Kristen McNeely, a BCBA and Licensed Marital and Family Therapist from California, shares her expertise on the rising issues of school refusal and chronic absenteeism. She distinguishes between these terms, emphasizing the role of anxiety in children's attendance patterns. McNeely discusses effective strategies for parents to intervene, the importance of wraparound support, and the psychological impacts on families post-COVID. She also offers personal insights and resources to help navigate these challenging situations, making it a must-listen for concerned parents.
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insights INSIGHT
Chronic Absenteeism vs School Refusal
Chronic absenteeism includes missing 10% or more school days, excused or unexcused.
School refusal is intentional refusal to attend school, often driven by different factors.
insights INSIGHT
Understanding School Refusal Continuum
School refusal exists on a continuum from mild protests to full non-attendance.
Early signs include difficulty leaving home and frequent nurse visits, which can escalate without intervention.
insights INSIGHT
Wellness Centers' Mixed Impact
Wellness centers on campuses can inadvertently reinforce anxiety by providing a way to escape classrooms.
This promotes negative reinforcement, potentially worsening school refusal behaviors.
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Kristen McNeely joins me for an informative discussion about the challenging topic of School Refusal and Chronic Absenteeism.
If you are in any way connected to a school community, you've probably heard about this difficult and growing problem. As we discuss in this episode, school refusal is an ever-growing concern, and it manifests itself in numerous ways.
Kristen is both a BCBA and a Licensed Marital and Family Therapist in California, and she spends nearly all of her time working with parents who have children who engage in school refusal.
In this episode, we cover:
The distinction between the terms Chronic Absenteeism and School Refusal.
How School Refusal can be thought of as a continuum of attendance patterns.
The role of anxiety in these response patterns.
Assessing the function of School Refusal behaviors.
Helping parents intervene with School Refusal.
The importance of wrap around supports for severe cases.
How School Refusal can turn into what's known as Failure to Launch.
You're going to want to listen all the way through to the end because she closes the show not only some awesome advice for the newly minted, but a poignant personal story.
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