Truancy Prevention and Diversion Program

Criminal Justice Services

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Hours: Mon - Fri, 8 am - 5 pm

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Phone: (785) 331-1300

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Phone: (785) 832-5220

Truancy

The Douglas County Truancy Program collaborates with the SupportED Center for Supportive Communities to support with pre-truant, truant and court involved students who are Kindergarten through 8th grade.  O’Connell Children’s Shelter works to support pre-truant, truant and court involved students who are 9thgrade through 12th grade.

Students are considered truant if they have:

  • 3 unexcused absences in a row 
  • 5 unexcused absences in a semester
  • 7 unexcused absences in a year

Children who have been enrolled in grades Kindergarten - 12th grade.

  • Volunteers work with truant students as mentors
  • Douglas County Juvenile Services Truancy Officer, Kate Holman, supervises the volunteers

  • To stay out of the court system
  • To learn coping strategies and social skills
  • To find community agencies to help with family issues

  • Volunteers monitor assigned students attendance and grades
  • Volunteers meet weekly with students
  • Volunteers encourage and assist truancy students in completing homework
  • Volunteers encourage motivation by using behavioral contracts
  • Volunteers provide weekly progress reports and updates to The Truancy Officer at DCYS
  • DCYS and Volunteers provide reports to the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office
  • Volunteers testify in Review Hearings and Child in Need of Care Court proceedings

DCYS has coordinated the KU truancy Prevention and Diversion Program since the fall of 2011. This program is currently funded by Douglas County, the Kansas Department for Children and Families and the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office.

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For more information regarding the KU Truancy Program, email CJSYS-Truancy@dgcoks.gov

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