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Q: Why do we need truancy intervention?
Q: What does the Project do?
Q: How did the Project begin?
Q: How does the program improve the handling of truancy cases?
Q: What is the time commitment for a volunteer?
Q: What is the volunteer committing to do?
Q: What if the volunteer finds evidence of deprivation or abuse?
Q: How/where do volunteers contact the child?
Why do we need truancy intervention?
Experts agree that truancy is the first sign of trouble, a gateway to crime, and that high school rates of truancy are linked to daytime burglary rates and vandalism and are a known risk factor for serious juvenile delinquency.
- More than 88% of all adult prison inmates in Georgia are high school dropouts (Georgia Department of Corrections, 2003).
- In Georgia, 31% of high school students do not graduate on time (Kids Count, 2006).
- Georgia ranks 42nd in the nation for the teens not in school and not working (Kids Count, 2006).
- Georgia ranks 48th nationally in the percent of teens ages 16-19 who are high school drop-outs (Kids Count, 2006).
- In 106 of the 159 Georgia counties, students graduate at rates at or below the state average. (Kids Count, 2006).
What does the Project do?
As a partnership between the Fulton County Juvenile Court, Fulton County School System, Atlanta Public Schools, and the Atlanta Bar Foundation, the Project provides volunteer partners to children who are involved with the juvenile court system due to excessive absences from school. The Truancy Intervention Project also has an early intervention initiative, which partners volunteers with children and families to intervene at the school level, before a juvenile court referral becomes necessary. The main objective of the Project is to provide early, positive intervention when children are noted for excessive school absences. The Project's real hope is that once the reasons for the absences are determined and resolved, and the child returns to school, then perhaps the child's life can be redirected to a more positive and constructive future.
In order to meet this goal, the Project's volunteers serve the children of Fulton County in a number of ways:
- As the truant's attorney, the volunteer provides direct representation at the adjudication and dispositional proceedings in Juvenile Court.
- As a guardian ad litem, the volunteer serves as an officer of the court by representing the best interests of the child in an educational neglect or truancy case.
- In the early intervention program, volunteers have the opportunity to intervene at the school level before a child's absenteeism becomes a more serious, chronic problem.
- Given the severe deprivation of most truants, the most important aspect of volunteering is bringing together various social and community agencies to help the child and family. The volunteers serve as role models and advocates increasing the child's self-esteem and encouraging him/her to stay in school.
How did the Project begin?
The Truancy Intervention Project was developed and organized in late 1991 in response to the recurring factor of truancy among children who appeared in Juvenile Court. In 1994, over 15,000 children passed through the Fulton County Juvenile Court, 30% of whom were under 13 years of age. The Juvenile Court observed that truancy was an early warning sign for these children.
The Project now has nearly 300 volunteers and has served close to 4,000 children since its inception.
How does the program improve the handling of truancy cases?
Responsiveness - A separate Juvenile Court calendar has been established to ensure a timely response to the needs of the child, and one judge hears all truancy cases, with another judge hearing all educational neglect cases.
Representation - The child will be represented by a volunteer advocate who has more time to devote to the case than an overloaded public defender, or by a guardian ad litem who will ensure that the child's best interests are presented to the court.
Resources - A Resource Manual has been developed by the Juvenile Court which lists possible sources of assistance. In addition, some funds are available through TIP to meet certain needs of the child. Experienced staff members within the Juvenile Court, including the probation officers assigned to the Project and a school social worker are listed in each file sent to the volunteer. Along with the Project staff, these individuals are available to discuss and explore programs that will best meet the needs of the child.
What is the time commitment for a volunteer?
The Project asks that upon completion of training, a volunteer commit to serve for one year or until the case assigned to him/her is closed. Some volunteers choose to take more than one case at a time. A volunteer can expect to spend 20 or more hours annually on a case.
What is the volunteer committing to do?
In juvenile court proceedings, the attorney is appointed as both lawyer and as guardian ad litem for the child in all hearings relating to the truancy charge. In this dual role, the attorney commits to advocate for the child's expressed wants while looking after the child's best interests. Should a conflict arise between these roles, volunteers are encouraged to refer to the training manual and/or call the Project office to inform the staff of the conflict. The attorney does not represent the family of the child. If other charges arise on the delinquency or deprivation side of Juvenile Court, the attorney is not required to represent the child.
All TIP volunteers are eligible to serve as guardians ad litem in juvenile court hearings stemming from allegations of truancy or educational neglect. The GAL's responsibility is to investigate the allegations and make a report and recommendation to the court based on what is in the child's best interests.
Volunteers with the early intervention initiative commit to attending two meetings with the child and his/her family at the child's school to address the issues related to the absenteeism as well as be a role model to and advocate for the child and family to help ensure the child's successful attendance in school.
All volunteers also agree to serve as a role model and advocate for the child and to assist the family in identifying and utilizing community resources.
What if the volunteer finds evidence of deprivation or abuse?
TIP volunteers are not mandated to report suspected abuse or neglect, but as an early intervention volunteer or as a guardian ad litem, it is recommended that you report any such suspicions to the school social worker or the school counselor. Please report any suspected abuse or neglect to TIP staff members (mandated reporters), as soon as possible at (404) 224-4741. If you are an attorney and you suspect abuse, you may ask to be withdrawn as guardian ad litem in which case the Project staff will assign a new guardian ad litem. If you feel a child is in imminent danger you can report abuse or neglect suspicions directly to the Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) or the police anonymously.
How/where do volunteers contact the child?
Occasionally, the information provided in the case file regarding the child's address and phone number may be incorrect. When this occurs, the volunteer should attempt to contact the child at school or through the school social worker or probation officer. Should all attempts fail, experience has shown that the child and his/her family will appear at the hearing at the time set by the court. The family is summoned to appear at least a half hour before the actual time of the hearing. This will give you an opportunity to speak with them before the hearing. Volunteers are not required to meet the family at the family's home. If you do not feel it is safe or appropriate, make an appointment to meet elsewhere.
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