The Atlanta Lawyer August/September 2015 | Page 43

Truancy Intervention Project Truancy Intervention Project Georgia Honors Outstanding Student By Caren Cloud Truancy Intervention Project of Georgia [email protected] A t each Winners for Life event, TIP students are recognized and rewarded for academic and attendance improvement. A particular highlight is when one student is singled out for special recognition due to his or her extraordinary strides toward improvements. Kim* began working with her TIP attorney, Josh Swiger, a couple of years ago when she was referred for missing classes and disruptive behavior. Despite these issues, she was passing Advanced Placement courses in several subjects. Eventually, due to her behavior at school, she was expelled and sent to an alternative school. Kim continued to maintain her studies and do remarkably well, despite the alternative school environment and extended periods when she refused to regularly attend. As her behavior problems escalated, Kim began running away from home and the disparity in her academic acumen and destructive conduct prompted her TIP attorney to advocate through the Court to have a psychological assessment completed. Once complete, it was determined that Kim suffered with bipolar disorder and over the next year, Josh and Kim stayed in contact as the right combination of therapy and medication were found. Thanks to her Josh Swiger, Kim’s TIP volunteer and TIP volunteer and a past Glenda Hatchett Volunteer of the her own tenacity, Kim’s condition Year Award winner The Official News Publication of the Atlanta Bar Association Kim*, Hank Aaron Award Winner has greatly improved. She has started a new regimen of medication and therapy that is working, and is now living in a stable environment with her maternal grandmother. With her rough patch behind her, Kim is looking forward to returning to a traditional high school in the fall to enjoy and experience her senior year of high school