Health, Education and Attendance for Life -- H.E.A.L.

About the Program

Category: Criminal Justice and Public Safety (Best in Category)

Year: 2016

In 2012, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office Truancy and Attendance Program created H.E.A.L., or “Health, Education and Attendance for Life”. Working with Alameda County Healthcare Services, numerous public school districts and other partners, we directly and effectively address the intersection of health and excessive school absence. When students miss too many days of school, they fall behind and struggle to keep up with their classmates. Whether the days missed are due to illness, truancy or any other reason, the end result for the student is the same — learning time is lost. Children and adolescents will get sick at times and may need to stay at home, but when health issues go untreated, ignored or neglected and cause excessive absenteeism, the results for students are devastating.