The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) is a national surveillance tool developed by the CDC to monitor the leading causes of adolescent morbidity and mortality. Conducted biennially nationwide since 1991, the YRBS tracks behaviors related to injury, substance use, diet, physical activity, violence, sexual health, and more.

In Cuyahoga County, the YRBS has been administered since 1995 and is now conducted annually—surveying grades 7–8 in even years and grades 9–12 in odd years. In 2008, the project became part of a broader community surveillance strategy under the Adolescent Health and Youth Development Hub, which grounds its work in local data to inform policy and practice.

Tailored to reflect local priorities, the Cleveland-Cuyahoga YRBS follows CDC protocols, enabling reliable comparisons with state and national trends. This local-level data is essential for understanding youth health behaviors and shaping effective, evidence-based interventions across schools and communities.