Kern County Truancy Reduction Program

Kern County Truancy Reduction Program
Working to improve school atttendance, increase academic performance, and strengthen families.

Overview

Referral Steps

Program Highlights

People are talking about TRP

1995-96 Summary of Findings

Referral Steps

1. Student displays behavior of concern.

2. Student is referred to the school's Student Assistance Team and linked to school-based services.

3. Student and family are referred, if necessary, to outside services, including a multi-disciplinary team composed of representatives of several agencies.

4. If truancy persists, Student Assistance Team may refer the student to the Truancy Reduction Program.

5. Probation officer reviews the case and begins intervention.

For more information, call Daryl G. Thiesen, prevention programs coordinator, Kern County Superintendent of Schools Office, at (805) 636-4757; fax (805) 6363-4135; or E-mail: dathiesen@fc.kern.org.

Program Highlights

The majority of "graduates" of the Truancy Reduction Program are no longer truant.

The program is tailored to each community's and district's needs.

Truancy officers use resources at Neighborhood Partnership and Healthy Start sites.

Probation officers often become a "big brother" or a "big sister" to students.

Truancy officer frequently join forces with Department of Human Services caseworkers. Monitoring follow-up and interagency cooperation help contribute to the program's success.

People are talking about TRP

"We believe that the Kern County program offers many valuable ideas and strategies for our nationwide audience."

-- Department of Education official

"We call them (probation officers) and ask for help sometimes."

-- Michael Warren, parent

"Truancy is a community problem -- one which we all must seek to eliminate through available community resources and parental cooperation."

-- Paul Adams, deputy probation officer, Kern County Probation Department

"We feel that the program helps stop truant behavior at an early stage and allows us to send the message to parents about the importance of being in school."

-- Daryl G. Thiesen, prevention programs coordinator, Superintendent of Schools Office

School and Community Partnerships

Overview Referral Steps Program Highlights People are talking about TRP 1995-96 Summary of Findings		Referral Steps 1. Student displays behavior of concern. 2. Student is referred to the school's Student Assistance Team and linked to school-based services. 3. Student and family are referred, if necessary, to outside services, including a multi-disciplinary team composed of representatives of several agencies. 4. If truancy persists, Student Assistance Team may refer the student to the Truancy Reduction Program. 5. Probation officer reviews the case and begins intervention. For more information, call Daryl G. Thiesen, prevention programs coordinator, Kern County Superintendent of Schools Office, at (805) 636-4757; fax (805) 6363-4135; or E-mail: dathiesen@fc.kern.org. Program Highlights The majority of "graduates" of the Truancy Reduction Program are no longer truant. The program is tailored to each community's and district's needs. Truancy officers use resources at Neighborhood Partnership and Healthy Start sites. Probation officers often become a "big brother" or a "big sister" to students. Truancy officer frequently join forces with Department of Human Services caseworkers. Monitoring follow-up and interagency cooperation help contribute to the program's success. People are talking about TRP "We believe that the Kern County program offers many valuable ideas and strategies for our nationwide audience." -- Department of Education official "We call them (probation officers) and ask for help sometimes." -- Michael Warren, parent "Truancy is a community problem -- one which we all must seek to eliminate through available community resources and parental cooperation." -- Paul Adams, deputy probation officer, Kern County Probation Department "We feel that the program helps stop truant behavior at an early stage and allows us to send the message to parents about the importance of being in school." -- Daryl G. Thiesen, prevention programs coordinator, Superintendent of Schools Office