LOWELL, MA – September 5, 2008 – Congresswoman Niki Tsongas announced today that the Department of Health and Human Services has awarded a federal grant in the amount of $93,397 to ONE Lowell, a non-profit organization which works to decrease truancy among ethnically diverse middle and high school students in Lowell.  The organization has been credited with reducing dropout rates and juvenile crime, and increasing economic opportunities among at-risk students in the Lowell community.

"We all know the importance of staying in school and the opportunities that students create for themselves by doing so," said Congresswoman Niki Tsongas.  "ONE Lowell's unique approach to helping at-risk students remain in school is both effective and commendable, and I am pleased that the Department of Education has provided this funding to further support their efforts."

"We are extremely pleased that this grant award will enable us to continue our work with helping at risk students to stay in school and graduate," said Victoria Fahlberg, Executive Director "Keeping students in school is not only a benefit to those students, but to everyone who lives in our community."

ONE Lowell helps to support students which Lowell public schools have identified as routinely truant with consequent poor academic performance.  Often times these students come from families which may be linguistically and culturally isolated and as such disengaged from the school system. Once a student is referred, a ONE Lowell parent liaison from the student’s culture language group visits the home, meets with parents, assesses the situation, and works with parents and students to increase attendance.

Sometimes families and students can be helped by being made aware of something as simple as the school bus schedule.  In other instances parent liaisons will help families access much needed services in order to increase the quality of life in these homes.

ONE Lowell is the only organization in the city providing this type of support program to immigrant and refugee students and their families. The success of this program is largely due to the strong partnerships made with the middle and high schools. Students in this program range from 5th through 12th grade and are referred directly by the schools. This program works especially close with the Department of Social Services, the Lowell Police Department, and juvenile probation, and also refers many clients to other social service agencies in the city.

The cost per family member served is approximately $267, making this program one of the most cost effective programs serving high risk youth, their siblings, and parents in Lowell. The need for this public service is illustrated by the program’s waiting list of 45 students.

So far this year, 76% of all students referred to ONE Lowell have improved their attendance.

Dropout is a serious problem in Lowell for both the student as well as the community. According to the Department of Education, Lowell's graduation rate for 2006 was 69.9%. These rates are even higher among Hispanic students in Lowell (49.4% graduated in 2006), low income students (64.3% graduated in 2006), and limited English speaking students (53.8% graduated in 2006). In addition to dropout resulting in more low income families and unemployment, dropouts are more likely to turn to crime, costing the public financially as well as decreasing the quality of life in the community.

###