1. Addressing School Attendance in the Middle Circuit Judge Tom C. Rawlings Judge, Juvenile Courts Middle Judicial Circuit Sandersville, GA (478) 553-0012 tom@sandersville.net

2. Georgia’s Middle Judicial Circuit Five “Persistent Poverty” Counties in East Central Georgia Five “Persistent Poverty” Counties in East Central Georgia Poverty rates > 20% over a Poverty rates > 20% over a 40-year period 40-year period Not within any Metropolitan Statistical Area Not within any Metropolitan Statistical Area 2,300 square miles with 100,000 residents 2,300 square miles with 100,000 residents

3. Why do students miss school? Parenting Issues Parenting Issues Domestic violence Domestic violence Abuse/Neglect Abuse/Neglect Substance abuse Substance abuse Child in control Child in control “School’s not important” “School’s not important” Mental Health Issues Mental Health Issues A Need for services (student having to work to provide for family members) A Need for services (student having to work to provide for family members) Sick Parent/Grandparent Sick Parent/Grandparent Lack of Food/Clothing Lack of Food/Clothing Because students are absent for a variety of reasons, these issues must be addressed in a team approach by teachers, counselors and social workers. Because students are absent for a variety of reasons, these issues must be addressed in a team approach by teachers, counselors and social workers.

4. Why Worry About Truancy? "Truancy is our first best flag that a kid will enter the juvenile justice system." --Ken Seeley, who is studying the effectiveness of seven truancy-reduction programs for the U.S. Justice Department.

5. History of Our Truancy Project

6. BASIC IDEA: ADDRESS TRUANCY WITH A TEAM APPROACH USING RESOURCES OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, THE COURT, DJJ, DFCS, MENTAL HEALTH, AND OTHER AGENCIES BASIC IDEA: ADDRESS TRUANCY WITH A TEAM APPROACH USING RESOURCES OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, THE COURT, DJJ, DFCS, MENTAL HEALTH, AND OTHER AGENCIES 2002-2003: Began Attendance Protocol 2002-2003: Began Attendance Protocol 2003-2004: 2 nd year 2003-2004: 2 nd year Fewer Unexcused Absences More Excuses Turned In To School 2004-2005: Added Tardy/Early Release 2004-2005: Added Tardy/Early ReleaseProtocol

7. 2004-2005 Attendance Protocol (Emanuel County) 1-5 Unexcused Absences: 1-5 Unexcused Absences: Teacher Intervention: Phone/Notes 5 Unexcused Absences: 5 Unexcused Absences: Counselor Intervention: Phone/Letters/ SST/IEP/Agency Referral 7 Unexcused Absences: 7 Unexcused Absences: Social Worker Intervention Truancy Court Referral

8. Tardy/Early Check-Out Protocol 3 Unexcused Tardies or Early Check-Outs Or any combination of the two would be equivalent to “One Unexcused Absence”.

9. Public Relations is Key Beginning of school year: run newspaper articles, television and radio spots reminding parents and children of the truancy court and of the schools’ new policies on attendance Beginning of school year: run newspaper articles, television and radio spots reminding parents and children of the truancy court and of the schools’ new policies on attendance Beginning of school year: “Cattle Call” Truancy Calendar with all “problem” students from prior year. Covered by local paper and radio. Beginning of school year: “Cattle Call” Truancy Calendar with all “problem” students from prior year. Covered by local paper and radio. Throughout school year: Judge, DA, DJJ workers, etc. speak to students and parents at school assemblies about the potential penalties for absenteeism. Throughout school year: Judge, DA, DJJ workers, etc. speak to students and parents at school assemblies about the potential penalties for absenteeism.

10. Referred to Truancy Court DJJ sends “invitation” Shows Court makes preliminary determination and addresses issue Child 12 or Older: Child At Fault? Child Under 11 or 12: Parental Fault? Truancy Court Procedure No Shows Court makes preliminary determination: Summons filed or divert

11. Interventions: Preliminary Verbal Warning Verbal Warning Warning Letter Warning Letter Warning Letter Warning Letter Holding Complaint in Abeyance Holding Complaint in Abeyance

12. Interventions: Parental Fault DFCS Referral DFCS Referral Protective Order Protective Order Parenting Classes Parenting Classes Family Connections (counseling) Family Connections (counseling) Community Resources Community Resources Fines Fines Incarceration (2 nd & 3 rd offenses) Incarceration (2 nd & 3 rd offenses) Care Partners Referral (Intensive Family Intervention Program) Care Partners Referral (Intensive Family Intervention Program)

