Appropriations subcommittee hears HHS briefing on truancy, CHINS and a proposed $750,000 grant amendment

Chairman Nelson opened the HR section meeting and invited Jessica Thomason of the Department of Human Services (HHS) to brief members on how educational neglect, truancy and chronic absenteeism relate to CHINS (Children in Need of Services) and on gaps in local diversion services.

Thomason explained there are three distinct, though overlapping, categories used in practice: educational neglect (treated as part of the abuse-and-neglect spectrum at younger elementary ages), truancy (a willful absence once a child reaches the age at which they should be able to attend independently) and chronic absenteeism (commonly measured nationally as missing roughly 10% of school days). She also told the section that North Dakota’s compulsory attendance law covers ages 7 through 16 and described how referrals are routed: educational-neglect reports go to child protective services intake, while truancy often comes to CHINS for voluntary diversion and service connection.

Thomason summarized available data from CHINS casework: a large majority of CHINS referrals have had prior interaction with child-welfare or juvenile-court systems (Thomason…