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Youth Civic Health Survey

The Y is partnering with the National Conference on Citizenship (NCoC) to collect responses from young people around the country as part of our Youth Civic Health Survey.

NCoC has worked at the community, state, and national levels to document the health of civic life in America through Civic Health Index (CHI) reports. The data for the Civic Health Index is taken from the Civic Engagement and Volunteerism Supplement of the Current Population Survey (CPS) administered by the US Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Youth Civic Health Survey is inspired by the Civic Health Index, consisting of demographic questions and indicators adapted from the Current Population Survey.

If you or a parent/guardian have additional questions about the survey, download our Letter to Parents/Families, as well as view the full list of Youth Civic Health Survey Indicators (PDF).

Survey Agreement
By completing this survey, you consent to sharing your responses with both the YMCA of the USA (The Y) as well as the National Conference on Citizenship (NCoC) as part of our annual Youth Civic Health Survey. 

No personal or contact information will be collected beyond basic demographic data, and all survey responses will be kept anonymous.

Demographic Questions




You may choose one or more, however many apply to you.



Participant Type
If your state and/or school are not listed, please send an email to derek.summerville@ymca.net









Do you participate in YMCA Youth and Government?

Is this your pre-participation survey (beginning of the year) or your post-participation survey (after you've participated in Youth and Government for the year).
Question 1 - Talking to and Spending Time with Family and Friends
In the past 12 months, how often did you talk to or spend time with friends and family?
Question 2 - Discussing Various Issues with Family and Friends
In the past 12 months, how often did you discuss political, societal, or local issues with friends or family?
Question 3 - Talking to and Spending Time with Neighbors
In the past 12 months, how often did you have a conversation or spend time with your neighbors?
Question 4 - Discussing Various Issues with Neighbors
In the past 12 months, how often did you discuss political, societal, or local issues with your neighbors?
Question 5 - Doing Favors for Neighbors
In the past 12 months, how often did you/your household and your neighbors do favors for each other such as lawn/property maintenance, house sitting, babysitting, lending tools, and other things to help each other.
Question 6 - Doing Something Positive for the Neighborhood
In the past 12 months, did you get together with other people from your neighborhood to do something positive for your neighborhood or the community?
Question 7 - Interacting with Different Racial, Ethnic, or Cultural Backgrounds
In the past 12 months, how often did you talk to or spend time with people from a racial, ethnic, or cultural background that is different than yours? This may have been in person, over the phone, or through the internet or social media. 
Question 8 - Posting About Various Issues on Social Media
In the past 12 months, how often did you post your views about political, societal, or local issues on the internet or social media?
Question 9 - Reading, Watching, or Listening to News
In the past 12 months, how often did you read, watch or listen to news or information about political, societal, or local issues?
Question 10 - Attending Public Meetings
In the past 12 months, did you attend a public meeting, such as a city council, school board, or zoning board meeting, to discuss a local issue?
Question 11 - Contacting a Public Official
In the past 12 months, did you contact or visit a public official – at any level of government – to express your opinion?
Question 12 - Choosing Services Based on Social or Political Values of Companies
In the past 12 months, did you buy or boycott products or services based on the political values or business practices of that company?
Question 13 - Voter Registration
States have different laws for how old you must be to register to vote. When you are old enough (or if you're already old enough), do you plan to register vote?
Question 14 - Voting
Once you are old enough, do you plan on voting in the first election you are able to vote in?
Question 15 - Belonging to Groups
In the past 12 months, did you belong to any groups, organizations, or associations in your school or community (clubs, teams, houses of worship, causes, etc.)?
Question 16 - Number of Groups
How many groups, organizations, or associations in your school or community would you say you have belonged to over the past 12 months? (Respond with a number, ex: 0, 1, 2, 5, etc.)
Type only a number
Question 17 - Volunteering
In the past 12 months, did you spend any time volunteering for any organization or association?
Question 18 - How Often You Volunteer
How often did you volunteer?
Question 19 - Volunteering Hours in a Year
In the past 12 months, approximately how many hours (total over the entire 12 months) did you volunteer? (Respond with only a number, ex: 10, 25, 55, 100, etc.)
Type only a number
Question 20 - Addressing an Issue in Your School or Community
If you wanted to help address an issue or problem in your school or community, how prepared would you feel to: