A Santa Cruz County organization that helps young people embroiled in the juvenile court system has taken on a new role: working with those who are chronically absent from school and involved with truancy court.
In taking on that role, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) has partnered with the Santa Cruz County Office of Education and the Santa Cruz County Superior Court.
The CASA Truancy Court Program tied in with the beginning of the school year on Tuesday with their annual distribution of backpacks and school supplies for foster children and justice-involved youth.
CASA, a 33-year-old organization, trains volunteers to become advocates who support children removed from their homes due to neglect, violence or other factors.
“So many children are facing such complex failures that they cannot attend school at all,” said Executive Director Lynne Petrovic. “We all know that this is not okay. Today is a celebration of hope; it is an honor to join the school district and the county courts in the program.”
With 26% of Santa Cruz County students chronically absent, the Truancy Court was created in the spring to address the needs of families facing the most significant barriers to regular attendance.
Santa Cruz County Superintendent of Schools Faris Sabbah was also present for the launch.
“Every day a student is in school is a step toward academic, social, and emotional growth,” he said. “Chronic absenteeism disrupts that progress for all students, especially those with the
greatest needs.”
Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Jerry Vinluan, who oversees the county’s Truancy Court, said that school is a critical avenue not only for education but for developing social skills and fitting into the fabric of their towns and cities.
“I am so thrilled that we have CASA’s support,” Vinluan said. “We really want to push the education part of this; these kids are our future. We want to give them the skills and tools that are necessary to move forward.”
CASA volunteers typically attend school meetings and recommend avenues that support the child’s success in school such as tutoring, therapies, assistive technology, and other accommodations.
“I feel like this partnership and this launch is another step in this long-time effort of building a system of care for our foster youth and our justice-involved youth,” Sabbah said. “Our schools are much more than academics; they’re places where students get a wide range of support and resources and build relationships and get help to discover themselves.”
The annual Stuff The Bus Campaign on Aug. 2 packed 2,779 backpacks with school supplies to be handed out to needy students.
“Families whose children are not attending school face overwhelming challenges no one should navigate alone,” Petrovic said. “It’s our privilege to walk beside them, offering advocacy, support, and hope for the future.”
Hats off to CASA, they work hard to make our community a better place!