WAKE COUNTY ATTENDANCE POLICIES:

• Every child between the ages of 7 and 16 must attend school. A child younger than 7, when enrolled, must attend the same as older children. This is N.C. law as well as Wake County’s policy (NC Law 115C-378 and Wake County policy 6000).

• Absences will be excused if:

1. personal illness or injury that makes the student physically unable to attend school;

2. isolation ordered by the local health officer or the State Board of Health;

3. death in the immediate family; (including, but not necessarily limited to parents/guardians, siblings, and grandparents):

4. medical or dental appointment of the student;

5. attendance at the proceedings of a court or administrative tribunal if the student is party to the action or under subpoena as a witness;

6. observance of an event required or suggested by the religion of the student or the student’s parent(s)/guardians;

7. participation in a valid educational opportunity, such as travel or service as a legislative or Governor’s page or college visit, with prior approval from the principal;

8. pregnancy and related conditions or parenting, when medically necessary; or

9. visitation with the student’s parent or legal guardian, at the discretion of  the superintendent or designee, if the parent or legal guardian (a) is an active duty member of the uniformed services as defined by policy 4050, Children of Military Families, and (b) has been called to duty for, is on leave from, or has immediately returned from deployment to a combat zone or combat support posting.

• When a student must miss school, a parent or guardian must submit a written excuse (print or electronic) to the student’s teacher or attendance office within two days of the student’s return after an absence.  Absences due to extended illnesses may also require a statement from a licensed health care practitioner.  Failure to submit a written excuse will result in the absence being coded unexcused.  The school principal determines whether a submitted medical statement is sufficient to excuse a student’s absence. 

 Please contact me for help with any problems that may interfere with your child’s attendance. We appreciate your cooperation in ensuring that your child attends school regularly. 

Wake County Student Handbook on Attendance 

*Schools have a Backpack Buddies program that provides meals for youth over the weekend. Please contact me to sign up.

RESOURCES

• WCPSS Free/Reduced Meals 

• NC DHHS Food Assistance Program (Food Stamps) 

• NC 211 Searchable Database 

• Wake Network of Care Searchable Database 

• Food Pantries of Wake County 

• Summer Meals Site Finder 

 FOODBANK RESOURCES BY ZIPCODE:

• St. Mary AME Church 27502 

• Western Wake Crisis Ministry  27502 (Apex, FV, Holly Springs Residents Only)

• Dorcus Ministries 27511  (Cary & Morrisville Residents Only)

• A Doorway to Hope 27512 (summer foods ministry)

• White Oak 27523 

• Community of Hope Food Pantry 27529 

• Garner Area Ministries 27529 

• Holly Springs Food Cupboard  27540 

• Community Helpers Service Center 27545 

• Shepherd's Table Soup Kitchen Raleigh 27603 

• Urban Ministries 27603 

• With Love From Jesus 27603 

• Catholic Charities of Raleigh 27604 

• Hope Community Church 27606 

• Raleigh Church of Christ Pantry 27606 

• Comunidad Cristiana Hosanna Food Bank 27610 

Many listed resources accept Medicaid and/or have sliding scale; contact resource directly to inquire.

MEDICAL 

• Advance Community Health uninsured only, whole family, 

• Alliance Medical Ministry  serves adults

• Mariam Clinic  serves adults

• Neighbor Health  have to establish as a patient before being seen, so not an urgent option as it could be up to a month before an appointment is available 

• Prescription Assistance Programs 

• UNC Mobile Clinic  Free medical services text: 984-363-6011 every Tuesday 10-2pm & 1st/3rd Saturday

• Urban Ministries Open Door Clinic & Rx  serves underinsured adults (must establish as a patient)

• Wake Co Health Department medicaid, sliding scale

• Western Wake Crisis Ministry  (Apex, FV, Holly Spring Residents Only) can aid with prescription costs

     VACCINES 

• Wake County Immunization Clinic Clinic E 919-250-3900 No cost for children without insurance

SCHOOL PHYSICALS (No Cost)

