THE C.A.R.E. PROGRAM
Chronic absences, truancy, poverty, and criminal behavior often go hand in hand. Connecting Attendance to Results in Education (The C.A.R.E. Program) is a community-based truancy intervention program created by Metro Nashville Public Schools, Metro Student Attendance Center, and Advocates for Women’s and Kids’ Equality. This program will train attorneys about our state's truancy laws, the truancy adjudication process, the structure of The C.A.R.E. Program, and the boundaries of the attorney-client (student) relationship.
VOLUNTEER TRAINING WITH FREE CLE CREDIT
Volunteer attorneys must attend an initial training in order to represent a student. The training will provide breakfast as well as 1.5 FREE CLE credits. Following the training, attorneys will serve as pro bono legal counsel and positive role models for the duration of Juvenile Court Supervision related to the child’s truancy. Attorneys will advocate for the best interest of the child and assist the family in identifying resources that will improve attendance. One case will last approximately 15-20 hours over the course of a few months. In addition to gaining valuable courtroom experience in a non-adversarial setting, volunteer attorneys will help reduce truancy in our community one student at a time.
PRESENTERS
Honorable Sheila Calloway, Juvenile Court Judge
Sara Beth Myers, Attorney and President, AWAKE
Honorable Jennifer Wade, Magistrate Judge and Director, Metro Student Attendance Center
