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Prevention Services
Truancy Prevention
The Child Advocates Truancy Prevention service encourages school engagement and academic participation for students at risk of chronic absenteeism. The program pairs a student and their family with a Student Success Advocate who builds a collaborative partnership with the student, family, school, community partners, and court (if applicable) to identify support and resources needed for the child to succeed in school.
history
Child Advocates launched its Educational Advocacy program when a Justice of the Peace recognized the need for children and families involved in the truancy court process to have additional community support. In 2024, Child Advocates introduced the pilot in two school districts in Montgomery County, which assigned highly trained Student Success Advocates to a student and family struggling with regular school attendance and involved in truancy court. Due to its initial success, the program quickly expanded to include 1) students at risk of academic failure and 2) additional school districts in the county.
Educational Advocacy in Action
Referrals can come from the court, school, or parent. Families commit to the program for six months with an option to extend. Advocates meet with the student and family twice a month and communicate each week. The Advocate assists the student on setting and reaching three measurable goals per month. The volunteer uses family engagement tools to identify and build networks of support for the child and family. These efforts result in increased academic attendance and participation, improved grades and test scores, and increased participation in extracurricular activities. The goal is to increase positive life outcomes through education, reducing the consequences of chronic absenteeism.
