Oklahoma Prevention Needs Assessment Survey
Passive Consent Parent Letter
January 16, 2024
Dear Parent or Guardian:
The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services is conducting an
important survey on student behaviors and beliefs. The survey is called the Oklahoma
Prevention Needs Assessment (OPNA) Student Survey and is being conducted by a company
under a contract with the State of Oklahoma. Students in 6th grade, 8th grade, 10th grade, and
12th grade are set to take this survey on February 1st during their English class.
The purpose of the survey is to gather information needed to plan prevention and intervention
programs in our community and schools. These programs will address problems of alcohol,
tobacco, and other drug use, school dropout, delinquency, violence, and other problem
behaviors in our schools and communities.
The survey is entirely anonymous and confidential. Students will not include their names or any
other identifying information. All results from the survey will be presented only in group summary form, like many opinion polls.
The survey asks questions about behaviors students or students’ friends may or may not have
done. It is important to remember the survey is anonymous, so no student’s response will ever
be able to be connected with that student. For the survey, students will be asked to respond to
questions such as “How wrong do you think it is for someone your age to pick a fight with
someone at school? Which of the following activities for people your age are available in your
community? On how many occasions (if any) have you used marijuana in the past 30 days? If
you skipped school, would you be caught by your parents?”
Your child’s participation in the survey is completely voluntary. Each child will be given the option of leaving blank any question that he or she prefers not to answer. You may decline to have your child participate if you wish. Please remember this survey offers your child the opportunity to share his or her confidential opinions on very important issues being faced by our youth today. If you do decline, your son or daughter will be allowed to read or participate in some other alternative activity while his or her classmates are taking the survey.
If you have any questions regarding the OPNA or your child’s participation, please contact
Heath Hayes, with the ODMHSAS, at 405-315-2079 or Heath.Hayes@odmhsas.org. Please let
the school know only if you do not wish your son or daughter to participate in the study. You may do this by sending a short letter requesting your child not participate, signing it, and returning it to the high school office by January 24th . Feel free to call the high school office if you have any other questions about this important study.
Sincerely,
PC-H Administration
580-532-4241 Ext 225