truancy never sleeps
DESCRIPTION
Truancy Never Sleeps. Utilizing Family Group Decision Making in the Beaver County Truancy Intervention Program. Presented by: Damon Neal, Beaver County Juvenile Services Division Dave Clark and Tom Linko, Beaver County Children and Youth Services. INTRODUCTION:. Who we are - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Truancy Never Sleeps
Utilizing Family Group Decision Making in the Beaver County Truancy Intervention ProgramPresented by:
Damon Neal, Beaver County Juvenile Services DivisionDave Clark and Tom Linko, Beaver County Children and Youth Services
INTRODUCTION:• Who we are
• Icebreaker (Expectations)
• The Evolution of Family Group Decision Making (FGDM) in Beaver County
• A Brief History of the Truancy Intervention Program (TIP)
• The Model Program: Merging TIP with FGDM
• Closing Remarks and Q & A
PA TRUANCY ROUNDTABLE RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. Collaboration
2. Enhanced school culture around education
3. Prevention and early intervention
4. Creative partnerships which utilize data to inform decisions
5. Building sustainable resources
BEAVER COUNTY TRUANCY ROUNDTABLE TIMELINE:
• 2008 –Development of Truancy Roundtable (stakeholders): Barriers/Successes
• Committee Stakeholders: a. Dependency Judge John Dohanich b. Juvenile Services Division c. Children and Youth Services d. Beaver County school administrative members e. Beaver County social service providers representatives
• Nov. 2009 – Truancy sub-committee develops TIP Pilot Program
• April 2010 – Initial TIP program launches
BEAVER COUNTY TRUANCY ROUNDTABLE TIMELINE:
• October 2011 - All County In-Service for school districts
• November 2011 - TIP program approved to expand to all county school districts
• February 2012- Countywide Truancy Summit/Truancy Protocol Committee was formed
BEAVER COUNTY TRUANCY ROUNDTABLE TIMELINE:
• May 2012-Composed of representatives of all fourteen Beaver County school districts
• Meets on a bi-yearly basis.
• Barriers: lack of involvement
• Successes: May 2013 Beaver County Truancy Protocol was developed
PROGRAM OVERVIEW (6-11 years old)
• After 10th unexcused absence, student referred to TIP
• After TIP assessment, family may be referred to the Family Group Decision Making Program
• Should truancy continue, the school may file private complaint with local Magistrate, or make a referral to Children and Youth Services
PROGRAM OVERVIEW (12-17 years old)
• After 10th unexcused absence student is referred to the Truancy Intervention Program (TIP)
• School attendance conference scheduled with family, school and TIP coordinators
• TIP coordinators will make assessment provide service referrals as needed
• If student reaches maximum unlawful absences, school may file private complaint with local Magistrate.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW (COURT PROCEDURES)
• TIP coordinators will attend all truancy hearings in the county
• Magisterial District Justice (MDJ) may order the family to the truancy education class in lieu of paying a fine
PROGRAM OVERVIEW (COURT CONT’D)
• MDJ may continue cases to verify attendance to TIP class as well as current attendance
• MDJ may either dismiss a case or sanction student and/or parent(s)
• MDJ may refer chronic truancy cases, in the 13-17 age group, to Juvenile Services Truancy Abatement Program
PROGRAM OVERVIEW - ECOSYSTEM
CHILDREN & YOUTH CPS/FGDM MODEL:
• Developed by Tim Penrod/Randy Grover
• Implemented by Beaver County Children and Youth Services and Beaver County Juvenile Services Division since 2006
• Families must be accepted cases to participate
• Used as a casework tool for case openings and closures
BEAVER COUNTY TIP MODEL:
• Adapted from the Penrod/Grover model
• Family group meetings are 1-2 hours length
• Truancy FGDM frequency: once with at least one follow up offered
• Bottom line concern: “to ensure the child attends school consistently and on a daily basis” (can be CPS FGDM if needed)
BEAVER COUNTY TIP MODEL:
• Strength-based: yes
• Voluntary participation
• Conferences are typically scheduled within 14 days
• Family plan outlines actions steps to ensure consistent school attendance
• Plan takes the place of Truancy Elimination Plan (TEP) and the Family Service Plan (FSP)
ADVANTAGES OF THE TIP MODELVS. CPS MODEL:
• early intervention
• strength based family focused
• increased family engagement
• interagency collaboration
• Does not need to be open CYS/JSD case
SUCCESS STORIES
• FGDM Family Plan Example 1 (child)
• FGDM Family Plan Example 2 (Teen)
• FGDM 1st Follow-up (Teen)
• FGDM 2nd Follow-up (Teen)
FGDM IMPLEMENTATION: DATA
• FGDM USE WITH THE BCTIP
a. FGDM implementation 2012
b. FGDM implementation 2013-14
c. Total program statistics 2011-13
CLOSING REMARKS
• General Group Discussion • Q&A• Future Growth