Sometimes it’s hard to know just why a student doesn’t show up for class. That’s where Pittsburg State’s Truancy Diversion Program steps in. The program brings together the families of truant students with counseling master’s students at Pittsburg State. The PSU students are, through a device, prodded and advised by PSU professors and guides.
For instance, one student, a young girl, had a problem with going to school.
“The dad was really ill. The family didn’t think the daughter knew about it, but she did. Somehow she got the belief that if she was with him all the time, he wouldn’t die,” said Dr. Conni Rush, professor of psychology and counseling. “Through the counseling sessions, we encouraged the family to be out in the open about his illness and talk to her in a way she’d understand, but to be honest about it.”
The girl quickly began going to school on a regular basis.
That little girl is just one of numerous success stories for the program. In fact, of the 90 or so families from 2005 to 2008, 90 percent of those students went on to finish the year at school.
“This is huge,” Rush said. “Take substance abuse, and there is only about a 5 percent success rate. Part of it is in how you define success. We feel like we’re doing a good job if it helps the families and the student goes back to school.”
In fact, the program has three goals: No unexcused absences or tardies the rest of the year, passing grades, and any other issues the family needs to work on.
Families enter the program after being assigned the program by Judge Donald Noland in a truancy hearing. The program was created in the mid-80s.
The program is a big change for schools and families.
“Many years ago, schools had no options when families had problems except to be patient for an evaluation at a state hospital,” Rush said. “Schools just didn’t file the truancies. They wouldn’t bother with attendance records.”
For students, the program is a huge hit. It is a required two-semester program for students in the master’s program of the counseling or psychology programs.
Two student counselors sit with the families during each session. The number of sessions depends on the situation of each family involved. In each session, experienced counselors sit on the other side of a one-way mirror and provide comments and instruction to the student interns through a communication device.
“It’s helpful because you have the supervisor talk to you while you’re in session,” said Sarah Neldeburg, a humanity counseling student graduating in July. “It helps build confidence, and the instructors help us use techniques that are stronger than what I’d use.
“It really helps you round out becoming a counselor. It builds confidence with having a supervisor there.”
Andrew Nash can be reached at andrew.nash@morningsun.net or by calling 231-2600 ext. 132.
PITTSBURG —
