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