Truancy Intervention Project

The focus of the Truancy Intervention Project is to provide early intervention to both students and parents as soon as the child starts missing school, therefore avoiding the child becoming a habitual truant.

Minnesota law requires all juveniles to attend school. Minnesota law defines a habitual truant as a student that has not lawfully withdrawn from school and has missed at least seven days or parts thereof without a lawful excuse.

Early Intervention

Sherburne County has developed early intervention steps to involve parents and students prior to the filing of a truancy petition.

  1. After the child has had three or more unexcused absences on three different days, the school makes a referral to the County Attorney’s Office. The child and parent then attend a mandated meeting with a representative of the Sherburne County Attorney’s Office to gain knowledge of the truancy laws, including possible dispositions in truancy cases, as well as gain an understanding of the effects truancy has on a child’s future. The meeting also provides the parents and students with information about services available through Sherburne County Health and Human Services. The meetings take place at 4 at the Sherburne County Government Center. The cost for the program is $20 and needs to be prepaid online. This fee may be waived if the child or family receives assistance. If the program is not in person, there will be no fee-effective for the 2021-2022 school year. 
  2. If the child continues to be truant, the family is referred to the Sherburne County Attendance Review Board (SARB). The family meets with representatives from the school, Sherburne County Community Corrections, and community agencies, to identify and address any issues that are preventing the child from attending school and being a successful student. The SARB board tailors their recommendations to the specific circumstances of each child, and the family signs a contract to work towards resolving the child’s truant behavior.
  3. The last step is the filing of the truancy petition. This step will be taken if the earlier steps have failed.

Payment Options

Fees for TIP (Truancy Intervention Project) can only be paid securely online using one of the card types below or by eCheck. Please bring your receipt to the meeting. 

Picture of a Visa credit card
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Please call the County Attorney's Office at 763-765-4725 for assistance.

Make a payment online.

Truancy Intervention Program Contacts

  • Victoria Powell, Assistant County Attorney 763-765-4725
  • Sara Dahlquist, SW 763-257-6522 (Big Lake High School, Big Lake Middle School, Wright Tech., Monticello High School, Monticello Middle School)
  • Katie Lhotka, SW 763-765-4072 (Elk River High School, VandenBerge Middle School, Salk Middle School, Ivan Sand, Rogers)
  • Jake Pearson, SW 763-765-4192 (Zimmerman High School, Zimmerman Middle School, Princeton High School, Princeton Middle School, Princeton ALC)
  • Corey Bertram, SW 763-765-4051 (Tech High School, Apollo High School, South/North JR. High, McKinley ALC, Becker High School, Becker Middle School)

Sherburne County Health & Human Services Resources

Central MN Mental Health Center

  • Buffalo: 763-682-4400
  • Elk River: 763-441-3770
  • Monticello: 763-295-4001
  • St. Cloud: 320-252-5010

Nystrom and Associates

  • Otsego: 763-746-9492
  • St. Cloud: 320-253-3512

Fairview Adolescent Outpatient Program

  • Elk River: 763-241-3558

MN Monitoring (Drug Testing)

  • St. Cloud: 320-259-8857
  • Waite Park: 320-203-6923

Operation Foresight (Drug Testing)

  • Elk River: 763-441-7270

Counseling/Therapy

  • Bridging Hope Counseling (Rogers): 763-291-5505
  • Catholic Charities (St. Cloud): 320-650-1550
  • CentraCare (St. Cloud)
    • Children: 320-229-4945
    • Adults: 320-229-4977
  • Center for Family Counseling (St. Cloud, Monticello): 1-844-221-1191
  • Center for Psychological Services (St. Cloud): 320-255-0343
  • Central MN Mental Health Center
    • Buffalo: 763-682-4400
    • Elk River: 763-441-3770
    • Monticello: 763-295-4001
    • St. Cloud: 320-252-5010
  • Greater MN Family Services: 320-214-9692
  • Healing Moments Counseling (Monticello): 763-732-3351
  • Lutheran Social Services (St. Cloud): 320-251-7700
  • Nystrom and Associates
    • Big Lake: 763-367-6080
    • Otsego: 763-746-9492
    • St. Cloud: 320-253-3512
  • Parasol Wellness: 763-309-1005
  • Sharon Kuhlmann Counseling (Becker): 763-261-6810
  • Solutions Counseling (St. Michael): 763-515-4563
  • The Village Family Service Center (St. Cloud): 320-253-5930
  • Tollefson Counseling Services (Monticello): 763-295-3207

Counseling/Therapy Co-Located in Schools

Becker

  • Center for Family Counseling
  • Greater MN Family Services
  • Lutheran Social Services
  • Healing Moments Counseling
  • Tollefson Counseling

Big Lake

  • Central MN Mental Health Center

Elk River

  • Lutheran Social Services

St. Cloud

  • Greater MN Family Services

Zimmerman

  • Parasol Wellness
  • Central MN Mental Health Center

Psychiatry

  • Catholic Charities (St. Cloud) 320-650-1550
  • CentraCare (St. Cloud)
    • Children: 320-229-4945
    • Adults: 320-229-4977
  • Nystrom and Associates
    • Big Lake: 763-367-6080
    • Otsego: 763-746-9492
    • St. Cloud: 320-253-3512
  • Central MN Mental Health Center
    • Buffalo: 763-682-4400
    • Elk River: 763-441-3770
    • Monticello: 763-295-4001
    • St. Cloud: 320-252-5010