2026 Los Angeles County Health Survey Frequently Asked Questions


Q: What is this survey about?

A: The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has conducted the Los Angeles County Health Survey since 1997 to collect information about the health of County residents.  There is an adult survey and a child survey. Your family may be invited to take one or both surveys.


Q: Why was I contacted/selected? Why did I receive a letter/postcard?

A: We randomly selected your address from all residential addresses in Los Angeles County. By taking the survey, you represent your community.


Q: What kinds of questions do you ask?

A: The survey asks questions about your health, your child’s health (if applicable), and your community. Topics in the adult survey include physical and mental health, health conditions, health behaviors (such as physical activity or fruit and vegetable consumption), access to healthcare, health insurance, neighborhood safety, and more. Topics in the child survey include children’s health behaviors, health care access, health conditions, child care arrangements, and more.


Q: Are my answers going to be kept private? What will you do with my information?

A: Yes, we will keep your answers private. After the study, we will combine all survey answers and analyze them together, which means no single person’s answers will be reported. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health will not sell your information. We are working with RTI International to do this survey. They will use your contact information only to contact you to complete the survey and send your incentive payment. We will keep your contact information separate from your survey answers.


Q: How long is this survey?

A: On average, people complete the adult survey in about 30 minutes and complete the child survey in about 20 minutes. You do not have to finish it all at once. You may answer a few questions at a time over several days, whenever it’s a good time for you. 


Q: How will you use this information?

A: The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health will use survey answers from all respondents to learn about health needs in the county. They use this information to plan programs that help improve the health and wellbeing of county residents.


Q: I’m in good health. Do I have to participate in this survey?

A:  The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health wants to hear from many different people in the county. This includes people who are healthy or not, and people of different races, ethnicities, genders, ages, insurance statuses, and employment statuses.


Q: Can I volunteer to participate? Can someone I know participate in the study?

A: Thank you for your interest in taking the survey. Right now, only people contacted by RTI International for the Department of Public Health can take part. If you get a letter about the survey, your household can participate.