 30 days	29.9%	32.8%
Using marijuana or hashish in the past 30 days	17.1%	18.3%
Carrying a weapon at school in the past 30 days	6.8%	9.3%
Being bullied in the past 30 days	21.9%	23.3%
Enjoyed being in school over the past year	41.5%	41.3%
Feeling safe at school	83.5%	77.4%

King County 12^th Graders reported the following behaviors and attitudes:

Behavior / Attitude	King County	WA State
Smoking cigarettes in the past 30 days	16.6%	20.0%
Drinking alcohol in the past 30 days	40.0%	42.1%
Using marijuana or hashish in the past 30 days	20.0%	21.6%
Carrying a weapon at school in the past 30 days	5.6%	9.2%
Being bullied in the past 30 days	12.7%	15.6%
Enjoyed being in school over the past year	39.7%	39.5%
Feeling safe at school	83.7%	81.4%

Source: 2006 Healthy Youth Survey, RMC Research Corporation, Portland

Read about risk and protective factors
Return to Youth & Families Page

^[1] 2006 Healthy Youth Survey, RMC Research Corporation, Portland, OR Sponsored by OSPI, Department of Health, DSHS, DCTED and the Family Policy Council

2007 - United Way of King County - Questions and Comments?