Student Health and Risk Prevention Surveillance System

The Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (NDHHS) coordinate the administration of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), Youth Tobacco Survey (YTS), and Nebraska Risk and Protective Factor Student Survey (NRPFSS).  

The Student Health And Risk Prevention (SHARP) Surveillance System is the umbrella uniting these three surveys. The Bureau of Sociological Research (BOSR) manages the SHARP surveys on behalf of NDE and NDHHS. All three surveys are administered in the fall of odd calendar years. 

The next SHARP administration is scheduled for fall of 2025. 

For more information, please contact:

Bureau of Sociological Research (BOSR)
sharp@unl.edu 
402-472-3672

Summary of the Project

Development of SHARP Administration

SHARP was pulled together by the Nebraska Department of Education and Department of Health and Human Services in 2010. The project is made up of three independent state-run student survey projects. The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), the Youth Tobacco Survey (YTS), and the Nebraska Risk and Protective Factors Student Survey (NRPFSS) are administered to Nebraskan schools in the fall of odd years.

See the Development Process

Benefits to Schools

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A summary for schools asked to participate in a SHARP administration.

See School Information

Benefits to Stakeholders

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A summary for stakeholders interested in using SHARP data.

See Stakeholder Information

A Quick Summary of SHARP

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A shortened summary of the SHARP project's surveys.

See the Summary Document

Student Resources

The three SHARP surveys address several sensitive topics, including addiction, sexual activity, and mental well-being. The following is a list of resources that teachers, parents, and students can utilize should the need arise for any of the survey topics.

Check out Student Resources

Endorsements of SHARP

The data produced by the SHARP system supports a wide array of agencies and programs across the state. Information from these surveys have supported grant applications and program development within school systems and government alike.

Check out SHARP's Endorsements

Frequently Asked Questions

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The YRBS, YTS, and NRPFSS are an assortment of overlapping surveys administered in the fall semester of odd years. Schools are randomly selected for YRBS and YTS eligibility, while NRPFSS is open to all Nebraskan schools. Students are recruited at the school level to maintain anonymity.

See the FAQ

Other Reports

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Occasionally, other projects evaluate or assess the SHARP system and its associated surveys.

The following document is an evaluation of the SHARP project through focus groups and interviews. This project was conducted in the spring/summer of 2017. The project highlighted four benefits to participation (students reflecting, district-level data, YRBS and YTS state-level reports, flexible fall administrations), and six barriers (demands on class time, surveys over 20 minutes, paper-pencil only administration, lack of direction with data, data takes too long to process, questions of student honesty).

This information provided BOSR, NDE, and NDHHS the opportunity to revise the SHARP administration and create a more effective surveillance structure.

See the Evaluation Report

The Surveys

YRBS

The Youth Risk Behavior Survey is a random sample survey assessment for grades 9 through 12. 

Check Out the Survey!

YTS

The Youth Tobacco Survey is a random sample survey assessment for grades 9 through 12.

Check Out the Survey!

NRPFSS

The Nebraska Risk and Protective Factor Student Survey is a census survey assessment of grades 8, 10, and 12.

Check out the Survey!