>> COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON: THE STATE ADDRESSES CONCERNS OVER SNAP BENEFITS AND OTHER FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS LOSING FUNDING DUE TO THE ONGOING GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

ALSO TONIGHT, A NEW REPORT LOOKS AT CHRONIC ABSENTEE-ISM AMONG ARIZONA SCHOOL-KIDS.

AND, WE'LL HEAR ABOUT A BOOK THAT WORKS TO DE-MYSTIFY ADDICTION AND HELP NAVIGATE THE WORLD OF ADDICTION TREATMENT.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE, NEXT, ON "ARIZONA HORIZON.

PHYSICIAN" TED: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, KNOWN AS "SNAP," COULD SEE ITS FEDERAL FUNDING DRY UP THIS WEEKEND AS A CASUALTY OF THE ON- GOING GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

LOSING THE FOOD-ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WOULD HIT ARIZONA HARD WHICH IN TURN WILL LIKELY PUT SIGNIFICANT ADDED PRESSURE ON STATE AND LOCAL FOOD BANKS.

JOINING US NOW IS ASHLEY ST.

THOMAS, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC POLICY AT THE ARIZONA FOOD BANK NETWORK.

ASHLEY, I AM GLAD YOU ARE OUR FIRST GUEST.

MOMENTS BEFORE WE STARTED TAPING TONIGHT'S SHOW, THE GOFF NAR'S OFFICE ANNOUNCED THAT $1.8 MILLION OF COVID RELIEF FUNDS ARE GOING TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE INCLUDING $1.5 MILLION TO FOOD BANKS.

TALK TO US ABOUT THIS.

>> WELL, IT IS GOOD NEWS, AND THANK YOU, TED, FOR HAVING ME HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT IT.

THAT $1.5 MILLION INVESTMENT JUST ANNOUNCED.

WE ARE INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL TO HEAR ABOUT THAT.

IT ITS GOING TO THE REGIONAL FOOD BANKS IN THE STATE, SO THAT IS ST.

MARY'S, UNITED, COMMUNITY IN YUMA AND COMMUNITY FOOD BANK OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA DOWN IN TUCSON TO HELP THEM PROVIDE ASSISTANCE DURING THIS CRISIS.

>> AND YOU GUYS ARE PARTNERING WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE WITH THIS?

>> YES.

WE ARE REALLY GRATEFUL TO BE ABLE TO HELP AND PROVIDE SUPPORT TO FOOD BANKS AS THEY NEED IT.

TED: THERE IS AN EMERGENCY PROGRAM AS WELL ANNOUNCED AGAIN JUST MOMENTS AGO.

$30 TO SNAP HOUSEHOLDS.

$30 MEANS A LOT TO A SNAP HOUSEHOLD.

>> IT DOES.

ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW TO THE POINT WHEN FUNDS ARE NOT GOING TO BE ISSUED IN THE BEGINNING OF NOVEMBER STARTING ON SATURDAY TO HOUSEHOLDS ACROSS THE STATE.

SO WE KNOWZ WITH 850,000 PEOPLE IN ARIZONA PARTICIPATE IN SNAP.

70% OF THEM ARE KIDS.

OLDER ADULTS ARE PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES AND THAT FUNDING AS A RESULT OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IS NOT GOING TO BE RELEASED.

TED: LET'S TALK.

SOME PEOPLE RIGHT NOW PROBABLY STILL NOT SURE WHAT SNAP IS.

TALK TO US ABOUT THAT.

>> YEAH.

SNAP IS THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

IT WAS FORMERLY CALLED FOOD STAMPS.

AS IT GROCERY PURCHASING PROGRAM FOR LOW-INCOME AMERICANS.

AND IT IS THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST MOST EFFECTIVE ANTI-HUNGER PROGRAM.

IT IS FOR LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS THAT EARN ROUGHLY 0,000 A YEAR FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR.

AND SO IT HELPS THEM STRETCH THEIR BUDGETS TO BE ABLE TO PURCHASE GROCERIES?

WHAT LIKE 400,000 ARIZONANS AFFECTED HERE.

>> YEAH 850,000 LAST MONTH.

WE GOT THAT DATA RECENTLY.

THAT IS ABOUT 430,000 HOUSEHOLDS, SO THESE ARE FOLKS WHO IF THEY ARE NOT KIDS, OLDER ADULTS OR PEOPLE LIBBING WITH DISABILITIES THEY ARE WORKING ADULTS.

