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I work as an evaluator, researcher and analyst.  From 1998 through 2005 I worked as the evaluator for a local Portland project called the School Attendance Initiative (SAI).  SAI was a collaboration among school districts, social service non-profits and Multnomah County.  The collaboration identified children missing school, went to homes and provided services to the children and families to help those children get back to school. 

Most of those children were at risk for long term drop out.  Many of them lived in generations of entrenched poverty and abuse.  We were able to obtain school records and the analysis clearly showed significant improvements in grades (reading and math) with intervention from the social services.  These children were not necessarily getting more academic services, they and their families were getting the support services to stabilize the home and return the children to school.

The program was originally grant funded.  When the grant ended Multnomah County stepped up and provided general fund money to keep it going.  Sadly, despite proven results--SAI helped over 5,000 children locally-- the program was cut for political reasons.

posted 2 years, 9 months ago
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Love the show!  I regret that I caught only a few minutes of it. I love the author's perspective on how all periods, events and domains are inter-connected.

To those who think the show isn't relevant to what is important today--get to know your history!

posted 3 years, 3 months ago
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