Cass County Human Services Coordinating Council

Excerpts from Meeting Minutes, Sept. 12

III. Legislative Update

Clay McCausland, aide to Congressman Fred Upton – Our office provides a broad array of services. Please feel free to call us. The priority now is the fiscal resolution that will fund the federal government through March; we’re still working out the details. The FDA Reform Act has been signed by the President; it streamlines the approval process for new medical devices and drugs, making the United States more competitive in the world market. Fred was recognized for his work as Chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee at a recent Celebration of Science event in Washington. We are working on three pieces of legislation: law that will help veterans who served as EMTs qualify as EMTs in the private sector, law that will direct the National Institute of Health to create a comprehensive plan, and a similar law called the Cancer Research Act, also calling for a comprehensive plan. I will forward information about the Pediatric Bill.

Mary Judnich, aide to Senator Debbie Stabenow – As Chair of the Agriculture Committee, Debbie is looking for places where cuts can be made without causing drastic consequences. The Farm Bill reauthorization is up Sept. 30. The Senate version cuts 23 million in direct payments, which will be shifted to enhancing risk management. Debbie is also working on resources for healthier food, including SNAP (food stamps) education and eligibility. The House is taking a more drastic approach. Reauthorization may not pass before recess. We are also working hard to avoid cuts to rural hospitals.

IV. Focus on Truancy

Sue Dobrich, Family and Probate Court Judge – In addition to those of us on the agenda, others on the Truancy Team are here today; we’re hoping to have a round table discussion. Truancy is directly related to negative behaviors such as delinquency, teen pregnancy, family violence, drugs and educational failure. It makes sense to focus on prevention. We are working in three domains ; family, community and school, to develop collaborative policies that allow more pro-active application of services.

Leigh Feldman, Juvenile Referee – Once the court receives a truancy petition, we schedule a hearing with the parents and child. The primary question is what can we do to get the child back in school? We have several options: informal probation for the child, formal probation for the child, home detention, secure detention, drug screens, adult probation, and/or family therapy. DHS is often involved with these families. We can offer such support services as tutoring, student advocates, special education, alternative education, relative placement as respite, basic benefits, finding the legal father, seek child support, and/or a change in custody.

Sue Dobrich – We use a loose definition of truancy and try to stay out of the adversarial system as much as possible.

Bob Colby, LCISD Superintendent – The ISD is responsible for insuring protocols are in place countywide. We strive for consistency across school districts. All schools are using the same software. Local districts decide how many absences to excuse. Families used to jump school districts in order to avoid consequences for truancy; our collaboration now prevents that. A lot of issues that lead to truancy can be headed off by the Resource Officers. All districts now have truancy officers.

Joe Underwood, Sheriff – Many years ago the HSCC was involved with truancy; we raised money and hired a countywide truancy officer. The funding went away and truancy increased again. Most truant kids have parents involved in the legal system. The Sheriff supplies the resource officer that services Cass and Marcellus high schools. The sooner he goes to the home and knocks on the door the sooner the behavior starts to change. Our biggest challenge is sustainability. We have reduced the number of truancy petitions. We are trying to craft a well-rounded program we can continue.

Tom Atkinson, Dowagiac Public Safety Director – We provide the Resource Officer to Dowagiac Schools. He spends 40% of his time and the high school and 60% at the middle school. In 2011 there were 40 interventions, 10 of which were field in court. The officer reminds parents that they are responsible for their child and what the consequences of truancy are. Drugs are usually a big part of the problem.

Mark Daniel, Superintendent Dowagiac Union Schools – We’ve reviewed and revamped attendance policies. We use email and a voice mail system to communicate with parents. The resource officer is able to catch cases that otherwise would have fallen through the cracks; his presence is very helpful.

Tracy Hertsel, Superintendent Cassopolis Schools – The software is our biggest frustration; we have not resolved the glitches. Cassopolis has reviewed and revamped attendance polices; ours are the same as Marcellus’. We share the same resource officer.

Bob Colby – Truancy correlates with student achievement. Our efforts are making a difference – no Cass County school is on the failure to achieve list.

Mark Pompey, Pokagon Education – We use the Healthy Families program to work with our families. Many other programs are listed on our website; please visit http://www.pokagonband-nsn.gov/

Sue Dobrich – We’ve learned that suspension and detention are not effective. Engagement works. Mentoring, Alanon, Alateen, and other supports. A collaborative effort is essential in making changes. The court has a weekly information exchange with Woodlands to prioritize prevention work. Gov. Snyder’s agenda focuses on truancy but all the funding is going to the east side of the state. In Cass and Berrien Counties it is to our advantage that the Probate Judge and the Family Judge is the same person; we can use a holistic approach. Homeschooling remains a very difficult issue. Poverty, lack of employment, and substance abuse all present challenges.

Roland Fancher, Friend of the Court – Over the past six years we’ve worked to integrate juvenile cases with custody cases and share information among the agencies involved.

Sue Dobrich – We access two primary funding sources: Title 4D and Title E. It would be helpful to loosen regulations so custody can work with foster care.

Mona Borowicz, Tri-County Headstart – Headstart has a federal mandate requiring 85% attendance. We have no hammer. We have to persuade and convince parents why attendance is important. We have shifted our focus to getting staff to understand so they can communicate their understanding to parents. It’s important to start young; if we’re successful, our 3 and 4 year olds will start school with this attendance value.

Heather Merrill, Great Start – Many of our preschool families receive free services. We don’t have an attendance mandate but we can strongly recommend home visitation. We can take referrals for children up to age six. Our services may be able to prevent court involvement.

Mary Judnich – This is very exciting work; do you have champions?

Sue Dobrich – I’m thinking of a family where child protective services was involved. We discovered substance abuse issues. Foster care became involved. The parents are now sober. The child changed schools. CASA was involved and provided tutoring. 80% of our cases involve substance abuse; trauma is also a big piece. I can now announce that we’ve received a $300,000 federal grant to enhance Family Treatment Court.

Tracy Hertsel – The above situation went on for six or seven years. This intervention broke the cycle. The state needs more accountability for home schoolers.

Rick Church, Woodlands – Mental health works behind the scenes doing prevention work, but it is hard to show a result when the result is nothing bad happened. If we don’t do a good job in the first three years we’ve lost these kids. Woodlands Children’s Unit will be located at the Squires Building down the hall from Early Childhood.

Tammy Curtis, Marcellus Schools – Cass County does a nice job of collaborating and educating. The Marcellus School District receives kids from 3 counties. Kids and families shop for attendance policies and they also shop for doctors they can manipulate. When we try to communicate with outside agencies in our other counties we end up getting played as the bad guy.

Sue Dobrich – The new grant will allow us to train medical personnel. The court will be able to help with the communication problem.

Rick Church – People who are traumatized think fight or flight, which explains the truancy and constant shopping for loose rules.

Myra Munroe, Edwardsburg Schools – The Edwardsburg Resource Officer is Officer Lambert. We note that parents bring their own experiences and apply them to their children. We are looking for ways to insure all staff have deep connections with kids. We are working to integrate truancy supports with our other services, and monitor all situations. This coordinated effort is critical.