WORKING ONE OR TWO JOBS AND SNAP HELPS THEM TRECH THEIR BUDGET.

TED: HOW MANY KIDS ARE AFFECTED, DO YOU KNOW?

IT IS ABOUT 400,000 I THINK.

>> YEAH.

SO THIS ASSISTANCE WERE THE GOVERNOR IS GOING TO GO A LONG WAY.

OK.

AGAIN, THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN HERE.

THINK SOME CONTINGENCY FUNDS HAD BEEN USED BUT THEY ARE STOPPING ON NOVEMBER FIRST AND THERE IS SOME CALL FOR THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO BE USING MORE CONTENT GY FUNDS HERE.

HAVE YOU HEARD MORE ABOUT THAT?

>> UM, NO.

SHORT ANSWER NO.

BUT WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT WE WOULD URGE BOTH CONGRESS AND THE ADMINISTRATION TO USE ANY RESOURCE AVAILABLE TO THEM TO ENSURE THAT NOT ONLY ARIZONANS BUT PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE HELD HARMLESS IN THIS NEGOTIATION AND ARE ABLE TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE.

TED: THE GOVERNOR SAID SHE WAS COUNTING ON NONPROFITS TO STEP UP TO BE PARTNERS WITH THIS.

IT IS A DIFFERENT DYNAMIC WITH THIS ADDITIONAL FUNDING, BUT IT IS STILL NOT THAT FEDERAL FUNDING.

CAN FOOD BANK, LET'S STICK WITH FOOD BANKS HERE?

CAN YOU FILL IN THE GAPS?

>> WELL, FOOD BANKS ARE DOING WHAT THEY DO BEST, WHICH IS MORE WITH LESS.

BUT WE KNOW THAT IN A MONTH ABOUT 155,000.

I AM SORRY.

$155 MILLION IN SNAP BENEFITS COME THROUGH ARIZONA.

SO THAT IS A TYPICAL MONTH.

SO $1.5 MILLION TO ASSIST FOOD BANKS IS WONDERFUL.

WE ARE INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL.

BUT IT IS NOT GOING TO FILL THAT FAP, OBVIOUSLY.

SO FOOD BANKS ARE RESOURCEFUL.

THEY KNOW WHAT THEIR COMMUNITIES NEED.

BUT RIGHT NOW, WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE ENOUGH TO PROVIDE.

TED: AND AS FAR AS THE FOOD BANKS ARE CONCERNED, WHAT DO THEY EX SNECK HOW ARE THEY GEARING UP FOR THAT?

>> WELL, IT IS EMERGENCY FOOD SYSTEM.

SOL THEY HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND EXPERIENCE TO SCALE, AND TO SCALE QUICKLY, SO THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE DOING RIGHT NOW.

AS OF THE INFORMATION COMING OUT FROM THE STATE AGENCY LAST WEEK, THAT FOOD BANKS, AM SORE, I FAMILY WAS NOT BE RECEIVING THESE BENEFITS.

WE HAVE SEEN A SIGNIFICANT SPIKE IN DEMAND, AND SOP, IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN MIND, THAT DEMAND WAS ALREADY HIGH.

SO OUR FOOD BANKS ACROSS THE STATE WERE SERVING 700 AND 70,000 PER MONTH.

FOR REFERENCE, THAT IS 60% HIGHER THAN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

AND 90% HIGHER THAN IN PEAK PANDEMIC MONTH.

SO THE COST OF FOOD IS HIGH.

PEOPLE ARE ALREADY STRUGGLING.

FOOD BANKS ARE DOING THE BEST THEY CAN TO MEET DEMAND.

TED: TO MEET DEMANDS, WILL FEWER PEOPLE BE SERVED?

WILL THE SAME NUMBER OF PEOPLE BE SERVED BUT PERHAPS NOT AS MUCH FOOD.

HOW DO YOU WORK THAT EQUATION?

>> I NO HE THAT FOOD BANKS ARE PREPARING AS BEST AS THEY CAN.

THEY ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO SEE IF THEY CAN DO COLLECTIVE PURCHASING.

THEY ARE TRYING TO SET UP MOBILE DISTRIBUTIONS IN PARTS OF THE STATE WHERE SNAP PARTICIPATION IS HIGH.

