Senate Passes Omnibus Appropriations Act with New Support for Truancy Court Program
March 11, 2009
Contact: University Relations
Phone: 410.837.5739
The University of Baltimore School of Law Center for Families, Children and the Courts' Truancy Court Program will receive $500,000 in new funding from the FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act, approved March 10 by the U.S. Senate and signed into law by President Obama on March 11.
Maryland Senator Barbara A. Mikulski, chair of the Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Subcommittee, led the effort in the Senate to secure the funding for UB's outstanding truancy program, also backed by strong support from Senator Ben Cardin and Congressman Elijah Cummings. The program is part of legislation that includes almost $40.2 million in Subcommittee funding for Maryland priorities such as jobs and public safety.
Sen. Mikulski noted that CFCC's Truancy Court Program efforts are working to improve the quality of life for Baltimore children and families.
"While we are protecting the homeland, we also have to protect the hometown," Mikulski said of those elements of the legislation that go to law enforcement and crime prevention. "My CJS bill gets us closer to these goals by standing up for our first responders and local programs to protect our children, our families and our local communities."
The Truancy Court Program is an early intervention, school-based effort that targets students who have five to 20 unexcused absences during the prior semester of school. Using a therapeutic and non-punitive approach, CFCC brings together a team in each school consisting of a volunteer District or Circuit Court judge or master, students from the School of Law, public school administrators and teachers, and volunteers. Together with CFCC faculty and staff, the teams meet with truant students and their families to identify and address the reasons underlying a child's truant behavior. The program helps the child and the parents learn to manage these problems, so that the child can reconnect with his or her school in positive ways, as evidenced by the 75 percent increase in school attendance of participating students during and immediately following the program.
CFCC currently operates the program in six elementary/middle, middle, and high schools in Baltimore. An innovative partnership among the School of Law, the District and Circuit courts for Baltimore City, and the Baltimore City Public School System, the program was started by CFCC four years ago.
Barbara Babb, CFCC's director and associate professor at the School of Law, said the new federal funding would enable the center to expand the program into other schools in the city and beyond in response to growing regional demand, and also assist in CFCC's efforts to make the TCP a national model for addressing truancy.
"We have data that demonstrate our approach keeps children in school, facilitates their academic engagement, allows students to see education as an essential part of their lives, and encourages students and their families to view schools as an essential part of their communities," Babb said. "There is every reason to believe that what is working in Baltimore City can expand and can assist children and families in other jurisdictions across Maryland and nationwide. This funding is an essential part of that effort."
UB President Robert L. Bogomolny praised Sen. Mikulski for her leadership and commitment to meeting the needs of Maryland's young people and families.
"Senator Mikulski understands the value of our program and the impact it has on Maryland families. Truancy is a fundamental problem, one that our center has the expertise and vision to help resolve," Bogomolny said. "Thanks to Senator Mikulski and Senator Cardin's efforts in the Senate and Congressman Cummings in the House, we will make a difference in the lives of many more young people to keep them off the streets and in school. I am gratified that the work of Barbara Babb and her staff has received this much-deserved support and recognition."
Phillip J. Closius, dean of the University of Baltimore School of Law, thanked the lawmakers for securing additional funding for the program and said he expects positive outcomes beyond Baltimore.
"The TCP results suggest that early intervention in truancy matters is key to improving the overall graduation rate in public schools," Closius said. "We look forward to the opportunity to enhance and expand the program so that it becomes a resource for as many of Maryland's public schools as possible."
Babb said that with the 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Bill's approval by the president, the center will move immediately on expansion of the TCP.
"It's a matter of applying what we're doing to more schools, reaching more students and families with our early intervention, therapeutic, holistic approach," Babb said.
The University of Baltimore is a member of the University System of Maryland and comprises the School of Law, the Yale Gordon College of Liberal Arts and the Merrick School of Business.