On Tuesday, February 4th, Jean Vazza, Youth Services Coordinator for the Town of Hopkinton, and Bruce Elliott, Hopkinton Wellness Subject Matter Leader, presented the 2012 Metrowest Adolescent Health Survey to the Hopkinton Community. The survey has been ongoing since 2006 with funding by the Metrowest Health Foundation, and is given to all middle and high school students across the Metrowest region. The survey is voluntary and anonymous and includes some 25 communities representing approximately 40,000 students. This survey was administered in November of 2012.
The presentation uncovered the risk behaviors that the Hopkinton students are in need for intervention, and allows for comparison of the data against Metrowest, Massachusetts, and the United States. The data reveals improvements in areas such as alcohol abuse and school attachment. It also made known the need for improvement in areas like marijuana use, cyber-bullying, and mental health.
Plans for programs to support improvements in the identified areas and the overall health of Hopkinton’s youth are being coordinated by Hopkinton Administration, HPS Wellness Department, HPS Guidance Departments, the Wellness Committee, the School Safety Committee, the Hopkinton Youth Commission, the School Resource Officer, and parents.