National Youth Volunteering & Civic Engagement Survey

YVCES-1P(L)
(8-2008)

DC

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration

U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, DC 20233-0001
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR

A while ago, you or a member of your household participated in the Current Population Survey, which
provides information about a number of important issues including unemployment in the United States.
We thank you for your time and cooperation.
Now I am writing to ask for your help with a one-time voluntary survey that the U.S. Census Bureau is
conducting within the next 3 months, called the National Youth Volunteering and Civic Engagement
Survey. The survey is sponsored by the Corporation for National and Community Service. We would
like to conduct a short telephone interview with [insert name of child] about his or her participation in
volunteering activities and other kinds of community involvement. Whether your child has volunteered a
lot, a little, or not at all, his or her answers are crucial to providing a complete picture of youth
engagement and designing programs that make community involvement attractive and meaningful to
young people.
We understand that parents or guardians might have some concerns regarding their child’s participation.
We guarantee that all responses are confidential and will be used only for statistical purposes. Data
from this survey will be released only as statistics and will not be linked with your child’s name or any
other identifying information. The interviewers are trained professionals, sworn to protect the
confidentiality of the data, and many have children of their own.
Some parents of teenagers participating in the study are more comfortable if the interviewer is the same
sex as their child. Some parents feel more comfortable scheduling the interview at a time convenient for
both the parent and the child. You are welcome to contact us to make these types of arrangements or
to discuss any questions you may have regarding this survey. Please let us know if your phone number
has changed within the last year or two. Please call us at 1-877-749-4943 between the hours of 9 a.m.
and 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, or 11 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Sunday. If you do call, please have this
letter available, since it includes important information that will help interviewers with your call.
Because your child’s participation is so important, we have enclosed a $20 ATM debit card for your
child as a way of showing our gratitude. The back of this letter provides you and your child with
information about the survey, the types of questions we will ask in the interview, and information about
using the debit card.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Sincerely,

Steve H. Murdock
Director

USCENSUSBUREAU
Helping You Make Informed Decisions

www.census.gov

National Youth Volunteering and Civic Engagement Survey
Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS)?
The CNCS is an independent federal agency under the Office of the President that was
established by the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993. Its mission is to improve
lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering.
Each year, CNCS provides opportunities for about 2 million Americans of all ages and
backgrounds to serve through Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America. We
invite you to learn more about this organization by visiting our Web site at
.
What Will My Child’s Answers Be Used For?
The information collected through this survey will be used by CNCS and others to better
understand how and why young people participate in their community through service, and
results will be published in a series of reports. To see how results from previous surveys have
been used, see the Youth Helping American Series at .
What Confidential Protection Does My Child Have?
The Census Bureau is conducting this survey under the authority of Title 13, United States Code,
Section 8. Section 9 of this law requires that all information can only be used for statistical
purposes. Every Census Bureau employee takes an oath and is subject to a prison sentence, a
fine of up to $250,000, or both, if he or she discloses any personal information.
Why can’t you contact somebody else’s child?
We are asking for your help instead of calling another household because we can reduce costs
and save time. By returning to people who participated in the Current Population Survey, we will
save tax dollars and collect better information because, through a sample process, we can select
a group in advance that represents the diverse population of the United States. We hope you will
encourage your child to participate in this voluntary survey.
How Does My Child Receive $20 for Participating in Your Survey?
After completing the survey, our interviewer will give your child the 4-digit personal identification
number. You can then take this card to any ATM and withdraw $20. If the card is lost or
damaged, please call 1-877-749-4943.
What if I Have Comments About This Survey?
We estimate this survey will take between 10 and 20 minutes. Please send any comments about
this time estimate or any other aspect of this survey to Paperwork Project 0607-0913, U.S.
Census Bureau, 4600 Silver Hill Road, AMSD & 3K138, Washington, DC 20233. You may e-mail
comments to Paperwork@census.gov; use “Paperwork Project 0607-0913” as the subject. The
approval number from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is 0607-0913 and will expire
on December 31, 2009. Without this approval from the OMB, the Census Bureau could not
conduct this survey.

YVCES-1P(L) (8-2008)