School Avoidance Is Surging; Debut Author Helps Families and Schools Reclaim Their Kids

Launching October 14, Overcoming School Avoidance: What to Do When Your Kid Won't Go to School provides a powerful blend of expert guidance and real-world wisdom from families who've lived it.

NEW YORK, Oct. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Every morning, millions of parents watch a child break down or panic at the thought of school. This isn't defiance—it's school avoidance, a post-pandemic crisis that has left families, schools, and policymakers searching for answers. In her debut book, Overcoming School Avoidance: What to Do When Your Kid Won't Go to School, Jayne Demsky—founder of the School Avoidance Alliance—shares insights that have never been made public, helping families challenge harmful truancy labels and understand their child's educational rights.

Drawing on her own experience, insight from thousands of families in her School Avoidance community, and the contributions of eleven leading voices in psychology, psychiatry, education, and advocacy, Demsky empowers parents with clarity, validation, and actionable strategies to help their child return to learning.

"When a child can't go to school, the entire family is affected," said Demsky. "Parents don't need more judgment—they need solutions. That's what this book delivers."

To deliver a comprehensive resource, Demsky is joined by:

• Dr. Christopher Kearney – Distinguished professor, UNLV; creator of the Four Functions of School Refusal
• Dr. Mona Potter – Child and adolescent psychiatrist; co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of InStride Health
• Dr. Rebecca Etkin – Yale Child Study Center, leading SPACE clinician
• Dr. Daniel P. Villiers – Co-founder of Mountain Valley Treatment Center and Anxiety Institute
• Dr. Rebecca Sachs, ABPP – Clinical psychologist; founder of CBT Spectrum; co-director of Successful School Transitions
• Dr. Dina Nunziato – Chief Clinical Officer, Anxiety Institute
• Dr. Erica Miller – Founder, Connected Minds NYC; adjunct professor, Columbia University
• Dr. Tammy Moscrip – Executive Director, The Spire School
• Penny Williams – Parenting coach, author, and host of the Beautifully Complex podcast
• Willow Williams – Advocate with lived experience of autism and school avoidance
• Anonymous – Veteran special education attorney

Overcoming School Avoidance will be released on October 14, 2025, and is available now for pre-order at major retailers, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, Target, Book Shop, Books-A-Million, and Porchlight (for bulk orders). For updates and practical tips, follow Jayne on TikTok: @SchoolAvoidanceHelp or her website.

About the Author:
Jayne Demsky is the founder of the School Avoidance Alliance, a national leader in professional development and advocacy for families, educators, and stakeholders navigating school avoidance. Through education and outreach, she has built a trusted platform dedicated to awareness, support, and actionable solutions. Overcoming School Avoidance is her debut book.

Media Contact:
Ashley Marcos
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Gracie Curran
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SOURCE School Avoidance Alliance