Handle with Care
Handle with Care is an initiative designed to promote communication between local law enforcement and schools. When law enforcement is on the scene of an incident that was experienced or witnessed by a school-aged child, they’ll find out what school the child attends, and a “Handle with Care” notice will be sent to the child’s school by the next day. School staff are encouraged to handle that child with care and look for potential signs that the trauma the child experienced is affecting his or her behavior or ability to succeed in school. If additional support for the student is needed, Community Mental Health will assist in referring to other providers. You are strongly encouraged to view the videos below for more information on how Handle with Care works.
Video Links
- Handle With Care - Overview - [9.27]
- Trauma Education - Preschool & Elementary School Years - [17.13]
- Trauma Education - Middle and High School Years - [13.15]
- Trauma Education - Secondary Traumatic Stress - [9.46]
All Videos Are CC Enabled. Please Click The CC Button In Your Viewer.
Handle with Care Forms
Trauma Resources for Educators
- NCTSN (National Child Traumatic Stress Network) Child Trauma Toolkit for Educators
- Helping Traumatized Children Learn
- NCTSN’s Addressing Race and Trauma in the Classroom: A Resource for Educators
- NCTSN’s Creating, Supporting, and Sustaining Trauma-Informed Schools: A Framework
- SAMHSA’s Tips for Talking with and Helping Children and Youth Cope After a Disaster or Traumatic Event
- Child Trauma Toolkit: A Free Guide of Practical Strategies, Tools, and Resources for Educators
- The Heart of Learning: Compassion, Resiliency, and Academic Success
- The Trauma Sensitive Teacher
- Everyday Gestures in School
- Everyday Gestures for School-Aged Youth
- Everyday Gestures for Teens
Early Childhood Resources
- Washtenaw Early Childhood Trauma Information Tool
- Helping Young Children who have Experienced Trauma: Policies and Strategies for Early Care and Education
- Sesame Street in Communities Traumatic Experiences Website (with articles, videos, and printables) (leaving WISD website)
- Everyday Gestures for Infants & Toddlers
If you have more questions about Handle with Care that have not been answered here, please contact any of the following via email: Shannon Novara, or Holly Heaviland.
FAQ
View only HWC-FAQ Google Doc Page containing an ongoing list of frequently asked questions on the Handle with Care project (leaving WISD website).
Note on downloading PDF files.
PDF files may be viewed on a large array of devices and Internet browsers, however, the steps in saving them are not exactly the same. Please visit Computer Hope for general PDF guidelines that should help you save one of our PDF files on most types of media or devices (leaving WISD website).