Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s),

The Northshore School District has a long-standing commitment to student health and wellness. As a district we are dedicated to equity, safety, families, building on the strengths of students, providing support, and addressing the needs of the whole child. Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral To services (SBIRT), is a beneficial care model that will be used to more effectively identify and address the needs of middle school students through the use of a survey tool called Check Yourself.

“Check Yourself” is a survey platform for students to share about their experience(s). Participation is completely voluntary and students have the option to opt themselves out of the survey, at any time. Students will be educated on the purpose of SBIRT and understand a counselor may meet with them to review survey answers and provide personalized support(s). The tool is HIPPA compliant and collects individual student data to provide them with instant personalized feedback. Altogether, the survey is a short self-assessment of strengths and goals; substance use; mental health; and personal safety. It is an interactive survey that removes the barriers associated with addressing challenges and normalizes dialogue regarding health.

Your student’s privacy is important to us. Your student’s responses to the Check Yourself Tool will reside on secure servers through Tickit Health. The Northshore School District has a data-sharing agreement with Tickit Health to ensure that the answers your student gives will only be viewed by the school counseling team and SBIRT support staff. Researchers at the University of Washington and King County will only have access to survey data that omits student names, student numbers and any other identifying information.

The information that we collect will be reviewed by the school-based support team. If, through the screening process, your student displays a need for support, you will be contacted to discuss support options.Students are always given the opportunity to decide whether or not to participate in the screening process, through the use of the assessment tool called the Check Yourself. As a parent or guardian you may choose to not have the survey offered to your student. If you would like to opt-out your student’s participation in the SBIRT Program, it is required that the opt-out form must be submitted online or to your school's counselors.