FWSN-advisorybd-repo.. - The Connecticut Juvenile Justice Alliance

E. Other programs include:
Mediation Programs where parents are invited to a mediation session after parental
notifications fail to improve their children’s attendance. A trained mediator (volunteers,
employees of the court or nonprofit mediation centers) conducts a mediation, which is
attended by the student’s parent and teacher. During the mediation session, the
participants identify the reasons for truancy and work to reach an agreement on a plan of
action. The school is responsible for any follow-up.
School/Community Teams which can consist of a school social worker/counselor, a
prosecutor, a police or probation officer, and/or an educational assistant, meet with the
parent and child. The team works together to identify root causes for truancy and create a
contract for school attendance. Contracts are signed by both the student and parent.
Referrals to social service agencies are made when necessary. The team intensely
monitors the student’s attendance as well as other conditions of the contract.
Truancy Centers where truant students are taken by police officers to central locations staffed by
police, Board of Education school safety officers and attendance teachers, and staffers from the
District Attorney's Office. When parents pick up a student, they are given a letter advising them of
their obligations as parents to ensure their children's regular school attendance. Parents whose
children are chronic truants may be asked to attend a meeting with program staffers for information
about their duties under the law. Parents are also provided with information about local community
service agencies which specialize in assisting families.
Attorney/Mentor Projects that are used when a truancy petition is filed at court. A
volunteer attorney is assigned to the case. The attorney represents the child at court on
all truancy-related hearings. S/he is also responsible for building a positive relationship
with the child. The attorney continues to advocate for the child after court involvement is
over.
Parent Education and Involvement Programs where parents learn and practice
identification, prevention, and intervention strategies through parent information forums
or parent conferences. Parents also attend support groups where they receive emotional
and practical support and practice implementing newly acquired skills and techniques.
Case Management where highly trained truancy case managers facilitate in-school case
management. Participating schools utilize mental health services, counseling, substance
abuse treatment, and tutoring to keep children in school.
Truancy Court which is held at the school where a judge or non-judicial officer, who is
acting in either an official or ex officio role, presides. When a problem is identified, the
Truancy Court, school administrators and guidance counselors do whatever it takes to
solve the problem. They arrange for testing, counseling and offer any other services
available to the student. In some school districts, schools have hired tutors to help
students. The students’ guidance counselors or truancy case managers inform the court of
a student’s weekly progress.
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