Student Welfare Social Services Multidisciplinary Approach Dr Cary

Student Welfare & Social Services Multidisciplinary Approach Dr. Cary Grant Director of Student Welfare and Social Services January 21, 2016

High Levels of Chronic Absence are Found in Urban, Suburban and Rural Communities Nationwide an estimated 5 million to 7. 5 million students are chronically absent each year In some school districts, as many as one in four students are chronically absent. This is not just a high school problem. Low-income students are four times more likely to be chronically absent than their middle class peers. Chronic absence occurs even when the absences occur sporadically throughout the year. 2

Truancy is the First Indicator that a Young Person is Giving Up According to the US Department of Education, when young people start skipping school, they are telling their parents, school officials, and the community at large that they are in trouble and need of our help if they are to keep moving forward in life. 3

Truancy Is One of the Top Ten Major Problems Among Juveniles in the United States • Early indicator and gateway to crime • Cost to society and to the individual is substantial • Truant girls are significantly more likely to become pregnant dropouts who are dependent on public assistance • Educational neglect is often a pattern perpetrated through multiple generations of family members 4

Each Day of Absence in Ninth Grade is Associated with a Dramatically Reduced Likelihood of Graduating (Johns Hopkins University) • • 0 -4 days out - 87% chance of graduating 5 -9 days out - 63% chance of graduating 10 -14 days out - 41% chance of graduating 15 -19 days out - 21% chance of graduating 20 -24 days out - 9% chance of graduating 25 -29 days out - 5% chance of graduating 30 -34 days out - 2% chance of graduating 35 -40 days out - 1% chance of graduating 5

School Social Workers are the Link Between Home, School and Community Promoting and Supporting Students’ Academic and Social Success • Direct with community resources • Crisis prevention and intervention • Collaborate with parents • Case management for students and families requiring multiple needs • Advocate for new and improved community/school services • Interpret school law and school policy 6

HCS Student Welfare and Social Services Dr. Cary Grant (Director) Homebound Services Pam Palmer (Administrative Assistant Social Workers Connie Baer MSW Jim Christopher, History Patricia Mc. Kellery BSW Julian Johnson, Science Patricia Corbitt MSW Leigh Ann Mize, English Audrey Bailey MSW Arianna Fencl, Math Erroyl Foster Student Support Specialist Stephanie Jefferson, Special Ed Helen Drake Student Support Specialist Social Work internship Students Michael Kersjes Military Liasion Celina Tintori M. S. Bilingual 7

HCS Provides Diverse Resources to Intervene with At-Risk Students Student Welfare Specialist The Winning Foundation Mentoring Program Alabama Association of Prevention Attendance and Support Services Parent Education Support Juvenile Court Referee Student Welfare intervention efforts to assist students and schools with Attendance Family Involvement home visits 211 Services Equity cultural responsive education Military Liaison Homebound Teachers Attendance Policies and Regulations School Social Worker Problem Solving Teams Weekly Attendance Monitoring 8

Alabama Has a Compulsory Attendance Law § Section 16 -28 -13: Every child between the ages of six and 17 years shall be required to attend a public school, private school, church school or be instructed by a competent private tutor for the entire length of the school term in every scholastic year § Section 16 -28 -12: Requires that any parent/guardian who enrolls a student in school be responsible for the students’ regular attendance and proper conduct. It also provides that a parent may be fined $100. 00 and receive up to 90 days in jail. § Section 12 -15 -15: Parent may be fined $500. 00 and receive up to one year of hard labor if convicted of parental neglect; contributing to the delinquency of a minor; or if the child is found to be a child in NEED OF SUPERVISION. They may also be 9 required to pay restitution to the B. O. E

HCS Uses Progressive Intervention for Truant Students Petition Level 7 -10 AU Juvenile Court Referee District Level 3 rd-5 TH AU (Phone call, letter, home-visit, Conference, Alignment of Resources and Early Warning Court School level intervention (Phone call from school to parent after 1 st and 2 nd Absence, referral to Student Services after 3 rd AU 10

HCS Collaborates with Madison County Truancy Court • Communication and collaboration in a strength-based problem solving arena • Identification of the problem/intervention • Accountability (students/school/family) • Knowledge of truancy laws • Resolution • Truancy Reduction 11

HCS Student Welfare and Social Services was Actively Involved in Student Intervention During the 2014 -15 School Year • • • Phone Calls Home Visits School Visits Probation Conferences Services for Parents Early Warnings Served Truancy Court Cases Juvenile Court Cases Other Contact Referrals from schools 9, 841 701 1, 058 900 742 1, 413 162 63 7, 386 4, 733 12