WILL PEOPLE GET LESS?

I CANNOT SAY NECESSARILY.

WE ARE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN.

TED: YOU REFERRED TO SOMETHING HERE.

ARE FOOD BANKS WORKING TOGETHER?

THIS IS ALL HANDS ON DECK?

EVERYONE IS WORKING TOGETHER?

A YEAH.

ABSOLUTELY.

I WILL SAY THAT OUR WEBSITE AZ FOOD BANK!

ORG.

PEOPLE CAN GO THERE AND FIND FOOD IF THEY NEED IT.

FIND WHAT IS OPEN NEAR THEM.

THEN OUR PHONE HAS BEEN RINGING QUITE A LOT.

WE ARE TRYING TO PROVIDE ANSWER TO PEOPLE.

>> AND YOU GOT THANKSGIVING IN.

THAT IS USUALLY CRUSH, ISN'T IT?

>> YEAH, IT IS.

I KNOW OUR FOOD BANKS ARE ALREADY PREPARING FOR THAT.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THOSE HOLIDAY DISTRIBUTIONS THAT PEOPLE HAVE COME TO RELAY ON.

MEANTIME, REW REGOING TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO HELP THEM SCALE UP.

>> IN THE MEANTIME, THIS 1.8 AND 1.5 IN PARTICULAR, THAT HAS TO HELP.

THAT MUST HAVE BEEN A GREAT FEELING TO HEAR THAT.

>> YEAH, IT WAS ABC LUT RY MUCH NEEDED.

I THINK WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO RELY ON PUBLIC SUPPORT AGE PRIVATE CITIZENS.

PEOPLE REALLY DO WANT TO HELP IN TIMES OF CRISIS.

THAT IS WHAT WE ARE IN RIGHT NOW.

TED: DO YOU NEED MORE FROM THE STATE?

DO YOU NEED THE RAINY DAY FUND TO BE TAPPED OUT?

IT SEEMS LIKE IT IS RAINING OUT THERE AS FAR AS FOLLOWS ON SNAP, BUT RAINY DAY FUND.

SOME STATES ARE CALLING IN THE NATIONAL GUARD TO HELP FOOD BANKS DISTRIBUTE?

THAT IS STUFF TOWN THE ROAD HERE?

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THOSE KINDS OF THINGS?

>> WELL, I CANNOT SPECULATE ON WHAT THE GOVERNOR, THE STATE ARE PLANNING TO DO, I CAN SAY THAT CERTAINLY ANY RESOURCES IS WELCOMED.

I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE REACHED OUT TO ME AND ASKED IF THEY COULD DONATE FINANCIAL DONATIONS OR FOOD DONATIONS OR THEIR TIME.

THERE IS WAYS TO FIND THAT ON THE WEBSITE.

TED: AGAIN, THE WEBSITE IS.

>> AZ FOOD BANK!

ORG.

ALL RIGHT.

ASHLEY ST.

THOMAS.

WELL, WE ARE GLAD YOU ARE HEAR TODAY.

BECAUSE, I MEAN, GOODNESS GRACIOUS.

BEFORE THE SHOW.

MINUTES BEFORE THE SHOW STARTED.

THIS INFORMATION CAME DOWN AND IT WAS GOOD INFORMATION AND WE ARE GLAD WE HAD YOU HERE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

TED: CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM CONTINUES TO BE AN ONGOING ISSUE IN ARIZONA.

AND NEW DATA SHOW THAT A CERTAIN GROUP OF STUDENTS SEEM TO BE MISSING MORE SCHOOL THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT.

EDUCATION REPORTER ROXANNE DE LA ROSA HAS MORE.

>> SINCE THE PANDEMIC CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM CONTINUES TO BE AN ISSUE IN ARIZONA.

THE NUMBERS ARE A LITTLE SURPRISING.

ADVOCACY GROUP EDUCATION FOUNDATION RELEASED A NEW REPORT AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER 2025.

THAT LOOKED AT RATES THROUGH 2021-2024.

PAUL SHARE WHATS THE DATA SHOWS ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN ARIZONA.

>> IT WENT DOWN A LITTLE BIT TO ABOUT 34%.

THINK ABOUT THAT.

MORE THAN A THIRD OF EVERY SINGLE STUDENT THAT IS AT SCHOOL IS CHRONICALLY BE A SENT, MEANING THEY ARE MISSING 18 OR MORE DAYS A SCHOOL YEAR.

