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

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

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

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

9. Alabama Has a Compulsory Attendance Law
Section : 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 : 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 $ and receive up to 90 days in jail.
Section : Parent may be fined $ 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 required to pay restitution to the B.O.E

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

11. 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

12. HCS Student Welfare and Social Services was Actively Involved in Student Intervention During the School Year
Phone Calls ,841
Home Visits
School Visits ,058
Probation Conferences
Services for Parents
Early Warnings Served ,413
Truancy Court Cases
Juvenile Court Cases
Other Contact ,386
Referrals from schools ,733