Truancy

The Home-Based Truancy Program was selected by Pennsylvania JCJC in 2010 as one of two Truancy Programs in the state to go evidence-based with technical assistance provided through the National Center for Juvenile Justice (NCJJ). The project focused on the evaluation of quality delinquency interventions for juveniles in PA.

The Home-Based Truancy Program (HBTP) is a comprehensive approach based on the BSMART model and the Ohio Commission Truancy Prevention Mediation Program. HBTP was designed to reduce inflated absentee issues through a process that focuses on enforcing standards of conduct that directly influence the child/adolescent’s behavior at home, in school, and within the larger community. Results oriented intervention is coupled with behavioral modification techniques to produce substantial reduction in absences from school and provide an avenue for clients to maintain positive growth during their academic careers.

HBTP utilizes a risk and functional assessment of each individual child and the child’s family to better ascertain the influences that result in truant behavior. Relationships with Children, Youth and Family Services (CYFS), School Districts, Juvenile Probation Office (JPO), Mental Health Systems, and Juvenile Court are constantly maintained to offer a thorough and inclusive account of the child/adolescent’s progress during the period of involvement with HBTP. Risks at home are addressed through referrals to other healthcare providers as needed when those risks are not directly related to truancy issues but impact the child/adolescent in such a way as to provide an obstacle to further positive development. Those risks may be identified as drug and alcohol-related, abuse or neglect situations, medical needs, mental health issues, or any other variety of potentially destructive forces that impact the community and/or individual in a negative manner.

Primary Goals Of The HBTP Include:

Reduce incidents of truant behaviors through counseling directed at social, family, and/or educational sources that influence absentee behavior, ultimately preventing placement of the child/adolescent by CYFS into foster care.
Motivate the child/adolescent to reduce tardiness, suspensions, and detentions at school by addressing negative behaviors and rewarding positive decisions and critical logic resulting in appropriate actions.
Monitor and support improvements in grades.
Assess the needs of the child/adolescent and family and make recommendations to the appropriate social services for additional assistance.
Engage parents to participate as positive influences by enforcing household rules of conduct.
Collaborate with school personnel in an effort to improve school attendance and behavior.
Impact release of custody of the child/adolescent from CYFS involvement.
Motivate the child/adolescent to improve critical thinking skills to ensure future success.
Act as a liaison to assist in the enforcement of the Pennsylvania Juvenile Justice Act (specific emphasis on Appendix V) with the cooperation of CYFS, School Districts, Parents, JPO, Medical Doctors, and Mental Health providers.

FAMILY REDEVELOPMENT