Truancy+Court+Best+Practices


 * Truancy Court Best Practices**
 * 1) **We’ve been there:** If a case is brought to Truancy court, the schools and agencies (law enforcement, mental health and others) working with this child or family have tried everything they have the authority to require and likely recommended many other options. Schools and other agencies have limits on what they can require, especially as it relates to the behavior of parents or guardians.
 * 2) **Tone** is critical. Authority is essential.
 * 3) The first court appearance is the one in which families are paying the most attention. The tone is set there.
 * 4) **Be bold and creative** in thinking of a solution that will help families. Among the effective and creative solutions of the past were requiring a parent to attend school with their child and a visit to Woodside.
 * 5) **Ask for input from the schools, law enforcement and the state’s attorney** when they are in court. Not everything can be written in the affidavit.
 * 6) **Mental Health** is an issue that challenges many children and their family. The court can ask to understand the impact of mental health issues on attendance.
 * 7) **New information:** Schools and law enforcement often hear information for the first time in court, despite a history of working with the family. This is especially true in relation to health issues.
 * 8) **School attendance is important**. If a child is being seen for another court issue, please remember that school attendance is an important and independent issue.
 * 9) **Act 264 process:** This is a helpful process but not necessarily a solution to attendance issues. If an Act 264 process is recommended, please ask that the outcome of the process be referred back to the Court for review so that the participation of all parties (DCF-Family Services, schools and mental health) occurs and that a plan is enacted.
 * 10) **Orders of the court:** If a child and/or family violates the order of the court, some oversight or follow-up is needed.