DEPARTMENT: Social Services-Children & Family Services
FILE TYPE: Regular Information
TITLE
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Update On Truancy Reduction Program
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Receive an update on the Truancy Reduction Program.
SUMMARY
Children ages twelve to seventeen are referred for truancy reduction services once they have seven unexcused absences. (Families of children under the age of twelve are referred for Educational Neglect assessment and services.) The Dakota County Truancy Program is a Child Welfare Response which began with the 2017-2018 school year. The Dakota County Truancy program is unique in that staff uses a model common to Social Work Practice called "Family Systems Theory". Intervention is focused on student and family underlying needs versus a school-only model. School attendance can be influenced by many factors, including behavioral health, bullying, learning disabilities, family isolation, language barriers, and transportation barriers.
The assigned social worker meets with the family and school to assess barriers and together a school attendance plan is developed. If the student successfully meets attendance criteria within 90 days (90% attendance for 45 school days) the referral will be closed. If the student's family is open to another case management service within the Social Services or Community Corrections departments, the attendance concern is transferred to the assigned case manager to address.
Dakota County Social Services offers the following online resources:
* Attendance Works documents
* Notification and referral letters (English, Spanish, Somali)
* Online referral user guide
* Educational neglect reporting form
* Sample student assistance/diversion plan
* Truancy and educational neglect brochures
* Truancy online referral guide
OUTCOMES
2022 - 2023:
* 325 youth referred
* 285 youth assigned
* 59 percent of referred youth were youth of color (African American, Native American, Latinx, Asian)
* 76 percent of youth served in t...
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