Gulfton Truancy Reduction Demonstration Project

The Gulfton Truancy Reduction Program's goals are Prevention Education and Public Information: to integrate truancy awareness/prevention into existing or planned programs including the Weed and Seed Apartment Outreach Program, the United Minds Youth Group, Campo del Sol Summer Day camp, and other agency youth and family-serving programs; to review past anti-truancy campaigns and incorporate best practice approaches into the Gulfton area school curriculum; and to educate the business community on truancy laws and how to report truant youth. Early Identification, Assessment and Intervention with Truant Youth and their Families: to implement a home visitation program by Houston Police Officers for early intervention with truant youth and their families; to identify related needs of truancy youth and their families and to make referrals for health and social services; to provide court-based assessments and referral for truant youth and their families and to develop a working group of area social service providers who are available to provide needed services in response to referrals of truant youth and their families. Juvenile and Parental Accountability for Truancy: to promote public awareness on the laws and consequences of truant behaviors; to conduct an education campaign for both parents and students; and to increase parental involvement in the Gulfton Truancy Project and facilitate increased parental involvement at schools (via PTA/PTO, VIPs, etc.)CA/NCF