Hi, can DSS put your child in specialized foster care if you child is excessively absent from school?

Question

My daughter is on a CHINS because of truancy. They are threaten me with sending her to specialized foster care. She does not have risky behaviors, no suspensions from school. Major problem is being absent from school.

Answer 1

Yes, in many states truancy is considered a status offense which means that an activity is illegal only due to an individuals age (status as a minor). All states have some type of compulsory education law, which dictates what age a child must attend school until. If your child can not participate in a traditional educational environment there are options you can consider such as home schooling your child, home-bound instruction where the school will send a teacher out routinely, or an alternative program such as night school. You may want to consider a GED program as well, because attaining a GED exempts your child from the law. But not attending any kind of locally supervised educational program puts your child in violation of the law because of their age. If a child engages in illegal activity and the parent is unable or unwilling to intervene, the child can end up in foster care. It should be noted that the court system would be putting the child in foster care, not DSS. All DSS can do in this case is file a petition which is basically asking a judge to make a ruling. Because this is a legal process, both you and your child are entitled to legal representation. If you can not get your child to attend school, than you should contact the school to see what other programs are available to satisfy your states compulsory education laws. I

Answer 2

Oh, I'll bet there are things going on that you don't know about. Have you asked yourself WHY she is truant all the time? She's rebelling against something. If you can figure out what that is, you and she can deal with it.

And what exactly is your role in this? Why is the other agency threatening you with sending her to another facility? That's not an action that is done lightly.

Have you had some counseling of some sort? It wouldn't hurt.

Answer 3

Not sure where you are in the world. Yes, truancy can be seen as an abusive situation. Broadly categorised as environmental neglect. Can you negotiate a community protection plan? Send her with someone? How old is your daughter?

Answer 4

Yes they view it as the parents responsibilty to make them go to school. I dont know if it will be foster care or some other soultion but yes they will interviene. it happend when my sister did the same thing.

Answer 5

so send her 2 school