About the Ottawa County YAS

YAS is a locally developed teen survey since 2005.

Prior to 2005, there wasn’t a consistent or reliable way to find out about the needs and strengths of teens within the county. Several organizations recognized this gap and worked together to review existing surveys already considered valid and reliable. From that review, a survey tool was developed specifically for Ottawa County that could also be responsive to future needs of local teens.

The YAS provides evidence-based information about what the biggest needs are (and aren’t) among Ottawa County teens.

• Gives parents/guardians information they may use to guide their teens in becoming physically, emotionally and mentally healthy adults.
• Helps faith communities, local agencies and schools focus their efforts on the most pressing and prevalent issues teens face.
• Helps evaluate the effectiveness of interventions developed to address pressing and prevalent teen issues.
• Provides the option for school systems to have their own results to compare with Ottawa County as a whole. Schools and parents/guardians may then make evidence-based decisions about how to address their student body’s unique needs.
• Organizations and community members may request an additional analysis that is suited to fit their needs.

YAS Committee:

• Leigh Moerdyke, Arbor Circle
• Liz DeLaLuz, United Way of Ottawa and Allegan Counties
• Stephanie VanDerKooi — Chair, Lakeshore Regional Entity
• Stacey Sills, Ottawa Area Intermediate School District
• Derel Glashower, Ottawa County Department of Public Health
• Lisa Uganski, Ottawa County Department of Public Health