13. Interventions: Child at Fault DJJ Referral DJJ Referral Informal Adjustment (DJJ) Informal Adjustment (DJJ) Care Partners Referral (Intensive Family Intervention Program Care Partners Referral (Intensive Family Intervention Program Saturday School Saturday School Mental Health Services Mental Health Services Sunshine House CAC Referral Sunshine House CAC Referral Referral to other Community Resources Referral to other Community Resources Court Order to Ride Bus Court Order to Ride Bus Probation Probation Community Service Community Service (Last Resort) Detention (Last Resort) Detention

14. Interventions: “No-Fault” Medical Problems Medical Problems Involve School Nurse Involve School Nurse Check with Doctors Check with Doctors Can Medicines or Treatment Be Given at School? Can Medicines or Treatment Be Given at School? Is Hospital Homebound Necessary? Is Hospital Homebound Necessary? Do Special Arrangements Need to Be Made? Do Special Arrangements Need to Be Made? Improving Communication Between School and Family Improving Communication Between School and Family

15. Tightening the Vise If Parent continues to be responsible for child’s failure to attend or tardiness, If Parent continues to be responsible for child’s failure to attend or tardiness, Citation for Contempt issued. Citation for Contempt issued. Parent brought before Court and Parent brought before Court and Fined Fined Jailed Jailed Ordered to Do Community Service Ordered to Do Community Service Ordered to Take Parenting Classes Ordered to Take Parenting Classes Child Placed in Foster Care Child Placed in Foster Care Last Resort: Referral to State Court Last Resort: Referral to State Court

16. Tightening the Vise If Child continues to be responsible for child’s failure to attend or tardiness, If Child continues to be responsible for child’s failure to attend or tardiness, Petition Filed Petition Filed Child Placed on Probation and: Child Placed on Probation and: Community Service Ordered Community Service Ordered Other Obligations Ordered Other Obligations Ordered Privileges Taken Away Privileges Taken Away Repeat Violations = Stronger Measures Repeat Violations = Stronger Measures Last Resort: Detention Last Resort: Detention

17. EMANUEL COUNTY SCHOOLS DATA 2003-2004: (Still using 2002-2003 Protocol. No tardy/check-out protocol ) 2003-2004: (Still using 2002-2003 Protocol. No tardy/check-out protocol ) Tracked: 114 Tracked: 114 Referred to Juvenile Court: 106 Referred to Juvenile Court: 106 2 nd Appearance: 2 2 nd Appearance: 2 3 rd Appearance: 1 3 rd Appearance: 1 Protective Orders: 25 Protective Orders: 25 Child Protective Services Referral: 28 Child Protective Services Referral: 28 Informal Adjustment (DJJ): 34 Informal Adjustment (DJJ): 34 Parent Incarcerated: 2 Parent Incarcerated: 2 Student Detained: 1 (violation of probation) Student Detained: 1 (violation of probation) Withdrew/X-fer Adult Ed/Home School/Other Systems: 13 Withdrew/X-fer Adult Ed/Home School/Other Systems: 13 Referral to Care Partners/Ogeechee Mental Health C & A Services: 6 Referral to Care Partners/Ogeechee Mental Health C & A Services: 6

18. EMANUEL COUNTY SCHOOLS DATA 2004-2005 2004-2005 Tracked: 168 Tracked: 168 Referred to Juvenile Court: 133 Referred to Juvenile Court: 133 2 nd Appearance: 3 2 nd Appearance: 3 3 rd Appearance: 1 3 rd Appearance: 1 Parenting Classes: 8 Parenting Classes: 8 Protective Orders: 80 Protective Orders: 80 DFCS Referrals: 16 DFCS Referrals: 16 Probation/Informal Adj: 43 Probation/Informal Adj: 43 Parent Incarcerated: 3 Parent Incarcerated: 3

19. Bottom Line: What does the Juvenile Court Bring to the Table? 1. The Teddy Roosevelt Factor The Bully Pulpit The Bully Pulpit Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick Fear and Loathing in _________. Fear and Loathing in _________. Parents Fear DFCS, and Children Fear DJJ, and they All Fear the Court Parents Fear DFCS, and Children Fear DJJ, and they All Fear the Court 1. “Don’t Make Me Stop this Car!” Never Underestimate the Power of a Bluff Never Underestimate the Power of a Bluff 2. Real Pain for a Few Examples Missed Work, Missed Activities, Stress and Trouble Missed Work, Missed Activities, Stress and Trouble