1. Truancy Prevention and Intervention
The Family and Youth Service Center
“Removing Obstacles and Providing Options”

2. It is a statistical fact that truancy is the first indicator of potential juvenile delinquency. It is also the first opportunity to intervene and avoid future criminal behavior.
A child in school is not committing crime and is less likely to be a victim of crime.
Education is the key to a child’s future and holds a promise for the family that the child will one day have.

3. Community Meetings
Community meetings were held throughout East Baton Rouge Parish in an effort to form an answer to rising juvenile crime.
A consensus was reached that resulted in a multi-faceted systemic approach to address juvenile crime and the difficulties faced by our youth.
It was determined that the most efficient method of delivering the services needed to combat the problems associated with truancy was a “one-stop shop”.
The “one-stop shop” was named the Family and Youth Service Center. “Family” is the first word through purposeful reflection.

4. One-Stop Shop
During the school year the four major partners of the Family and Youth Service Center developed, and began implementing, policies and procedures creating a collaborative effort to systemically address truancy and the challenges faced by the youth of East Baton Rouge Parish.
The four major partners were, and continue to be,
East Baton Rouge Parish Metropolitan Government and Mayor-President
East Baton Rouge Parish School System
East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney
East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff

5. East Baton Rouge Parish School System
Policy and Procedures
East Baton Rouge Parish School System
Lead Agency- Child Welfare and Attendance- Tirzah Smith, Director
District Wide First Steps
Automated robocalls
Parents receive an automated call indicating that the student did not report to school.
School Level
In collaboration with CWA, contact is made to parents when students begin to accumulate unexcused absences.
Letters
Disseminated to parents when a student misses five unexcused absences.

6. Intervention Methods of EBRPSS Child Welfare and Attendance
CWA Interventions
District Truancy Workshops
School level Truancy Workshops
Counsel with parents
Investigation of extenuating circumstances
Service referral to address identified barriers to truancy
Telephone calls
Home visits
School visits/ meeting with school personnel
Correspondence regarding truancy
Collaboration efforts with law enforcement, court system, and DA’s office
After all efforts have failed with no compliance OR when no legitimate extenuating circumstance exists for the truancy, the case will be submitted to middle school truancy court or FYSC for services and/or prosecution.
CWA referrals to FYSC: 2,460 (end of school year)

7. Intervention Efforts of TASC
Policy and Procedures
East Baton Rouge Parish School System
Lead Agency- Truancy Assessment and Service Center- Jennie Ponder, Director
Intervention Efforts of TASC
Focus on Grades K-5
procedures
early identification
rapid and thorough assessment
attention to family environmental factors
targeted service response
consistent monitoring
collaboration between school, family, law enforcement, court, and community partners
East Baton Rouge Truancy Court
Since 2006 over 3,700 appearances have been made in front of a Hearing Officer
at Juvenile Court. There is a 78% success rate.

8. The Family and Youth Service Center
Roxson Welch, Director
No wrong door policy
children and families are referred to the Center
by the schools systems of East Baton Rouge Parish
public, private, parochial, and charter
law enforcement
walk-ins

9. After a referral is made to the Family and Youth Service Center
calls are made to the parent/guardian of the child and appointments are made for them to come in to the Center
interviews are held with the parent and child to attempt to determine the obstacles that are interfering with the child’s educational engagement
referral to services are made when appropriate
counseling services, parenting, intensive services involving the child and family through the schools and home

10. No Child Lost
Our goal is to never lose a child. We sometimes do but it isn’t for lack of trying to hold on.
Follow-up is automatic
all children referred to FYSC are entered into the FYSC intake system. If there has been no documented activity, a monthly reminder is sent via to the primary care supervisor of each child to check on the child.

11. East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney’s Office- Curtis Nelson, ADA
Policy and Procedures
East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney’s Office- Curtis Nelson, ADA
If all efforts for intervention by the school system/s and FYSC fail, a decision will be made to determine the primary failing party. The child and the parent have different tracks through the District Attorney and/or Juvenile Court.
Prosecutorial Procedures
Misdemeanor Summons received by DA
Truancy Coordinator Sends defendant a contact letter advising that a criminal complaint has been received for prosecution and requesting defendant to contact the DA’s office if they wish to avoid prosecution
Those who seek to avoid prosecution will be requested to enter into an agreement of compliance during which prosecution will be deferred.
Those who fail to enter into an agreement or fail to respond will be forward to an ADA for billing.
After billing, defendant will receive notice of arraignment from court.

12. 22 agencies on site at FYSC
Services
Assessment- mental health, educational needs, parenting
Family Needs- drug intervention/treatment, literacy, job skills, GED, life skills
Counseling- socialization skills, anger management, family counseling
Enrichment activities-
out-of-school time

13. Reduction of Truancy within EBRPSS since FYSC Partnership

14. Department of Juvenile Services Admissions 38% reduction of
Youth held in Detention in East Baton Rouge Parish
1400
1200
1167
1173
1148
1050
1000
980
945
943
895
915
800
762
Youth Admitted
600
400
200

15. fysc-ebr.org (225) 239-7800 1120 Government St. Baton Rouge, LA