Highland Park, MI Truancy Reduction Initiative

The Wayne County Department of Children and Family Services (CAFS), Central Care Management Organization and Highland Park Community School District will collaborate to develop a comprehensive truancy reduction program to: 1) reduce the number of students suspended from school, 2) reduce the truancy rate in Highland Park Community High School, and 3) provide support staff to the high school. A minimum of 130 youth will participate annually. Interventions will include engagement by attendance officers and Youth Advocates, resource allocation, mental health/substance abuse assessment and referrals, in-school suspension program and after-school program involvement. Programming will occur twice per week for 12 weeks. Progress will be measured by a reduction in youth suspended for truancy, a reduction in petitions filed in the Wayne County Third Judicial Circuit Court, and the number of youth who successfully complete the 12-week program. CAFS will also track the truancy rates of youth selected for the program for a period of one-year post program completion. NCA/NCF