Life Chances for Youth in Albany and Rensselaer Counties

Hello, this is ________ calling from the Siena College Research Institute. We’re speaking confidentially
to area residents today about issues concerning young people in your community. No one will try to sell
you anything.

This survey is part of a Community-Based Research class here at Siena College. It should only take
about 10 minutes to complete.

1. Many things may have changed in society, things including technology, culture and the economy,
recently, or since you were a teenager. Do you think it is easier today for teens to successfully
move into adulthood, harder or is it about the same as when you were a teen? [accept, I am a
teenager as a response category]

Thinking about the future of young people in your neighborhood or area where you live, for each of the
following life events, how likely do you think it is that a typical young person in your neighborhood will
experience each of the following, is it almost certain, very likely, a toss up, not very likely, or not at all likely
for each of the following? [ROTATE]
2. Graduate from high school
3. Attend college
4. Get a job with opportunities for advancement
5. Get a full-time job with benefits
6. Own their own home
7. Have access to good quality health care
8. Enjoy a life better for them than it was for their parents
9. Get arrested for a felony
10. Have an incarcerated family member
11. Be in a gang
12. Abuse drugs or alcohol
13. Drop out of high school
14. Have access to a quality public education

As you consider each of the following aspects of our culture or the way we live today, indicate whether
that aspect of culture today improves the life chances of young people, worsens their life chances or has
no effect on their life chances. (ROTATE)
15. The music that young people listen to.
16. The quality of the education provided to young people in public school.
17. The changing American family that today may include single parents or families in which all adults
work full time
18. The widespread use of technology including smart phones and social media platforms
19. The quality of the food we eat.

Now thinking specifically about the issues young people face in your neighborhood or area where you
live, for each of the following please tell me how significant a need there is for young people in your
neighborhood or area where you live (very significant, somewhat significant, not very significant, not at all
significant) ROTATE
20. Having a safe place for teens to go after school
21. Preparing teens for the workforce
22. Preparing teens for college
 23. Having good role models in your community
24. Having access to healthy food options
25. Having access to programs that promote physical activity
26. Having resources outside of school to get help with academics

Please consider the following list of items that may or may not be included as part of an after-school
program for young people. Please tell me how important you think each one is to include as part of an
after-school program (very important, somewhat important, not very important, not at all important).
ROTATE
28. Free meals
29. Recreational opportunities
30. Access to the internet
31. Help with homework
32. A place to hang out with friends
33. Education on living a healthy lifestyle
34. Flexible hours that include staying open past 6pm on weekdays

35. Now, from the list I just read, which one would you say is the SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT item to
include in an after-school program?

How good a job do you think community youth programs such as the Boys and Girls Club, the YMCA,
Boy Scouts, or Girl Scouts do at each of the following: excellent, good, fair, or poor? ROTATE
36. Improving students’ academic performance
37. Improving students’ attendance at school
38. Providing a safe environment for young people to go when they are not in school
39. Providing programs that young people enjoy
40. Preventing alcohol or drug abuse
41. Encouraging physical activity
42. Meeting the needs of local parents

43. How familiar are you with the Boys and Girls Club in your community?
a. Very Familiar
b. Somewhat Familiar
c. Not Very Familiar
d. Not At All Familiar

DEMOS
Children in HH
Income
Race
single/dual parent HH
Gender
urban/suburban/rural
Age
Been to bgc?
Child attended bgc?
How long lived in area
Education level
Employment status
Political party
Marital status