2022 COMBAT Funding: $80,000.00

In The KC Municipal Court's Own Words

The purpose of the Kansas City Truancy Court is to ensure that children between the ages of 7 and 17 are in school as mandated by law. The Truancy Intervention Program (TIP) is designed to improve the school attendance of youths who are referred to the program by their school districts and to empower parents and guardians who were cited for their children not attending school as directed under the compulsory law while also giving resources to the families as needed.

TIP seeks to identify barriers to school attendance and provide support to the parent or guardian and children, resulting in regular school attendance, improvement in academic performance and possible behavior change. The program strives to provide parents or guardians with community resources to overcome the challenges of getting the children to school daily. Through this program many referrals are made to community agencies, but due to extreme economic deprivation of program participants, many can’t afford needed services.

Case Manager

With COMBAT grant funding, the Municipal Court serves up to 300 participants and employs a Case Manager to work specifically with Truancy Court parents/guardians and children. The Case Manager provides field-based case management services, linkages, resources and follow-up services to the families who choose to participate in the program, rather than receive an imposed sanction by the Presiding Judge.

The Case Manager will identify and address barriers and the root cause(s) of the truant behavior. Additionally grant funding pays for services that participants would not have received otherwise.  This will increase program success and reduce violence risk factors.

Anger Management & Parenting Classes

Northland Dependency Services will provide anger management and Love and Logic Parenting classes to the parents that are in need of those services. Referrals will be made to the children’s division of Swope Health Services and other providers when a child is acting out in school, at home or displaying aggressive behavior or experiencing trauma.

Other local providers as identified by the Case Manager will be utilized to address barriers such as depression, mental health and drug addiction, etc.  The Case Manager will maintain weekly contact with families, school counselors and community referral agencies and will report any identified family challenges back to the court.

Alternative To Court-Imposed Sanction

School supplies and hygiene kits are offered to families in need. If a parent or guardian voluntarily engages in the intervention program and successfully completes the program, the child’s attendance and academic performance improves, it is likely that no sanction will be imposed and the case will be dismissed. Upon dismissal, a reward will be given to the child and parent for a job well done.

Rewards and incentives motivate participants. They are a protective factor and are a key element to the success of the program. The added Case Manager, needed family and participant services at no cost to the participant, rewards and incentives will increase the program success rate and lower risk factors.