The last time Juvenile Services (JS) had funding that focused on truancy at local and area schools was in 2013.
As a result, there has been no effective way for JS to tackle this important issue head-on, said Marissa Woodmansee, JS director. She, her colleagues and school officials hope to change this situation.
Woodmansee intends to apply for a state grant that might alleviate the problem of truancy, which is a concern in the five counties that JS serves in the 20th Judicial District – Barton, Ellsworth, Rice, Russell and Stafford.
“Without funding, the questions have become ‘who can help with this issue? Who will identify the needs and propose a solution?’ If we don’t address these questions, we will see the consequences in other areas of Juvenile Services.”
In addition to seeking the grant from the Kansas Advisory Group on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Woodmansee is talking with personnel at school districts, the JS advisory board, district courts and the Kansas Department for Children and Families, as well as the county attorney and defense attorneys.
She has her fingers tightly crossed for funding to employ a person that deals only with truancy. The grant would finance a salary, training, educational materials and more.
Truancy is a local and state problem, Woodmansee said, noting causes include poverty and addiction, and parents not knowing who to call for help.
“But the underlying fear in many cases is that their kids will be taken away,” she noted. “Families need to realize we are not in the business of removing kids from their homes unless we are talking about severe problems and safety issues.
“We don’t want to raise your kids. We want to give you the tools to do that on your own safely.”
Previously, funding came from the Kansas Department of Children and Families. It was used to support Project S.T.A.Y., School Truancy Alternatives for Youth.
“This was developed by my predecessor and they had success with it,” Woodmansee recalled. “We need new tools to have a chance to enjoy some success in the future.”
In Kansas, officials use the 3-5-7 truancy guideline. This refers to three consecutive unexcused absences, five unexcused absences in a semester or seven unexcused absences in a school year, whichever occurs first.
“I am happy to say all the school districts in our five counties go above and beyond to help students and families,” Woodmansee said. “However, when a school has tried everything and can’t get a handle on it, Juvenile Services could be another option.
“Sometimes schools could use some outside help. We want to be that outside help for at-risk kids.”
Citizen Review Board
A Citizen Review Board (CRB) could be part of the solution, Woodmansee noted. CRB members are community volunteers that review truancy and other juvenile issues.
“A Citizen Review Board can refer a juvenile truancy case to the court system,” Woodmansee explained. “This makes the case more official; it has some teeth to it.
“We are exploring this option with the help of Russell County, where a CRB exists now. The goal is to expand into the rest of our service area.”
In general, CRB members review cases, talk with the parties involved, and suggest in-house solutions or make recommendations to the court system.
“The CRB can go through the courts where there is more oversight,” Woodmansee said. “If the family doesn’t comply, they could be held in contempt.
“We get good cooperation from most families,” she added. “But if we need a higher threshold of accountability, we would like the option of a CRB.”
20th Judicial District Juvenile Services empowers youth in Barton, Rice, Ellsworth, Stafford and Russell counties to achieve positive outcomes by offering Juvenile Intake & Assessment, Immediate Intervention, Intensive Supervised Probation, Case Management, Journey to Change, Life Skills, All Stars and Youth Crew. Parents and guardians also are offered The Parent Project. Visit 1800 12th in Great Bend or call 620-793-1930.
