Truancy – The Next Generation

A Structured Court Intake Approach

The service/need gap – court point of view

Current court methods.

Typical truancy case flow.

Meeting the needs of truant student and family.

Identifying the cause of the truancy.

The Problem

Therapeutic v. correctional model

Start with – a truancy court intake system

Create the link between the school/student/court

First step – try and identify the specific need

Assist the family/student to access information and services

Make court orders that address this student

The solution

Truancy: the unapproved absence from school

Signs of Truancy Consequences of Truancy Enforcement: School/Attendance

Board/Court Typical Truancy Court Hearing Deficiencies in court process and outcome Sanctions

Enforcing truancy laws.

Family justice services intake model

First point of access

Court counselors identify causes of student’s truancy

Role of intake personnel and triage

Type of court intake services

Role of judges and accountability

Problem solving and neutrality of the court

Finding an Effective Approach

Costs and resources

Court intake model and agency collaboration

Conclusion