>> HE TALKS ABOUT WHICH STUDENTS MISSED THE MOST SCHOOL DAYS.

>> STUDENTS THAT WERE IN LOWER INCOME SCHOOLS SO HIGH POVERTY, WE USED FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH AS A PROX WHERE I. IF THEY HAD HIGHER FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH RATES.

THOSE SCHOOLS TENDED TO HAVE MORE.

>> THE REPORT FOUND THAT STUDENTS OF COLOR FROM LOW INCOME BACKGROUNDS HAD THE HIGHEST RATE OF ABSENCES WITH NATIVE AMERICAN STUDENTS COMING IN AT 5% WHILE LATINO STUDENTS CAME IN AT 39%.

WEST VALLEY COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL SAID LAST YEAR THE ABSENTEEISM RATE LANDED AT 61%.

RUBIO TALKS ABOUT THE CHALLENGES HIS STUDENTS FACE.

SO WE UNDERSTAND THAT OUR COMMUNITY, YOU FO HE, HAS DIFFERENT NEEDS, RIGHT?

AND WE KNOW THAT THERE IS DIFFERENT BARRIERS THAT PREVENT STUDENTS FROM COMING TO CAMPUS.

SOME OF THOSE BAR YOURSELF INCLUDE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, RIGHT?

SOME OF THAT COULD BE BECAUSE OF A LOW SOCIAL ECONOMIC STATUS.

MANY OF THE STUDENTS HAVE TO WORK OR SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES.

>> ABOUT 30 STAFF MEMBERS ALONG WITH RUBIO STEPPED IN TO MENTOR CHRONICALLY ABSENT STUDENTS TO MEET WITH THEM ON A DAILY BASIS FOR SIX WEEKS.

THE PROGRAM INCLUDED INCENTIVES LIKE GIFT CARDS WHEN THEY MET THE GOALS.

RUBIO SHARES AN EXPERIENCE WITH ONE OF THE MENDTES.

>> $75 GIFT CARD FOR A SHOER TO.

AND MY STUDENTS WON THE RAFFLE FOR THAT SHOE STORE.

AND I WAS SO EXCITED, YOU KNOW, TO SEE HIM, YOU KNOW, WON THAT GIFT CARD BECAUSE HE WANTED TO GET A NEW PAIR OF SHOES.

THE FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOLS, THE SCHOOL YEAR, THIS KID CAME TO FIND ME AND SHOW ME THE NEW PAIR OF SHOES THAT HE BROUGHT OVER WITH THE GIFT CARD THAT HE WON THROUGH.

IT IS THE LITTLE THINGS.

YOU KNOW, THAT HELP OUR STUTTER STUDENTS TO STAY MOTIVATED AND WANT THEM TO COME TO SCHOOL.

>> THE PROGRAM WAS A SUCCESS WITH 93% OF STUDENTS MEETING THEIR ATTENDANCE GOALS.

RUBIO PLANS TO LAUNCH THE PROGRAM FOR A SECOND YEAR AND SHARES WHAT WAS BEHIND THE PROGRAM'S SUCCESS.

>> OUR MIDDLE NAME IS COMMUNITY.

IT IS COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL.

SO WE REALLY BELIEVE IT TAKES THE WHOLE COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS.

YOU KNOW, THAT IS WHY I DECIDED TO BE PART OF THE MENTORS THAT WILL TAKE ON SOME OF THE STUDENTS THEN HELP THEM ACHIEVE THE AC DEM TICK GOALS.

LIKE I SAID, IT TAKES EVERYONE.

SO WE ALL PITCH IN TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS.

>> ROXANNE DE LA ROSA REPORTING FOR ARIZONA HORIZON.

WE FOLLOW THAT REPORT WITH "READ ON ARIZONA," THE STATE'S EARLY LITERACY INITIATIVE, WHICH HAS DEVELOPED THE "ARIZONA CHRONIC ABSENCE TASK-FORCE," WITH THE GOAL OF REDUCING CHRONIC ABSENCE TO PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS BY 2030.

TO LEARN MORE, WE WELCOME LORI MASSEUR, THE LEADER OF THE TASK FORCE AND THE EARLY LEARNING DIRECTOR FOR "READ ON ARIZONA."

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

TED: CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM, HOW IS IT DEFINED?

