21st Judicial District Court

Division of Juvenile Services

Truancy Assessment Service Center

What is TASC?

Sonja T. Smith, LAC   Program Director

Camy McClendon   TASC Case Monitor               Betty Womack    TASC Case Monitor

Misty Acherman   TASC Case Monitor                  Fabianna Lanaux    TASC Case Monitor

TASC stands for, Truancy Assessment Service Center

TASC Mission: TASC programs are intended to identify, assess and intervene with children in grades Pre-K-6. These children are at risk for truancy, suspension and possibly expulsion.

TASC Purpose: To provide early identification and assessment of truant children and the prompt delivery of coordinated interventions to prevent continued absenteeism.

TASC Overview: Research confirms a strong correlation between early truancy, continued academic and behavioral problems in school, eventual school dropout and delinquent behavior. Teen pregnancy and adolescent substance abuse are also more likely to occur when children are truant, unsuccessful in school and have a lack of parental involvement in school.

TASC is a tool that can be utilized to interrupt this cycle and reduce the negative effects of the truant behavior pattern. Several important characteristics associated with effective truancy intervention include:

Ø  Early identification of truant children and appropriate assessments

Ø  Rapid, coordinated, and target service response to identified needs

Ø  Consistent, timely monitoring and revising of service plans

Ø  Attention to family environmental factors affecting the child

Ø  Appropriate use of the Louisiana Children’s Code, court procedures including appropriate sanctions to ensure parental cooperation and behavioral change

The goal of TASC is to be EARLY, QUICK and COORDINATED!

TASC staff is empowered to do “whatever works” to get children to attend school regularly, whether that is aiding them in getting school uniforms, coordinating assessments, providing appropriate service referrals to ensure treatment for the child, parents and the family unit as a whole.

TASC Case Monitors are:

Ø  Relationship builders between school, children their families and the community

Ø  Service Coordinators

Ø  Advocates

Ø  Mediators

Ø  Educator/ disseminators of information

Ø  Record keepers

Ø  Mandated reporters