The Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention brings together representatives from youth-serving federal agencies and youth-focused disciplines to coordinate federal programs related to delinquency prevention, missing and exploited children, and the detention/care of unaccompanied juveniles.

At the Council’s November 2003 meeting, several presentations focused on truancy reduction:

	William Hodges and Shelly Grant of the Fourth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida described Duval County’s Truancy Arbitration Program, which holds parents accountable for their children’s school attendance.
	Susan Block, Administrative Judge, County Circuit Court, District 16, St. Louis, MO, described a truancy court diversionary program in which a proactive partnership of schools, families, and courts uses positive reinforcement to help newly truant youth improve their school attendance.
	John Tyson, Jr., District Attorney, Mobile County, AL, presented information on the Make the Right Choice Program, a community juvenile crime prevention effort with an “early warning” truancy reduction component.
	Ken Seeley of the Colorado Foundation for Families and Children highlighted findings from the National Center for School Engagement’s evaluation of the Truancy Reduction Demonstration Program (see article).

In addition, Don Franks of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports described the President’s Active Lifestyle Award and Presidential Champions programs, which encourage physical activity. Mr. Franks remarked that although physical activity is not a panacea for social ills, it can offer positive alternatives and can be used to supplement other programs.

Council meetings are held quarterly in Washington, DC, and are open to the public. At the next meeting, the Council will again focus on truancy issues, including those in American Indian communities. For additional information, visit the Council’s Web page at ojjdp.ncjrs.org/council/index.html.

OJJDP News @ a Glance	January/February 2004 Volume III Number 1