Helping children exposed to trauma
Law enforcement works with school districts to get kids the assistance they need
A growing number of Oklahoma law enforcement agencies are partnering with their local school districts to help students who are exposed to trauma through a program called Handle With Care.
When police officers or deputies encounter a child who has experienced a traumatic situation, such as a shooting, domestic violence or a family member's arrest, they contact the school district with the child's name, age or grade and three simple words: "Handle with care." To protect the child's privacy, no other details are provided. Those three words let school officials know the child might need extra attention.
The initiative, which originated in West Virginia, is designed to help ensure that children who are exposed to trauma receive appropriate interventions to help them achieve academically, heal and thrive.
“It really is something that is pretty simple, yet effective,” said Cleveland County Sheriff Todd Gibson. His agency recently partnered with the Lexington, Little Axe and Noble school districts to implement the program.
Law enforcement agencies and school districts in communities across the country and Oklahoma, including Oklahoma City, Midwest City, Edmond, Norman and Stillwater, have adopted the program.
Last August, Oklahoma City police partnered with Oklahoma City Public Schools to implement Handle With Care.
Deputy Chief Paco Balderrama said officers encounter schoolaged children every day who have experienced trauma, and Handle With Care is just one way to help ensure children receive the services and assistance they need to grow up to be healthy adults.
"If we do this right where a notification will result in followup care, long-term it can result in a lower prison population, higher graduation numbers, a lower number of individuals on drugs and alcohol," Balderrama said. "Long-term, it can have a lot of positive results, but it starts with that initial notification."
Oklahoma City Public Schools-received about 80 referrals last school year. The police department has taken some steps to ensure the school district will be notified more consistently.
Over the summer, the police department made more than 30 referrals. So far this school year, the district has already received notifications for more than two dozen students, said Teri Bell, executive director of student support services. Being informed that a student has had a traumatic experience allows teachers to be hypersensitive to their needs and to make modifications and provide needed supports, Bell said.
The district's response to a notification varies. District officials have instructed staff to judge their response by the student. A teacher might allow a child a couple extra days to complete homework the student didn't bring to class after the night of their crisis or allow a child some quiet time if they come to school the next morning tired and in need of space.
If there are signs that the child might need to speak to someone, a counselor will meet with them, Bell said.
"The modification or accommodation could be anything," she said. "The key is to identify specifically what that individual student needs and provide it. For some students, we may not see symptoms of the trauma for weeks or months. However, if our staff knows the student has the history of trauma, they can keep that in mind if symptoms do arise."
Midwest City Police Chief Brandon C lab es said he' s not sure how many notifications his officers have made since implementing the initiative at the beginning of last school year. They are working in partnership with four school districts: Mid-Del, Oklahoma City, Choctaw-Nicoma Park and Crutcho. Handle With Care allows school staff to check on students when otherwise they might not have known that something traumatic happened the night before, Clabes said.
"They may have a child that falls asleep in class or acts out in class," he said. "Instead of approaching it strictly from a disciplinary approach, they have more insight and can really delve into what the root of the issue is and how to help the child."
Stillwater police and Stillwater Public Schools launched the program in December. Edmond police and Edmond Public Schools implemented the program this summer.
State Rep. Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City, requested an interim study to examine Handle With Care and preventing the impact of untreated trauma in children. The study was combined with another interim study that was requested by Rep. Jeff Boatman, R-Tulsa, to review access to statewide mental health programs for youth.
"We can really sort of change the trajectory of someone's life if we can start approaching situations that are difficult with children now," Munson said.
The Handle With Care program is also gaining traction in other states. Last year, Maryland's governor announced the state was implementing Handle With Care. Last month, Delaware's governor signed a law called "Take Care Delaware "calling on police and emergency care providers to inform school officials if a student is involved or present at the scene of a traumatic event. Nevada lawmakers also passed legislation to establish Handle With Care statewide.
Gibson, the Cleveland County sheriff, said he was inspired to start the program after hearing about Oklahoma City's initiative. He said hewanted his agency to do its part to try to lessen the impact of trauma on children and to create healthier children, adults and families. Deputies have embraced the program, Gibson said.
“From dealing with these types of incidents, they know that these kids are going to need a little more grace,” Gibson said. “They know that these kids are going to possibly need some intervention in the future, but oftentimes they're left just having to walk away at 2 o'clock in the morning, so this gives them another tool to go beyond the call to help these kids.”
Chad Hall, superintendent of Lexington Public Schools, said he appreciates the sheriff's office for being proactive and forwardthinking. School staff are always striving to add tools to their toolbox to make sure students are safe and secure, Hall said.
"We know once those things are taken care of, they're in a better position to learn," he said.