Community EPIC Stakeholder Groups are made up of individuals who live and/or work in a community and are actively involved in the continued development of that community including eradicating challenges to school attendance and performance. Recognizing that truancy is generally a symptom of other problems occurring for the family such as of poverty, lack of family cohesion, child abuse/neglect, community violence and/or behavioral and physical health problems, stakeholder groups are committed to addressing challenges facing the community.
There are ten stakeholder groups located throughout Philadelphia that are facilitated by truancy prevention provider agencies. They meet monthly and utilize a process called Equal Partnership In Change (EPIC) to develop and implement action plans that complement and enhance the community's assets. They also have the opportunity to receive community development funds and technical assistance and training to facilitate, organize, develop and implement action plans.
What do EPIC stakeholders do?
Attend and support various community meetings and events
Facilitate the development of pro-active relationships between informal and formal support networks in the neighborhood.
Actively advocate for school attendance
Build partnerships between community residents, the family court, law enforcement and the school district
Identify, organize, enhance and utilize community resources and assets
Identify and support the informal support network
Develop programs that reduce and eradicate the challenges to school attendance
Provide individual support to families of truant children
Develop proposals for community development funds
Attend trainings in team building, budget development and action planning
Groups and Facilitators
There are ten stakeholder groups in Philadelphia. Click here to view listing.
Contact Information:
For more information or to join a stakeholder group in your community, call 215-683-4026 or 215-683-4027
