Each year, TAC conducts its Annual Peer Environmental Scan—a youth-designed survey created to gather real-time feedback from Knox County teens about the issues they are experiencing right now. This survey helps identify what topics are most relevant to youth, where support is needed, and how TAC can make the biggest impact.

While TAC used existing data like the PRIDE Survey, members noticed that certain topics important to today’s teens—like anxiety, peer pressure, bullying, relationship pressure, family connectedness, and social image—weren’t fully captured. In response, TAC created the Peer Environmental Scan in 2019 to close this gap and ensure youth voices lead prevention efforts.

TAC members use the data from the Peer Environmental Scan to:

• Design prevention programs and events that reflect what teens are actually facing

• Shape their Youth-Driven Strategic Plan based on needs identified by their peers

• Develop activities, campaigns, and educational resources that are relevant and impactful

• Support grant applications and funding for youth-led initiatives

• Share findings with schools, community leaders, and the public

Without this youth-driven data, TAC would not be able to create programming that truly speaks to and supports Knox County youth.

• TAC shares both county-wide results and school-specific data with school administrators and preventionist to guide prevention programming.

• Data is also shared across TAC’s social media, podcast, and youth-focused marketing materials to raise awareness and spark conversations.

• TAC members personally distribute the survey within their spheres of influence, using direct peer sharing methods such as text and group messaging.

• The survey reaches students from every high school in Knox County—ensuring full representation.

• Schools are invited to support TAC by helping distribute the survey, boosting participation, and deepening its impact.

TAC is counts on their peers support and the support of local schools to help implement this survey. Their participation ensures that the data collected truly represents the students’ experiences—and directly shapes prevention efforts in your school and across Knox County.