Judge Anastasia Wiley and Families in Need of Services (FINS) Officer Aleta Hoffman were guest speakers at the July 22 meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Winnfield, where they spoke about the FINS program and its impact on local families and schools.
Judge Wiley opened the program by recalling advice she received from longtime community leader Etoy Ashley, who encouraged her to “help the children.” That advice, she said, has remained central to her work on the bench.
She introduced Hoffman, who has served as the parish’s FINS officer for just over a year. The FINS office, located in the parish health unit building, works with children and families through both legal and voluntary processes to prevent juvenile delinquency and address unsafe or unhealthy home environments.
FINS cases generally fall into three categories: juvenile delinquents, at-risk children who need intervention before delinquency, and children in need of care due to neglect or abuse.
The FINS system became a legal process in Louisiana on July 1, 1994, with the passage of Title 7 of the Children’s Code. The program seeks to identify harmful behaviors by a child or family members that may require court intervention or support services. Formal FINS involves court action, while informal FINS includes voluntary meetings and needs assessments.
Community members—including neighbors, teachers and church leaders—can make referrals. FINS cases typically last six months but can be extended up to a year.
Hoffman reported that of the 63 referrals in the parish last year, 58 were related to truancy. Under Louisiana law, five or more unexcused absences in a semester is considered truancy. Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% or more of school days in a year, roughly six weeks.
Judge Wiley emphasized the connection between truancy and incarceration, noting that many individuals currently in prison dropped out of school around the ninth grade.
Winn Parish currently has no designated truancy officer, but Bob Jordan with the School Board serves as the liaison with FINS. One of the challenges Hoffman noted is inconsistency in how the parish’s five schools handle truancy. She said improving consistency is a key goal for the upcoming school year.
The statewide truancy rate for the 2023-24 school year was 41.76%, while Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John Weimer’s independent research showed a higher rate of 52.5%. In Winn Parish, the truancy rate was 50.33%. The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education has set a goal of reducing truancy rates by 2% annually.
Hoffman said progress has been made, particularly in cooperation between schools and parental accountability. One new measure is having a parish deputy deliver letters to parents after a referral is made. These letters include a scheduled appointment and a warning that failure to appear may result in arrest—an approach that has led to increased cooperation.
Judge Wiley also noted that the Winn Parish Police Jury is in the process of establishing a Children and Youth Planning Board.
Kiwanis members said the presentation shed light on a little-known program that plays a vital role in the lives of local children and families.