Community Youth Development - The Teen Assessment Project (TAP)

What was the Teen Assessment Project (TAP)?

TAP was a multifaceted community-based research, education, and coalition building program. Using a 160 - item survey customized by the community, TAP measured teen concerns, attitudes and behaviors both positive and problematic. Results were shared to increase community awareness and knowledge of teen issues and help communities collaborate to support positive youth development and address areas needing attention. TAP set a baseline from which to evaluate local efforts.

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Making Effective Use of NH Youth and Family Data

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How Did TAP Work?

Coalition Building
TAP started by forming a coalition that brought together
  • Youth
  • Parents
  • School Personnel
  • The Spiritual Community
  • Youth and Family Serving Agencies
  • Law Enforcement
  • Community Leaders
  • Local Businesses
  • Counselors
  • Health Care Professionals
  • Youth Workers
  • Prevention Specialists
  • Policy Makers
  • Anyone interested in supporting youth, etc.
Youth Survey Development and Administration
TAP involved surveying youth in grades 7 - 12. The local steering committee customized and administered a 160-item survey about topics such as:
  • Academic Success and Aspirations
  • Use of Time
  • Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Abuse
  • Sexuality Issues
  • Health, Safety and Youth Violence
  • Peer Relationships
  • Family Relationships and Values
  • Parental and Neighborhood Monitoring
  • Perceptions of School and Community
  • Diversity and Perceived Discrimination
A youth resource card was developed which includes phone numbers to local and national resources. It was offered as a resource to youth when they complete the survey.

Youth, Parent, School, and Community Educational Efforts
  1. Local data were shared in youth, parent and/or community forums and with the media.
  2. A comprehensive report "Tapping Into Teen Concerns, Perceptions and Behavior" shared the survey results with members of the community.
  3. A "Who’s Kids?...Our Kids!" newsletter series was developed based on local results and mailed to parents.

    • Newsletter topics include:
      • Parent-Teen Communication
      • Teen Use of Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs
      • Teen Sexuality
      • Teen Depression and Suicide
      • Parent-Teen Relationships
      • Working Together: Youth, Parents, Schools, Communities

  4. Youth, parent and community educational programs were held on newsletter topics and other issues of interest.
  5. Information was shared through the UNHCE website and county extension office webpages.
Youth, Parent, School, and Community Response Plans
The community coalition decided on goals, strategies and action plans to address youth issues. Some coalitions conducted a formal strategic planning process identifying vision, mission, values, stategies and action plans. Some examples of response plans include:
  • Press conferences to share TAP data with the community
  • School assemblies to share TAP data with youth
  • Distributing TAP comprehensive reports to public libraries, town offices, agencies, youth organizations, police departments, and hospitals
  • Mailing TAP parent newsletters to parents of youth in grades 7-12, 5-12 or 1-12
  • Holding educational and discussion forums on youth issue topics
  • Conducting a strategic planning process to identify coalition vision, mission, value set, strategies and action plans
  • Writing grants to support established goals
  • Adding staff
  • Enhancing curriculum
  • Changing policies
  • Starting after school programs or teen centers
  • Opening a teen health center
  • Forming partnerships to accomplish shared goals
  • Establishing a formal coalition to continue to address youth issues
Evaluating TAP Impact
The impacts of the Teen Assessment Project were evaluated in the following areas:
  • Educational Efforts
  • Funding
  • Program and Policy Changes
  • Changes in Attitudes and Behaviors
  • Community Collaborations
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What Has TAP Done?

TAP has been conducted in many school district regions throughout New Hampshire. These groups have put TAP survey results to work in numerous ways. TAP has helped by:
  • Mobilizing communities to address youth and family issues
  • Increasing collaboration among youth, families, schools and community groups
  • Providing a portrait of youth behaviors and perceptions by surveying students in grades 7 - 12
  • Documenting risk and protective factors
  • Providing a vehicle for education and action
  • Stimulating program and policy changes
  • Promoting changes in attitudes and behaviors
  • Helping communities secure funding for local initiatives
  • Setting a baseline from which to evaluate program impacts
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Statewide Data and Impacts

Statewide Data Top of page
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How did TAP make a difference?

TAP Results have been Used to Educate the Public:

TAP has reached 25,006 youth in 21 different school districts/regions representing 96 communities. Adolescent data sharing and related programs have reached 1,425 youth and 20,325 adults. Results from a survey of parents in one school district show 62% to 84% of high school parents increased their knowledge of various youth issues, such as parent/teen communication, alcohol and drugs, sexuality and depression and suicide.

TAP Results Have Helped Secure Funding:
TAP also provided documentation that enabled communities to receive funding for local initiatives. To date, over $10.5 million has been received in the form of grants and awards to complete TAP in communities throughout the state and to initiate new programs as well as enhance existing programs. Examples include: a teen health center, suicide prevention work, additional school personnel, after-school programs, teen centers, educational efforts, coalition development and the establishment of two multi-community databases. Additional grants have been secured by agencies and schools to decrease risky behavior and increase supports for youth.

TAP Results Have Stimulated Program and Policy Changes:
TAP has stimulated changes in programs and policies throughout the communities it has served. For example, schools have used the results in classrooms to stimulate discussion, to make curriculum revisions, to create additional guidance positions and to establish new school policies. The results have also been used by organizations and agencies to secure the funding for new youth programs and centers as well as youth service staff positions.

TAP Results Have Led to Changes in Attitudes and Behavior:
In a survey of parents in one school district, 51% to 70% of the parents of high school students reported the newsletter series helped to increase parent-teen communication, depending on the issue being discussed. Issues included parent-teen communication, sexuality issues, substance abuse, depression and suicide, discipline and setting limits and parent-teen decision-making. Reports show 81% of parents felt encouraged to share their own opinions about risky behavior with their teens, 35% increased parental monitoring and 46% wanted to become involved with others in the community to address teen issues.

TAP Results Build and Strengthen Partnerships and Collaboration:
TAP has developed and/or strengthened collaborative efforts with state level agencies, organizations and departments; and university departments. Locally, TAP has brought together youth, parents, school personnel; health service providers; the business community; the spiritual community; youth workers, prevention specialists, law enforcement and grassroots organizations supporting youth, strengthening families, and building strong communities. Relationships with all of these groups have been strengthened on a local and state-wide basis to better assess the needs of New Hampshire's youth. These collaborations help mobilize resources to help build protective factors and reduce risk factors at the youth, family and community levels.

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Communities & School Districts TAP Reports & Parent Newsletters Top of page


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