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