Beyond Child Protection: Family-Centered Support Strategies for Elementary School Attendance in Minnesota
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| Title: | Beyond Child Protection: Family-Centered Support Strategies for Elementary School Attendance in Minnesota |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Yue Zhang, Monica Idzelis Rothe, Bunchung Ly, Mia Vang, Amherst H. Wilder Foundation, Wilder Research |
| Source: | Wilder Research. 2025. |
| Availability: | Wilder Research. Available from: Amherst H. Wilder Foundation. 451 Lexington Parkway North, Saint Paul, MN 55104. Tel: 651-280-2700; Fax: 651-280-3700; e-mail: research@wilder.org; Web site: http://www.wilder.org/Wilder-Research |
| Peer Reviewed: | N |
| Page Count: | 66 |
| Publication Date: | 2025 |
| Sponsoring Agency: | Casey Family Programs |
| Document Type: | Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Elementary Education |
| Descriptors: | Attendance, Child Abuse, Prevention, Early Intervention, Counties, Family Programs, County Programs, Coordination, School Districts, Elementary School Students, Program Effectiveness, Barriers, Best Practices, Family Problems, Student Characteristics, Family Attitudes, Family Needs |
| Geographic Terms: | Minnesota |
| Abstract: | In Minnesota, as educational neglect has been treated as a form of child maltreatment under state law, several Minnesota counties have implemented family-centered supportive strategies that aim to proactively address school attendance concerns through prevention and early intervention and service coordination between counties and schools, and avoid unnecessary engagement with child protection. The current evaluation project aims to explore how select Minnesota counties (Anoka, Olmsted, Scott, Washington, and Wright) support families facing school attendance challenges outside of the child protection system. It seeks to assess whether these supportive strategies help families experiencing educational neglect and identify opportunities for enhancing both practice and policy in this area. Between 2023 and 2025, the evaluation used multiple methods and sources to gather information--a literature review, an online Service Tracking Form completed by program staff about families served, an online survey and follow-up interviews with families, school staff interviews, and collaborative co-interpretation sessions or data walks--one with families and the other with county program staff. The goals were to understand who is being served, the barriers to school attendance, the services families received from the support programs, and the perceived and experienced outcomes of the programs. The findings were intended to inform service coordination and policy decision-making across school districts. The evaluation results show that families involved in these support programs often face interrelated challenges that contribute to school attendance issues. These challenges, combined with varied school experiences and program service deliveries, shape how families engage with support efforts and the outcomes they experience. [Additional funding provided by the Sauer Family Foundation.] |
| Abstractor: | ERIC |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | ED679770 |
| Database: | ERIC |
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