Helping Families Initiative, Inc.
Helping Families Initiative, Inc.
District Attorney Leadership Across Alabama 2026
Over 50 school systems
Serving over 337,000 students and their families
District Attorneys: Lead and Coordinate
The district attorney’s office anchors the local HFI program, bringing public safety leadership, accountability, and partners together around a common crime prevention mission.
As the chief law enforcement official, the District Attorney is charged by law to enforce Alabama's mandatory school attendance law.
Schools: Recognize and Refer
Schools help recognize attendance and behavioral concerns early and work with HFI to support intervention before problems become more serious.
Community: Address Underlying Needs
Community partners provide services that help families address identified needs and sustain progress. Coordinated support turns a referral into practical action.
HFI helps to focus and align community services for families that are most in need.
Support Helping Families Initiative's Mission
Senator Arthur Orr
"Several years ago, I put state money in the budget to fight student truancy and behavioral issues using the local district attorneys as the tip of the spear via a model piloted in Mobile called the Helping Families Initiative. I met with Morgan Co DA Scott Anderson and his team recently to hear about the local successes of HFI. When school attendance goes up, juvenile crime goes down (and arguably a potential prison inmate will avoid that fate). Additionally, the HFI team has been able to connect struggling families with other community resources that might fill particular needs. The statistics are already coming in for the new school year and attendance rates are much improved when compared to before the program came to Morgan Co to serve Hartselle, Decatur and Morgan County systems. Many thanks to this hardworking team in the courthouse for making a positive difference with students and families across the county!"
(l. to r.) Sen. Arthur Orr, McKenzie Turney, Lizzette Alonso, Rebecca Bearden, District Attorney Scott Anderson
-- Senator Arthur Orr
Senate District 3
Limestone County, Madison County, Morgan County