Compass Care is a family-centered, customized intervention that reduces chronic absenteeism for 5th-12th grade students. Compass Care’s ten-week program utilizes advocates (with lived experience) who are curious and compassionate, focusing on the specific needs of a student and their family. Whether those are based in aspects of the school system or other barriers at home, the advocates are prepared for circumstances that range from academic or mental health challenges to concerns for safety to a lack of reliable transportation. Seneca currently partners with schools to address chronic absenteeism through the Compass Care approach in Tennessee, Washington State, and California.
At Compass Care, we believe that the best way to improve our work is to listen to those who experience it firsthand, our students and families. One of the most powerful ways we do this is through our Youth Advisory Board (YAB), a dedicated group of current and former Compass Care participants who provide invaluable insight into how we can better support students navigating chronic absenteeism.
Twice a year, the YAB comes together to review our program, discuss their experiences, and offer feedback on what works, what doesn’t, and where we can grow. Their voices help shape everything from how we engage families to the types of resources we prioritize. The YAB is a critical part of our commitment to continuous learning and improvement.
We also deeply value the perspectives of our Hope Scholars who participate on the YAB, current UC Berkeley students who have overcome significant challenges, including experiences in foster care, probation foster care, or being orphaned before the age of 18. Though they have not participated in Compass Care, their journeys offer important insight into the long-term impact of supportive services, resilience, and access to education. Their voices provide a unique and critical perspective on how we can continue to improve our work and ensure that students facing adversity receive the support they need to thrive.
By centering student voices and lived experiences, we ensure that Compass Care remains dynamic, responsive, and truly student-centered. We are grateful for the passion and dedication of our YAB members and Hope Scholars, whose contributions make our work stronger and more impactful every day.
At Compass Care, we believe that the best way to improve our work is to listen to those who experience it firsthand, our students and families. One of the most powerful ways we do this is through our Youth Advisory Board (YAB), a dedicated group of current and former Compass Care participants who provide invaluable insight into how we can better support students navigating chronic absenteeism.
Twice a year, the YAB comes together to review our program, discuss their experiences, and offer feedback on what works, what doesn’t, and where we can grow. Their voices help shape everything from how we engage families to the types of resources we prioritize. The YAB is a critical part of our commitment to continuous learning and improvement.
We also deeply value the perspectives of our Hope Scholars who participate on the YAB, current UC Berkeley students who have overcome significant challenges, including experiences in foster care, probation foster care, or being orphaned before the age of 18. Though they have not participated in Compass Care, their journeys offer important insight into the long-term impact of supportive services, resilience, and access to education. Their voices provide a unique and critical perspective on how we can continue to improve our work and ensure that students facing adversity receive the support they need to thrive.
By centering student voices and lived experiences, we ensure that Compass Care remains dynamic, responsive, and truly student-centered. We are grateful for the passion and dedication of our YAB members and Hope Scholars, whose contributions make our work stronger and more impactful every day.
Blog By: Kenosha Collins, Project Manager of Education Innovation
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