>> SO IT IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA FOR SCHOOL ACCOUNTABILITY PURPOSES, CHRONIC ABSENCE IS DEFINED WHEN A STUDENT MISSES 10% OR MORE OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

IN THE INCLUDES EXCUSED ABSENCE AND ALSO INCLUDES SUSPENSIONS.

>> OK.

SO BUT EXCUSED ABSENCE, I MEAN, I GUESS EVEN IF IT IS EXCUSED YOU GOT A GREAT REASON.

ARE STILL NOT IN SCHOOL, ARE YOU?

>> YOU ARE IL STILL NOT IN SCHOOL IF YOU HAVE A VALID REASON, BUT YOU ARE STILL MISSING KEY INSTRUCTIONAL TIME FIENT IS EXCUSED.

>> WHAT ABOUT KIDS WHO CHANGE SCHOOLS IN MIDYEAR?

BECAUSE I WAS READING UP ON THIS.

THERE IS A LITTLE QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

>> SO WHAT YOU ARE PE REFERRING TO IS STUDENT MOBILITY.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THAT DEFINITION OF CHRONIC ABSENCE, HOW WE CALCULATE THAT TEN PERCENT IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA, IT TOES NOT ACCOUNT FOR STUDENT PECT.

SO YOUR POINT, IF THE STUDENT MOVES FROM ONE SCHOOL TOLL ANOTHER, THAT CLOCK RESETS.

IN TERMS OF CHRONIC ABSENCE SO THEY HAVE A FRESH SLATE AND THEY ARE ACCRUING NUANCES.

TED: INTERESTING.

>> YEAH.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT STUDENT MOBILITY.

I CAN HAVE A STUDENT AT ONE SCHOOL MISS, YOU KNOW, NINE DAYS THEN COME TO ANOTHER SCHOOL, AND MISS 11 DAYS TECHNICALLY, THEY MEET THE DEFINITION OF BEING CHRONICALLY ABSENCE, BUT THEY ARE NOT RECEIVING THE KEY RESOURCES AND SUPPORTS BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT FLAGGING AT THE SCHOOL AS BEING CHRONICALLY ABSENCE.

>> 10% AQUATES TO 18 DAYS AND A SCHOOL YEAR AND THE STUDIES SHOW EVERY DAY MISSED IT TAKE TWOS DAYS TO CATCH UP?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO RESEARCH TELLS US, THAT FOR EVERY DAY A CHILD MISSES, IT TAKE TWOS DAYS TO CATCH UP.

YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THAT.

IF YOU KNOW, A TEACHER HAS TO COME IN, THEY HAVE THEIR LESSON PLANNED THEY ARE DOING THEIR CURRICULUM.

THEY ARE TEACHING.

A STUDENT IS OUT.

THEY HAVE TO KEEP TEACHING OTHER STUDENTNESS THIS CATCHING THAT CHILD UP.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT CHRONIC ABSENCE.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE POINT OF WHEN YOU HAVE 20% OR MORE ABSENT BUT NOT ONLY IMPACTING THE STUDENT WHO IS ABSENT IT IS IMPACTING THE ENTIRE CLASS.

>> IMPACTING THE TEACHER IN THE SENSE OF CONTINUATION WHEN YOU KIND OF TEACHING A CLASS AND MOVING FORWARD, YOU ARE NOT MOVING FORWARD IF YOU ARE STOPPING DOWN ALL THE TIME.

ARE CONSTANTLY HAVING TO SCAFFOLD AND DIFFERENTIATE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THOSE STUDENTS WHEN THEY ARE MISSING THE KEY INSTRUCTIONAL HOURS.

THE KEY INSTRUCTIONAL HOURS WHEN THEY ARE MISSED BY ESPECIALLY THE YOUNGER KIDS.

THAT IS IMPACTFUL, ISN'T IT?

WELL, WE SEE THAT CHRONIC ABSENCE RATES ARE HIGH IN THIS EARLY YEARS, AND THE EARLY GRADES, IN PARTICULAR.

WE SEE THEM BE VERY HIGH IN KINDERGARTEN.

THEY KIND OF, WE CALLED THIS INVERTED BELL CURVE.

WE SEE THAT CHRONIC ABSENCE RATES ARE HIGH.

THEY TEND TO GO DOWN ABOUT THIRD GRADE THEN AFTER THIRD GRADE THEN AS THEY ARE TRANSITIONING FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL TOLL HIGH SCHOOL, WE TEND TO SEE THOSE RATES CLIMB BACK UP.

