2/11/2026
Dear Parent or Guardian:
The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) is conducting an important survey on student behaviors and beliefs. The survey is called the Oklahoma Prevention Needs Assessment (OPNA) Survey. Your child is set to take this survey during Explore class on February 26th, 2026.
The purpose of the survey is to gather information needed to plan prevention and intervention programs in our community and schools. These programs will address problems of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use, school dropout, delinquency, violence, mental health, and other issues in our schools and communities. Information will also help judge the effectiveness of current prevention and intervention efforts. The survey instrument is available at https://oklahoma.gov/odmhsas/prevention/schools/opna.html. I also have a copy of the survey instrument at the school office if you wish to stop by and review it.
The survey is entirely anonymous and confidential. Students will not include their names or any other identifying information. All results from the survey will be presented only in group summary form.
The survey asks questions about behaviors students or students’ friends may or may not have done. It is important to remember the survey is anonymous, so no student’s response will ever be able to be connected with that student. For the survey, students will be asked to respond to questions such as “How wrong do you think it is for someone your age to pick a fight with someone?” “Now thinking back over the past year in school, how often did you enjoy being in school?” “How many times (if any) have you had alcohol (beer, wine, liquor, or another drink containing alcohol) to drink in the past 30 days?” “Do you share your thoughts and feelings with at least one of your parents/guardians?”
Your child’s participation in the survey is completely voluntary. Each child will be given the option of skipping any question that he or she prefers not to answer. You may decline to have your child participate if you wish. Please remember this survey offers your child the opportunity to share his or her confidential opinions on very important issues being faced by our youth today. If you do decline, your son or daughter will be allowed to read or participate in some other alternative activity while his or her classmates are taking the survey.
If you have any questions for the ODMHSAS regarding the OPNA Survey, please contact the OPNA Survey Coordinator at 405-615-4287 or OPNA@odmhsas.org.
Please let me know only if you do not wish your son or daughter to participate in the study. You may do this by contacting the school in writing at least two school days before the survey requesting your child not participate. (For example, contact the school in writing by Wednesday for a survey to be given on Friday.) Feel free to contact Sarah Ellington, District OPNA Coordinator and Prevention Services Coordinator at sellington@collinsville.k12.ok.us if you have any other questions about this important study.
Sincerely,
Chris Bilyeu
Wilson 6th Grade Center Principal
