EARLY HELP STEPPED UP FOR UNRULY TIOGA PUPILS

PINS Program Shows Primary School Potential

Elementary schoolchildren who are disruptive and skipping class can
find themselves and their parents working with an officer in the
probation department, the same agency that handles adults convicted of
crimes.

"What we'd really like to do is have the children that are presenting
behavior issues in grade school," said Tom Duff, Tioga County's
probation supervisor.

The probation department is getting increasing responsibility for
improving children's lives, and Duff said the department has to get an
early start to be effective.

In 2004, 23 of the 84 children in the department's Person in Need of
Supervision program were referred by schools.

The PINS program targets children under 18 who frequently miss school,
have a pattern of ungovernable behavior, or have been found in
possession of small amounts of marijuana.

A smattering of 8- to 12-year-olds were referred to the probation
department last year, by schools, parents or agencies, and Duff said
he hopes the numbers increase as Tioga County schools become aware of
the department's services for young children.

Duff said his department sent a letter at the beginning of this school
year to schools in each district reminding them of the PINS program.
He expects to send a similar missive at the beginning of the next
school year.

Duff and Joy Bennett, the county's director of probation, said
reaching a child in third, fourth or fifth grade is better than
waiting until the child is older, stronger and has settled into a
pattern of anti-social behavior.

"We have a much better chance to intercede when they are first
starting to have problems," Duff said. "We have a better chance of
making a positive change."

Mary Poffenbarger, who has two teenage boys in the Owego-Apalachin
Central School District, said she agrees with the approach. "The
earlier intervention takes place," she said, "the better it is for
children and families."

Poffenbarger, a nurse at the Broome-Tioga Board of Cooperative
Educational Services, said she sees a lot of troubled children.

She said getting them help when they are younger is better for several
reasons: Children are just starting with defiant behaviors and not yet
set in a pattern, and parents aren't worn out from dealing with years
of problems associated with the behavior.

Kate Nagy, who has a son in Apalachin Elementary School, said while
she thinks outside help sometimes is necessary, parental involvement
is a must.

"I think if a child is disruptive in the class," she said, "there does
need to be a level of intervention."

However, Nagy said, the intervention doesn't necessarily have to
involve the PINS program. She also said medical and psychological
factors need to be taken into account before any decisions are made.

"Explore your options," she said.

Growing responsibilities

The department's effort to reach young children comes as the state is
relying on departments to intercede with more children to control
costs and encourage greater involvement of parents and schools.

In 2004, 23 cases in the county went straight to Family Court, an
avenue for schools or parents who did not want to go through PINS. A
new state mandate, effective in April, has removed that option.

Now parents or schools that want help with an uncontrollable youth
will only have PINS.

As part of the PINS program, schools and parents will be questioned
about each step they have taken to correct the problem, Duff said.

They also will be required to be active participants throughout the
time a child is in PINS.

"Schools are probably going to be unhappy about this new law," Duff
said. And he said he doesn't blame them.

But Thomas Comerford III, director of pupil personnel services for
Owego-Apalachin, said the mandate won't greatly affect his district
because cases rarely went directly to court.

Usually if a child has problems at school, there are problems at home,
he said. Because of that, giving parents information on the PINS
program and encouraging a collaboration is a more positive route than
going to court, Comerford said.

If the problem is chronic and beyond the assistance the school has to
offer, then the school encourages the parents to seek a third-party
alternative such as PINS, Comerford said.

What does PINS involve?

An adolescent can be referred to the PINS program by parents or a
third party that has direct dealings with the child, such as a school.
Duff said some schools involve the child's parents, while others
simply send the child's information directly to the department.

Once referred, the child, parents and any third party involved are
given an explanation of operations and procedures, Duff said.

The next step is evaluation and treatment, which can include substance
and mental health counseling, parenting classes and preventive
services. The PINS program also uses ACCORD for dispute resolution and
the New Hope Center for bullying and aggression issues.

The cost of the program is covered by some state funds, but mostly
county dollars.

County Manager John Byrne said a specific budget amount is difficult
to gauge since many of the programs offered by PINS are through
different county departments, such as the Department of Social Services.

Duff said the reason behind the PINS program has remained the same,
despite the changes.

"We want to make school and their home a more positive experience,"
Duff said. "We can dream, I guess."