A YEAH.

THE IMPACT ON EDUCATION.

FOR BOTH ENDS OF THAT INVERTED BELL CURVE.

>> FOR BOTH ENDS OF THAT INVERTED BELL CURVE.

WHAT WE KNOW FROM A COUPLE OF STUDIES HAVE COME OUT LIKE THE REPORT, THE REPORTS STATED.

ONE WAS DONE IN 2014 WITH READ ON ARIZONA AND ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY.

AND WE SAW THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ATTENDANCE THEN.

THEN WHAT WE SAW AT THAT POINT WAS FOR EVERY ONE PERCENT, THAT A SCHOOL IMPROVED ATTENDANCE.

THERE WAS 1.5% INCREASE AND ELA PROFICIENCY RATE.

>> ISN'T THAT IN INTERESTING?

WE SEE THAT MIRRORED IN THED DY WITH PARTNERSHIP WITH THE EDUCATION FOUNDATION.

WHY ARE KIDS MISSING SCHOOL?

>> THAT IS, THAT IS VERY LOADED QUESTION.

BUT WE KNOW THAT THE REASONS VARY AND OFTEN COMPLEX.

WHEN WE BEGIN TO LOOK AT THE ROOT CAUSE BEHIND WHY CHILDREN ABSENT, THEY TEND TO FALL INTO A FEW BUCKETS.

PIT IS BARRIERS SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT TOAD AND HOUSING INSECURITY.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT SAFE ENVIRONMENTS THE OTHER PART OF THAT IS DISENGAGEMENT PERHAPS CHILDREN ARE BORN OR SOMETHING IS TOO CHALLENGING, AND ANOTHER PIECE IS AVERSIONS.

THERE MAY BE SOCIAL ANXIETY, BULLYING, THEN WE THINK ABOUT MISCONSENSUAL.

THERE IS A MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT A CHILD BEING CHRONICALLY ABSENT THEN TWO DAYS A MONTH, IT IS NOT THEM BEING CHRONICALLY ABSENT.

WE KNOW THAT CHRONIC ABSENCE IS CUMULATIVE.

>> AGAIN, IT IS MORE THAN JUST PLAYING HOOKY.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A VARIETY OF REASONS, CORRECT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YEAH.

OK.

SO YOU DEVELOPED A RESOURCE GUIDE READ ON ARIZONA.

WHAT IS IN THE RESOURCE GUIDE.

HOW CAN THAT HELP FAMILY?

>> SO IN THE RESOURCE GUIDE.

WE TALK ABOUT WHAT CHRONIC ABSENCE IS.

WHAT IT IS NOT.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, WHAT WE TALK ABOUT IS WHAT ARE SOME EFFECTIVE EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES THAT CAN BE PUT IN PLACE?

TO SUPPORT STUDENTS.

DOWN FROM HOW DO WE CREATE A SENSE OF BELONGING AT THE SCHOOL.

HOW DO WE COMMUNICATE EPECKTIVELY WITH PARENTS AROUND THE IMPORTANCE OF EVERY DAY ATTENDANCE.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THIS E IS?

ALSO SOME OF THE KEY TARGETED STRATEGIES WHEN WE SEE ABSENCES BEGIN TO CLIMB.

WHEN DO WE BEGIN TO DO HOME VISITATION.

WHEN A DO WE BEGIN TO PARTNER YOU WITH MAYBE SOME SOCIAL IMPACT SERVICE AGENT IS SO WE COVER THE GAMUT OF THIS APPROACH EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES.

TED: WHERE CAN PEOPLE FIND THE RESOURCE GUIDED?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

INYOU CAN FIND THE RESOURCE GUIDE ON LIT HUB AZ.

ORG.

IT IS A LITERACY BASED SITE WE LAUNCHED IN 2024 THAT TALKS ABOUT THE EVIDENCE-BASED TRAGEDIES THEN AVAILABLE FOR PARENTS, COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND EDUCATORS IN.

VERY GOOD.

GREAT INFORMATION.

GOOD YOU HAVE HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

♪ ♪ ♪ A NEW NOVEL IS OUT THAT PROVIDES A GUIDE TO NAVIGATING ADDICTION TREATMENT, TOLD THROUGH BOTH A PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL POINT OF VIEW.

