Truancy and Its Impact on Academic Achievement

Target Audience: Parents, Educators, School Administrators, Prevention Specialists, Law Enforcement, Social Workers, Counselors

About the TrainingTopic: One of the many behaviors that increase a youth’s chance of engaging in risky behaviors is truancy. Students not attending school (not to include those with extreme medical conditions) are at great risk of exploring and/or engaging in alcohol or drug use or gang activity. Truancy is a problem affecting schools across the nation. Truancy and chronic absenteeism, which are often steppingstones to dropping-out of school before graduation, have consequences for children, the adults these children will become, and the society in which they live.  We must focus on the catalytics of truancy and absenteeism in order to properly remedy the problem.  Addressing truancy early may help with challenges and obstacles such as, transportation issues, fear and poor academic performance. This may also decrease the early onset of alcohol and/or drug use in students who have been or are at risk of being truant.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand how truancy increases a student’s risk of early onset substance use
2. Explore truancy and chronic absenteeism in Alabama schools and its impact on residents both directly and indirectly
3. Identify risk factors to include family, school, students and economic factors that increases the risk of truancy

Registration/Continuing Education: This session is being offered FREE of charge; however, you must register, as there are only thirty (30) seats available, so register early! One contact hour will be provided to attendees. The Council on Substance Abuse-NCADD is an approved continuing education provider for NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals and the Alabama State Board of Social Work Examiners.

Trainer(s): Oronde Mitchell, M.Ed. & Terrence Q. Thomas, M.Ed.

For questions please contact Kwatasian P. Hunt at 334-262-1629 or khunt@cosancadd.org