Truancy Reduction Demonstration Program

Project Summary 1999-MU-MU-0009

This application was submitted jointly by the Contra Costa County Office of Education and the Housing Authority of the County of Contra Costa on behalf of the collaborative partners. The applicants seek to replicate successful truancy prevention strategies. The applicants' target population is the largest public housing development in the area and includes the site of a recently funded "Weed and Seed Safe Haven" program

The Truancy Prevention Council (TPC) will develop and implement a collaborative public/private partnership that will reduce and prevent truancy in Redoe's John Swett School District. The TPC will identify programs that will: 1) increase community involvement in efforts to improve school attendance; 2) identify barriers to inter-agency collaboration; 3) develop strategies to build resiliency and ameliorate risk factors; 4) train key agencies on effective means of prevention, intervention, and the treatment of truancy. The Weed and Seed Steering Committee will establish a multi-disciplinary, Truant Identification Working Group of representatives of the School District, Probation Department, Sheriff's Department, and parents and youths. This working group will develop criteria for identifying truant youth and youth at-risk of becoming truant.