THE BOOK IS TITLED, "THE REHAB PLAYBOOK: DEMYSTIFYING ADDICTION TREATMENT."

AND THE BOOK'S AUTHOR IS JAIME VINCK, PRESIDENT OF THE TREATMENT TREATMENT WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZONS.

CONE GRAT ON THE BOOK.

>> THANK YOU.

TED: JUST RECENTLY, JUST SEEING THAT BOOK SITTING THERE MUST BE GREAT.

>> IT IS.

I IS A GIFT.

TED: LABOR OF LOVE FOR YOU.

UM, DEMYSTIFYING.

HOW IS ADDICTION MYSTERIOUS.

>> SO, I HAVE BEEN IN THE ADDICTION TREATMENT BUSINESS FOR 20 YEARS.

AND I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN FASCINATED BY THE FACT AND IT IS STATISTIC THAT ONE IN TEN PEOPLE WHO STRUGGLE WITH ADDICTION GET TREATMENT AND MY GOAL WAS TO WRITE A BOOK TO REALLY TOUCH THE OTHER NINE WHO ARE NOT GETTING TREATMENT.

AND SO THERE ARE VARIETY OF REASONS WHY PEOPLE DON'T GO TO TREATMENT.

TED: YES.

I WANTED TO ADDRESS THEM NOT ONLY FOR THE PERSON STRUGGLING BUT ALSO FOR THEIR LOVED ONES FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES FOR ANYONE THAT IS IN THE WORLD OF SOMEONE WHO STRUGGLES WITH ADDICTION.

TED: SO IT IS A GUIDE BOOK, CORRECT?

>> EXACTLY.

>> THIS IS A GADE BOOK FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.

>> IT IS FROM EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE LEARNED FOR 20 YEARS AND I AM A CLINICIAN AND FROM THE FIRST MOMENT WHERE SOMEONE WONDERS OH MY GOSH.

DO I NEED HELP TO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING TREATMENT.

>> WHY IS TREATMENT AND COVER RECOVERY SO HARD TO FIND?

>> SO IT REMAINS ILLUSIVE FOR VARIETY OF REASONS.

FIRST OF ALL, PEOPLE ARE NOT CLEAR WHAT HELP THEY NEED.

THERE ARE SO MANY OPTIONS NOW, AND YOU KNOW, POST COVID, THERE IS SO MANY ADDITIONAL VIRTUAL SERVICES, AND ALL OF THAT.

THAT IS GREAT.

BUZZ FOLKS DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY NEED.

AND SO, SOMETHING THAT I HAVE DONE THERE IS REALLY TOLL DEFINE THE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF CARE AVAILABLE.

THE OTHER THING IS THAT PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR RESOURCES ARE.

AND WHAT IS AVAILABLE THROUGH THEIR INSURANCE.

REKHA WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT FINANCES AND INSURANCE.

I MEAN, EVEN IN THE BEST OF TIMES, THAT COULD BE CONFUSING.

>> IT CAN.

AND YOU KNOW, PART OF WHAT I RECOMMEND IS TO SIT DOWN WITH YOUR INSURANCE CARD, MAKE THE CALLS OR HAVE A TRUSTED FRIEND OR LOVED ONE DO IT TO FIND OUT WHAT BENEFITS ARE COVERED.

TED: AND ONCE YOU GET THAT TONE, ONCE YOU GET THAT INFORMATION, ONCE YOU GET THE FOOT IN THE DOOR AND FIGURED OUT THIS MAY BE WHERE I NEED TO BE.

NAVIGATING THE ENTIRE ADDICTION TREATMENT UNIVERSE.

THAT HAS NOT TO BE DIFFICULT AS WELL.

YOU ADDRESSED THAT HERE AS WELL.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE STIGMA.

YOU KNOW, THERE IS A LOT OF STIGMA STILL OUT THERE ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS ABOUT ADDICTION THAT SOMEHOW WE ARE BROKEN AND YOU KNOW, THE APPROACH THAT I TOOK IS, YOU KNOW, WE ARE NOT BROKEN.

IT IS NOT WHAT WE HAVE DONE.

IT WHAT IS HAPPENED TO US.

>> IS THAT ANOTHER -- YOU MENTIONED IT WAS INTERESTING WHEN YOU ARE SPEAKING I THOUGHT ABOUT THE FACT, OKHA KAY, YOU MADE THESE.

