HANDLE WITH CARE

School employees have been trained on the impact of trauma on learning, and are incorporating interventions to mitigate the negative impact of trauma for identified students, including: sending students to the clinic to rest (when a HWC has been received and the child is having trouble staying awake or focusing); re-teaching lessons; postponing testing; small group counseling by school counselors; and referrals to counseling, social service or advocacy programs. Schools also implement “Ways to Handle with Care” and many school-wide interventions to help create a trauma-sensitive school.

 "Handle with Care" provides our school district with a “heads up” when a child has been identified at the scene of a traumatic event. Police and other first responders are trained to identify children at the scene, find out where they go to school and send the school/agency a confidential message that simply says: “Handle this student with care” with no other details.

 In addition to providing notice, all first responders also build positive relationships with students by visiting schools on a regular basis. They visit classrooms, stop by for lunch, attend class parties, school assemblies and simply chat with students to help promote positive relationships and perceptions of officers.