• UNC Mobile Clinic text: 984-363-6011 every Tuesday 10-2pm & 1st/3rd Saturday. MUST bring school paper form AND vaccine records from North Carolina -*all required vaccines completed*

• FASTMED URGENT CARE All Raleigh Locations (T-DAP vaccine available) $25-$50, 

• NEXTCARE URGENT CARE Wake Forest (T-DAP vaccine available) $66, 919-872-3959

• CONCENTRA URGENT CARE Raleigh (T-DAP vaccine available) $45,  919-790-0288

• AFC URGENT CARE Raleigh (T-DAP & Meningococcal vaccines available) $50,  919-899-4000

DENTAL

• Mariam Clinic  serves adults

• Wake County Health Department Dental Clinic 

• Wake Smiles  Serves adults, $40, requires referral from area partners/see website

• Wake Tech Dental Hygiene Clinic  affordable care

VISION

• America's Best Eyecare + Eyewear free exam & 2 pairs of glasses for $89.95, Accepts Medicaid, can schedule online

• EyeCare America 

• Holland & Holland Eye Care Center Off New Bern Ave. Accepts Medicaid

• Lions Club Eye Glasses provides financial assistance for glasses; must provide own eye exam. 

• Mariam Clinic serves adults

• My Eye Doctor Accepts Medicaid but can take up to 3 mos

• New Eyes 

• Prevent Blindness 

• The Eye Center 

• VisionNC  requires referral from community resource, see website for more info

• VSP Vouchers -provided by school nurse

• Walmart Vision: 4 local Walmarts provide glasses for $38, contact me for more info

• Zenni  purchase inexpensive glasses

Many community resource agencies allow families to contact them directly; however some may require a referral from the School Social Worker. If you have any questions or need a referral, please contact me.

CLOTHING

• Catholic Parish Outreach 

• Note in the Pocket  (requires referral)

• The Salvation Army  

• With Love From Jesus 

EMERGENCY SHELTER/HOUSING ASSISTANCE

*Start with the Wake Access Hub as most area shelters are coordinated through this program. They also provide information on community programs that help prevent homelessness.

• Wake Access Hub (919) 443-0096

• Affordable Housing Search 

• Interact (for those experiencing domestic violence)

• Passage home 

• Wake Co Application for Vouchers (Section 8) 

EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE

• NC 211 Employment Options 

• NC Works 

• Passage Home  Job training

• StepUp Ministries Assist with barriers to unemployment & finding employment

• Wake Network of Care Supported Employment 

• Wake Network of Care Employment Preparation 

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR UTILITIES/RENT

• A Doorway to Hope (requires referral) 

• Bella Angels  (requires referral)

• Dorcas Ministries  (Cary & Morrisville Residents Only)

• Edenton Street United Methodist Church 

• First Presbyterian Church of Raleigh 

• Town of Apex (town of Apex utility account holders only)

• Wake County Energy Assistance 

• Western Wake Crisis Ministry (Apex, FV, Holly Spring Residents Only)

• White Oak Foundation 

FURNITURE/HOUSEHOLD ITEMS

• A Doorway to Hope  (requires referral)

• Green Chair Project  (requires referral) 

• Sleep in Heavenly Peace provides beds to Holly Springs, FV, Willow Springs only

• Sweeter Dreams Beds (requires referral)

• With Love From Jesus 

IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES

• Apex Immigration Services (serves all Wake Co)

• Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh  

• Embassy  asylum for refugees who flee war

• Legal Aid 

• US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants in Raleigh 

TUTORING/MENTOR PROGRAMS

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Triangle 

• Hope Community Church Homework Club 

• Neighbor to Neighbor Mentoring and/or tutoring

• STEM 4 Youth  tutoring

-STEM 4 Youth Registration Form 

OTHER HELPFUL SERVICES/PROGRAMS

• Affordable Connectivity Program help with internet

• Autism Society 

• Cakes 4 Kids  Free birthday cakes (requires referral)

• Literacy at Home  Educational support

• Arch National Respite Network 

• Transitions LifeCare 919-748-0823 free support for adults and children who have experienced a loss