Youth Risk Screening Tools
Screening Tools + Technology
Helps you identify and reduce risks in 3 simple steps:
- Screening: comprehensive screening tools tailored by age for the most relevant risks, reading level, and brain development.
- Discussion: health education based on behavior change methodology shown to be most effective at reducing youth risk.
- Results: real-time reporting to track everything from risk behaviors and outcomes at the individual level to risk trends and needs across an entire youth population.
TELL-TALK-VENT is a set of 3 evidence-based, standardized risk screening tools for youth starting at age 8. These tools are used to support professionals in reducing the risks that contribute most to youth health and wellbeing.
TELL-TALK-VENT (TTV) checks all the essential boxes:
Each screener has a maximum of 18 questions and youth complete the screening in less than 5 minutes.
Plus, with its digital format, questions are grouped by risk category and may be used in part or in total.
WHO are TTV for
WHAT Tell-Talk-Vent screening tools include
4 Risk Categories
Mental Health questions cover depression, suicidality, anxiety, bullying, and discrimination
Substance Use questions ask about alcohol, binge drinking, nicotine & tobacco, marijuana, vaping, and misuse of prescription drugs
Sexual Health & Development questions cover body image, sexual activity, use of condoms/birth control, substance use prior to sex, sexting, and partner violence
Protective Factors include questions about adult support and positive peer relationships
HOW are professionals supported in addressing risk?
After youth complete the screener, professionals are prompted with ACTion protocols for next steps.
And additionally guided to implement one or more evidence-based brief interventions that have been proven to be effective in reducing youth risk, including coaching strategies such as:
- Reflections on question responses
- A menu of options for reducing risk
- Affirmations to increase self-efficacy
- Customizable resources
The Tell-Talk-Vent screening tools address all of the key screening recommendations from these leading professional organizations:
“It has opened the doors to conversations about what students may be struggling with and finding resources for the student to utilize at that time.”
21 Questions
5 Minutes
6 Risk Categories
- Diet & Exercise
- Substance Use
- Depression & Suicide
- Violence & Safety
- Sexual Health
- Unintentional Injury
RAAPS Content
Licensing RAAPS content gives you access to all versions of RAAPS in both PDF and Word format. You also receive:
- Professional Support (Coaching Tips and our Out and Healthy LGBTQ Support Guide)
- Youth Health Messages
- Parent Resources
- Office Resources (sample privacy/confidentiality statement, workflow guidance, and office posters)
Organizations can review results of an individual youth over time by storing completed screenings in the EHR or patient file. EHR “alerts” can serve as a reminder for annual screening and risk coaching.
RAAPS Technology
With the all-in-one cloud-based system, youth complete the screening on any device with internet access. Unique benefits include audio options to increase health literacy and an interface developed with youth-input to maximize engagement and honesty.
RAAPS technology also automatically provides tailored health education and recommended national resources to youth based on the risks identified. Top risks are highlighted in the “at-a-glance” dashboard enabling professionals to easily identify key topics for follow-up discussion. Integrated tools ensure quick referrals, electronic documentation and tracking for care coordination.
Interested in addressing social determinants of health (SDOH)? RAAPS-PH uncovers chronic exposure to social and environmental stressors (such as hunger, homelessness, teen pregnancy, and discrimination) that threaten healthy brain, cognitive, and social-emotional development.
"Organized in a way that is easy to review and counsel on risk behaviors. Online version allows for tracking to be used for future needs screenings and targeting adolescents for group discussions."
"I used to dread coming up with a way to discuss at risk behaviors. The RAAPS gives me a way to not only bring it up, but identify risky behaviors that warrant intervention."
"RAAPS makes discussing sensitive subjects less embarrassing for patients and staff. It also ensures that no risk areas are left un-screened."
Expert Recommended
RAAPS has been recognized by several leading health organizations for use as a clinical tool for adolescent risk screening.
Marrying technology and science, Adolescent Counseling Technologies ( (ACT) acts as a virtual health educator, delivering behavioral health interventions specific to sexual health or nicotine and tobacco use. On a tablet, smartphone or other technology, teens respond to a set of questions that identify risk factors and receive interactive, tailored, evidence-based counseling for safer behaviors.
ACT Includes 3 Critical Components:
1. Screening of Risk & Behaviors
2. Tailored Risk Coaching & Action Plan
3. Continued Engagement via Text
ACT for Sexual Health (ACT-SH)
Adolescent Counseling Technologies for Sexual Health (ACT-SH) identifies sexual health risk behaviors resulting in high incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancy, in addition to risk factors contributing to unsafe sexual decision making. Youth receive a greater understanding of their own sexual risk behaviors, potential outcomes, and an opening for discussing their sexual behaviors and experiences.
ACT-SH works with professionals to quickly meet sexual health screening requirements by providing standardized, evidence-based screening and risk counseling in just 7 minutes.
ACT for Nicotine & Tobacco (ACT-NT)
Adolescent Counseling Technologies for Nicotine and Tobacco (ACT-NT) identifies which nicotine products a youth is using, how often and why. Identifying what triggers nicotine usage (peer influence, stress, addiction) and what might motivate them to make a change is critical in providing a tailored, effective action plan to quit.
Developed with funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), ACT-NT was created to provide an engaging platform for youth while ensuring quality, evidence-based cessation coaching that works with professionals—as a stand-alone tool or with professional discussion—optimizing their time to properly address nicotine and tobacco risk.
How ACT Works
On a tablet, smartphone or other technology, teens respond to a set of questions that identify risk factors. Through the module, users participate in interactive, tailored, evidence-based counseling for safer sexual behaviors or decreased nicotine or tobacco use.
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Identified youth login and complete the ACT screening and tailored health education |
Youth responses create:
Youth Dashboard
- Summary of responses
- Behavior change action plan
- Health messages
- Customized referral sources
Professional Dashboard
- Youth risk summary
- Behavior change action plan
- Health Messages
- Customized referral sources
- Screening alerts
Text Messages for Youth
- Reminders of steps to achieve behavior change plan
- Tailored health messages related to identified behaviors
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