Understanding Youth Data in Marquette County

The Marquette County Cares Coalition (MC²) partnered with local schools to administer the Communities That Care (CTC) Youth Survey to students in 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th grades across Marquette County.

This anonymous survey asks students about their experiences, behaviors, and environments related to school, mental health, substance use, and overall well-being. In 2025, over 1,700 students participated, providing a strong and reliable snapshot of youth experiences in our community.

WHY WE DO THIS

Prevention works best when it

is data-driven.

The CTC Youth Survey helps us move beyond assumptions and understand what young people in our community are actually experiencing. The survey is based on decades of research showing that certain risk factors increase the likelihood of challenges like substance use, poor mental health, and school disengagement, while protective factors help youth thrive.

By measuring these factors locally, we:

identify areas where youth may need more support
recognize strengths already present in our community
select strategies that are proven to make a difference

HOW DATA
IS USED

Depressive symptoms remain a key concern for youth across grade levels

Connection to school continues to impact student success and well-being

Perception of risk continues to
drive substance use behavior

Substance use continues
to trend downward (2020-2025)

E-cigarette use is decreasing

Low commitment to school continues to impact student success and engagement

1838

Students Surveyed

2025 Trends

The Youth Survey is one part of a larger process called Communities That Care (CTC), a research-based prevention framework used across the country.

Our Coalition

reviews survey results alongside other data sources
conducts a community resource assessment to understand what programs already exist
identifies gaps and opportunities
develops a Community Action Plan to guide prevention efforts

This ensures that our work is not random or reactive

local data. real voices. informed action.

The 2025
CTC Youth Survey

The 2025 Youth Survey helped us identify both areas of strength and opportunities for growth in Marquette County

25/26 COMMUNITY ASSESMENT REPORT

25/26 COMMUNITY RESOURCE REPORT

2025 CTC YOUTH SURVEY

2023 CTC YOUTH SURVEY

Priority Areas for Action

Based on the data, the coalition identified the following

Risk Factors (areas we want to reduce)

Low Commitment to School
Depressive Symptoms
Low Perceived Risk of Drug Use

Protective Factors (areas we want to strengthen)

Opportunities for Prosocial Involvement
Rewards for Prosocial Involvement

These factors were selected because they are strongly linked to youth outcomes and represent meaningful opportunities to improve well-being across our community.