YOU HAVE GONE THROUGH THE HURDLES AND THINGS BUT YOU HAVE TO TRUST SOMEONE.

IT IS THE CONCEPT OF TRUST STILL AS YOU SAY ILLUSIVE?

>> YEAH.

YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT.

WHEN SOMEONE GOES TREATMENT, WE ARE ASKING THEM TO TRUST US BEFORE WE EARNED THAT RIGHT.

TED: YEAH.

YOU KNOW, WHAT IS TRUST?

POSITIVE BEHAVIOR OVER TIME.

AND WE ARE ASKING THEM IN THE DARKEST MOMENT OF THEIR LIFE, TO TRUST US.

AND SO SOMETHING THAT I DID AS PART OF THE BOOK IS I INTRODUCED THREE PROFESSIONALS, BE THAT RUN THE INDUSTRY, BE THAT ARE IN RECOVERY THEMSELVES.

SO A READER CAN SEE WHERE THE HEARTS ARE AND THAT ONCE YOU DO MAKE THE DECISION TO GO TO TREATMENT, YOU WILL BE GREETED BY PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN THERE.

WHO CAN PACK YOUR LANGUAGE AND DEVOTED THEIR LIFE TO HEALING.

YEAH.

YEAH.

HOW DO YOU GET PEOPLE WHO NEED THIS INFORMATION?

THEY REALLY NEED THIS INFORMATION?

HOW DO YOU GET THEM TO TRUST YOU.

HOW DO YOU GET THEM TO GET THAT BOOK?

SO BOY TALKING TO PEOPLE LIKE YOU FIRST OF ALL AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, THE BEGINNING OF THE BOOK IS VERY MUCH ABOUT MAY OWN STORY AND MY FAMILY AND REALLY BUILDING THAT TRUST AND I TALK ABOUT MY TIME AS A THERAPIST AND WINS THAT WE BASICALLY HAD.

YOU KNOW, THE THING ABOUT ADDICTION IS THAT WE CAN WIN AGAINST THE OPPONENT OF ADDICTION.

IT HAPPENS EVERY DAY.

PEOPLE ARE OUT THERE LIVING THEIR BEST LIFE.

AND SO TO REALLY ENGAGE THEM WITH THOSE STORIES OF SUCCESS.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, IT MUST BE AWFULLY GOOD WHEN PEOPLE.

THE BOOK HAS BEEN RELEASED.

YOU HAVE NOT HAD TOO MUCH RESPONSE.

ANYONE RESPONSE SAYING THIS BOOK MUST HELP.

THAT MUST FEEL GREAT.

IT REALLY DOES.

FOR OTHERS AS WELL BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT I AM HOPING AND THERE IS A THAT THEY CAN GIVE IT TO THEIR CLIENTS WHO CAN GIVE IT TO SOMEONE ELSE.

TED: AND, AND IS THERE OVERRIDING PIECE OF ADVICE THAT HOVERS OVER THE ENTIRE BOOK UNEVERY CHAPTER.

THERE IS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE CAN TAKE WITH THEM.

YES.

I BELIEVE THAT THIS MESSAGE IS HOME HOPE.

HOPE HASES A GAME PLAN WITH THIS BACK.

AND THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT REALLY, YOU KNOW, THERE IS GREAT PEOPLE THAT HAVE DEVOTED OUR LIVES TO THE WORK AND PEOPLE GET BETTER EVERY DAY.

SO HOPES THE MAIN MESSAGE.

YOU ARE DONATING TO THE AMERICAN RESEARCH FOUNDATION, CORRECT?

>> YES.

SO ANOTHER REASON TO HOPE THE THING SELLS LIKE CRAZE WHERE I. ABSOLUTELY.

VERIED ABOUT IN THE YOU ARE OUT IN WICKENBURG RIGHT.

>> YES.

IT IS IT CIVILIZATION STARTING TO CATCH UP TO THAT PLACE BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE IT IS GROWING OUT THERE.

THE URBAN SPRAWL IS MAKING IT ALL THE WAY TO BACKENBURG.

YEAH.

I AM SURE IT IS A SPECIAL PLACE.

JAMIE THANKS SO MUCH.

>> THANK.

CONE GRAT ON THE BOOK.

>> THANKS.

>> AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

AM TED SIMONS THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOININGS.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.