New program aims to work with students, families to prevent drop-outs, criminal behavior

YOUNGSTOWN

A collaboration among Mahoning County Juvenile Court and several local high-school districts aims to intervene with at-risk students before they drop out of school.

The program, called an early warning system, is being funded through a $600,000 federal grant the juvenile court received last year. Participating are Austintown, Boardman, Struthers, Youngstown City and Mahoning County High School districts.

Judge Theresa Dellick of Mahoning County Juvenile Court said there is no cost to the school districts. Expenses are paid through the grant.

“This is a three-year plan to change the way education is done in the Mahoning Valley,” the judge said at a Tuesday morning news conference.

Each school district has developed an Early Warning Intervention Engagement Team, consisting of teachers, principals, counselors and others that will meet weekly to review data. Data includes grades, suspensions, behavior and absences.

Any student who exceeds a threshold established by the districts could be flagged for intervention.

Linda McNally, grant manager at the court, said the intervention will be provided for families and students.

Read more about the program in Wednesday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.