Truancy Team
York County Children and Youth Services has placed a high priority on decreasing the ever-growing rate of truancy within York County. As part of their efforts they have developed a truancy team. The purpose of this team is to provide better and more consistent service to each family and each school district within York County by providing a coordinated response to truancy concerns among at-risk youth.
At this time, the truancy team will consist of eight caseworkers, two supervisors, and one manager. They will be based in York County Children and Youth’s main office at 100 West Market Street, York. These workers will be split into two teams, which will each consist of four caseworkers and one supervisor. The two supervisors will directly report to the manager. Supervision between the caseworkers and supervisors and supervisors and manager will be held on a weekly basis.
The truancy team will work directly and closely with each of the sixteen school districts within York County. The truancy team will also be serving all of the alternative and private schools within the county. The school districts will be divided by geographical location and manageability and will then be distributed among the eight caseworkers. Each truancy caseworker will cover three school districts, with the exception of York City School District, which will have three truancy caseworkers due to their school district’s size.
Referrals from the alternative and private schools will be assigned to the truancy caseworkers according to the child’s district of residence. Many of the children who attend the alternative schools reside within York City. Thus, the need for a higher number of caseworkers assigned to the York City School District. School districts may be reassigned to caseworkers as needed in order for the caseworker to provide better service.
A truancy caseworker’s primary role is to work with children between the ages of 8 and 16 years and families experiencing truancy-related concerns. The truancy caseworker will provide preventative services to children and families (who are presenting with concerns of truancy that do not yet meet the criteria for a referral to the York County Children and Youth Services) as well as provide intervention to children and families (who have exceeded the truancy threshold and have been referred to the York County Children and Youth Services). A truancy caseworker may, at times, be asked to perform other York County Children and Youth Services-related tasks.
Truancy referrals will be made to the York County Children and Youth Services at any time during the full calendar year. School personnel will make all referrals to the York County Children and Youth Services by directly contacting their assigned truancy caseworker, a truancy supervisor, or the York County Children and Youth Service’s Intake and Referral Department. It is suggested that all contacts with the truancy caseworker begin with truancy. Each truancy caseworker will be available within each of their assigned school districts weekly at two to four hours per week. School personnel will choose the times and locations for the truancy caseworker to be in their district.Truancy caseworkers will also be available for consultation and to answer any questions school personnel may encounter. The truancy supervisors will also be available to provide assistance.
After receiving a notification of a child presenting with truancy –related concerns and /or a written truancy referral, the truancy caseworker will conduct an assessment of the child and their family to determine their need for assistance. As part of their assessment, the caseworker will educate the family about their rights and responsibilities regarding truancy. The caseworker will also assist the family by utilizing community resources such as, but not limited to: Family Group Decision Making, CASSP, Strengthening Families, and Student Assistance Programs. Additionally, truancy caseworkers will play an active role in implementing plans of action regarding truancy citations by directly working with the school districts and local district courts. The caseworker will also act as an advocate between families and the school district and the family and the district court.
Truancy Team
York County Children and Youth Services has placed a high priority on decreasing the ever-growing rate of truancy within York County. As part of their efforts they have developed a truancy team. The purpose of this team is to provide better and more consistent service to each family and each school district within York County by providing a coordinated response to truancy concerns among at-risk youth.
At this time, the truancy team will consist of eight caseworkers, two supervisors, and one manager. They will be based in York County Children and Youth’s main office at 100 West Market Street, York. These workers will be split into two teams, which will each consist of four caseworkers and one supervisor. The two supervisors will directly report to the manager. Supervision between the caseworkers and supervisors and supervisors and manager will be held on a weekly basis.
The truancy team will work directly and closely with each of the sixteen school districts within York County. The truancy team will also be serving all of the alternative and private schools within the county. The school districts will be divided by geographical location and manageability and will then be distributed among the eight caseworkers. Each truancy caseworker will cover three school districts, with the exception of York City School District, which will have three truancy caseworkers due to their school district’s size.
Referrals from the alternative and private schools will be assigned to the truancy caseworkers according to the child’s district of residence. Many of the children who attend the alternative schools reside within York City. Thus, the need for a higher number of caseworkers assigned to the York City School District. School districts may be reassigned to caseworkers as needed in order for the caseworker to provide better service.
A truancy caseworker’s primary role is to work with children between the ages of 8 and 16 years and families experiencing truancy-related concerns. The truancy caseworker will provide preventative services to children and families (who are presenting with concerns of truancy that do not yet meet the criteria for a referral to the York County Children and Youth Services) as well as provide intervention to children and families (who have exceeded the truancy threshold and have been referred to the York County Children and Youth Services). A truancy caseworker may, at times, be asked to perform other York County Children and Youth Services-related tasks.
Truancy referrals will be made to the York County Children and Youth Services at any time during the full calendar year. School personnel will make all referrals to the York County Children and Youth Services by directly contacting their assigned truancy caseworker, a truancy supervisor, or the York County Children and Youth Service’s Intake and Referral Department. It is suggested that all contacts with the truancy caseworker begin with truancy. Each truancy caseworker will be available within each of their assigned school districts weekly at two to four hours per week. School personnel will choose the times and locations for the truancy caseworker to be in their district.Truancy caseworkers will also be available for consultation and to answer any questions school personnel may encounter. The truancy supervisors will also be available to provide assistance.
After receiving a notification of a child presenting with truancy –related concerns and /or a written truancy referral, the truancy caseworker will conduct an assessment of the child and their family to determine their need for assistance. As part of their assessment, the caseworker will educate the family about their rights and responsibilities regarding truancy. The caseworker will also assist the family by utilizing community resources such as, but not limited to: Family Group Decision Making, CASSP, Strengthening Families, and Student Assistance Programs. Additionally, truancy caseworkers will play an active role in implementing plans of action regarding truancy citations by directly working with the school districts and local district courts. The caseworker will also act as an advocate between families and the school district and the family and the district court.