School Engagement Program

What We Do

Lincoln Families’ School Engagement Program (SEP) helps youth at risk of chronic truancy and their families address barriers to attending school and support consistent attendance and engagement in the learning process. SEP is a prevention program for youth who have increased absences but are not yet identified as chronically truant or involved in the Student Attendance Review Board (SARB) or Parent Truancy Court (PTC) system.

Our staff teams deliver intensive culturally responsive, trauma-informed supports, transforming the approach from punitive to restorative --- helping students reconnect with education, develop coping skills, and envision a positive future. We meet youth and families where they are at, whether it be in the home, school, or community, delivering services to youth and families in a variety of ways:

Family Coaching – Providing intensive case management and collaborating with families to reconnect them to their communities, and develop skills and resources for self-sufficiency;

Youth Counseling – Working with students to increase motivation, promote a healthy lifestyle and establish trust with the school system for achievement and success;

Resource Navigation – Linking youth and families to self-identified supports for reducing stressors and addressing issues impacting attendance as well as working with schools to improve their outreach to families.

Our Why

Preventing chronic truancy is critically important because regular school attendance is one of the strongest predictors of a child’s long-term success --- academically, socially, and economically. When students are chronically absent, they fall behind not just in learning, but in connection, confidence, and opportunity. Studies consistently show that elementary school students who miss school are more likely to struggle academically, which leads ultimately to higher drop-out rates. While there are numerous risk factors associated with absenteeism, school truancy is not an isolated problem or merely a behavioral issue. It is critical to understand the underlying causes of why a student may be missing school,  which are often associated with poverty and systemic inequities, such as homelessness or family instability.

Outcomes

75% of SEP students at risk of chronic truancy demonstrated improvement in school attendance; and

100% of students in SEP Contra Costa demonstrated a significant improvement in school behavior, including anger control, impulsivity, and hyperactivity.

Resources

Contra Costa Referral Form | Contra Costa Referral Form - Spanish

SEP Contra Costa only accepts youth who attend or reside within the Antioch Unified School District. Please submit Contra Costa SEP referrals to: sepccreferrals@lincolnfamilies.org

Alameda County Referral Form

Please submit Alameda County SEP referrals to: sepacreferrals@lincolnfamilies.org

CONTACT

Alameda

Merlin Edwards
Program Manager
merlinedwardsii@lincolnfamilies.org
510.273.4700