Youth Risk Behavior Survey, Iowa Youth Survey, and School Health Profiles
Program Overview
Created in 2019, the Iowa Youth Health Assessment Program originally administered three surveys related to student health. Together these surveys provided necessary data for state and community stakeholders to make data-driven funding, policy and program decisions. The surveys are: the Iowa Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), Iowa Youth Survey (IYS), and School Health Profiles.
Iowa will not participate in the 2023 Iowa YRBS. The 2023 Iowa Youth Survey will be administered in Fall 2023. Iowa will participate in the 2024 School Health Profiles in the Spring.
Administered every two years, the Iowa Youth Survey and the Youth Risk Behavior Survey are the most frequently used sources of data on key behaviors impacting youth health in Iowa. Data are used at the school, county, state, and national levels to inform policy and funding, to develop program strategy, and for surveillance and research purposes.
Questions? Please contact us at iowayouthsurvey@idph.iowa.gov
Data for Health Equity
The Iowa Youth Health Assessment Program is committed to promoting health equity by collecting, stratifying and disseminating data that identify disparities, help set priorities and contribute to improved health outcomes for young people living in Iowa. Please see YRBS and IYS data reports for current information on health disparities experienced by subpopulations of Iowa youth.
Iowa Youth Survey (IYS)
What is the Iowa Youth Survey?
Every two years, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) partners with Iowa school districts to administer the Iowa Youth Survey (IYS). The IYS is an important source of data on adolescent health behaviors and experiences. For decades, Iowa schools and parents have supported participation in the IYS. Hundreds of thousands of Iowa adolescents have shared information on their health-related experiences.
The 2023 Iowa Youth Survey will take place September 25 – November 3, 2023.
2023-2024 Iowa Public School District Directory
2022-2023 Non-Public School Directory
2023 IYS Administrative Packet Cover Letter
2023 IYS Administrative Instructions & Script for Schools
2023 IYS Administrative Checklist for Schools
2023 IYS Superintendents’ Notice
2023 Parental Consent Form (English)
2023 Parental Consent Form (Spanish)
2023 Parental Consent Fulfillment Attestation Form
2023 IYS Questionnaire—6th grade (English)
2023 IYS Questionnaire—6th grade (Spanish)
2023 IYS Questionnaire—8th & 11th grades (English)
2023 IYS Questionnaire—8th & 11th grades (Spanish)
Please direct questions about the Iowa Youth Survey to iowayouthsurvey@idph.iowa.gov.
To access past years’ reports of the all resources related to the Iowa Youth Survey, go to the Iowa Youth Survey program web page.
Released March 2022: 2021 Iowa Youth Survey Special Topics Report: Mental Health Findings
Special Report: Mental Health Disparities Among Youth in Iowa: Analysis of the Iowa Youth Survey (2014, 2016, 2018) (published January 2021)
Find Reports as they become available here:
Released February 2023:
2021 Iowa Youth Risk Behavior Survey Summary Tables—Weighted Data
2021 Iowa Youth Risk Behavior Survey 10 Year Trend Analysis Report
Released April 2022:
2021 Iowa Youth Survey State Report pages 1-155
2021 Iowa Youth Survey State Report page 156-330
Released March 2022:
2021 Iowa Youth Survey Special Topics Report: Mental Health Findings
Iowa Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS)
What is the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS)?
The Youth Risk Behavior Survey is a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funded project that was developed in 1990 to monitor a selection of youth health behaviors that contribute to the leading causes of death and disability. These behaviors are often developed during childhood and adolescence. The Iowa Youth Risk Behavior Survey is administered to 9th through 12th grade students in a randomly selected sample of Iowa high schools in odd calendar years. The YRBS assists the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services with understanding youth behaviors that relate to:
- Injuries
- Violence
- Mental Health and Suicide
- Unintended Pregnancy
- Sexually Transmitted Infections (Including HIV)
- Alcohol and Drug Use
- Tobacco Use
- Dietary Behaviors
- Physical Activity
- Obesity
- Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) (2021 only)
After multiple years of being administered by the Iowa Department of Education, the survey became incorporated into the work of the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services Bureau of Public Health Performance in 2018. As of February 2023, Iowa will not participate in the 2023 Iowa YRBS. Please direct questions to marisa.roseberry@iowa.idph.gov
2021 YRBS
Data from the 2021 Iowa Youth Risk Behavior Survey can be found below.
Summary Tables - Weighted Data
Additional reports available upon request.
2019 YRBS
A video report of the 2019 Iowa Youth Risk Behavior Survey can be viewed at the Iowa HHS YouTube channel.
National YRBS and states data from 2021 can be found through the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System webpage.
Where can I find more information about the Iowa Youth Risk Behavior Survey?
More information can be found on the CDC's webpage here.
Iowa School Health Profiles
What is the School Health Profiles (Profiles)?
The School Health Profiles (Profiles) is a system of surveys assessing school health policies and practices. Profiles surveys are conducted biennially, in the spring of even numbered years, among middle and high school principals and lead health education teachers. Profiles monitors the current status of:
• School health education requirements and content
• Physical education and physical activity
• Practices related to bullying and sexual harassment
• School health policies related to tobacco-use prevention and nutrition
• School-based health services
• Family engagement and community involvement
• School health coordination
2022 Iowa School Health Profile Data Reports:
The 2022 Iowa School Health Profiles reports can be found below. The data is weighted to be representative of Iowa public school districts across the state.
2022 Iowa School Health Profiles: Weighted Lead Health Education Teacher Survey Results
2022 Iowa School Health Profiles: Weighted Principal Survey Results