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Handle with Care

Overview

Exposure to trauma can disrupt brain development and interfere with a child’s ability to academically succeed. The Handle with Care (HWC) program is a notification system that enables law enforcement and other first responders to notify schools when a child has been at the scene of a potentially traumatic event, allowing schools and mental health partners to provide trauma-sensitive support. By ensuring children have safe, stable, and nurturing environments for healthy development and learning, the potential effects of trauma can be mitigated.

policeschoolmental health

If law enforcement or first responders encounter a child during a call, that child’s name and three words, Handle with Care, are forwarded to the school/childcare agency before school the next day. The school implements individual, class and whole school trauma-sensitive curricula so that traumatized children are “Handled with Care". If a child needs more intervention, on-site trauma-focused mental healthcare is available at the school.

HWC Programs in Indiana

Starting an HWC Program

Information for

  • Law Enforcement and First Responders
    Requirements
    • A point of contact will represent their agency on the Handle with Care stakeholder team and help develop the notification flow. This may be through secure email, Google Forms, text or dispatch.
    • Partners must complete Handle with Care training and role-specific training.
    • Law enforcement and first responders will send Handle with Care notifications to schools when a youth is identified as being exposed to a traumatic event. The notification must include the child’s name, age and school, but should not contain information related to the event.
    Training
    • Watch nine-minute HWC Roll Call Video.
    • Agency supervisors must provide training to partners on department policies to identify, document and report children encountered at the scene of calls. All partners must be familiar with the appropriate on-scene response when children are present to mitigate potential further traumatization.
  • School Personnel
    Requirements
    • A point of contact will represent their school or district on the Handle with Care stakeholder team and help develop the notification flow. This may be through secure email, Google Forms, text or dispatch.
    • Partners must complete Handle with Care training and role-specific training.
    • Schools receive HWC notifications as a “heads up” to observe the child’s behavior and utilize classroom-based, trauma-sensitive interventions if warranted.
    • Schools should provide a safe space for on-site counseling or trauma-focused therapy, with parental permission.

    It is recommended that participating schools implement universal, selective and indicated interventions such as having greeters each morning at school entrances, pairing students with adult mentors, providing access to therapy dogs or performing brief student mental health screenings where relevant.

    Training
    • A one-hour Handle with Care training presentation is required. The training provides an overview of the impacts of trauma on children, the impact of trauma on learning, key elements of the program and strategies for successful implementation. All school staff and administrators should be familiar with the program and implementation.
    • All participating teachers and administrators should be trained on the negative impacts of trauma and how to utilize classroom-based interventions to help mitigate the negative impacts of trauma. These interventions may include sending a student to the nurse to get rest when a child is having a hard time staying awake, re-teaching lessons or postponing tests when a student is struggling with their concentration, providing small group counseling to students via school counselors or making referrals for additional counseling services. Training should focus on identifying and assessing issues that impact students and specific individual, classroom, and school-wide interventions.
    Resources
  • Mental Health Providers
    Requirements
    • A point of contact will represent their organization on the Handle with Care stakeholder team and help develop the notification flow. This may be through secure email, Google Forms, text or dispatch.
    • Partners must complete Handle with Care training and role-specific training.
    On-site Counseling

    It is recommended that mental health providers partner with schools to provide on-site mental health services (with parental permission) for students who need trauma-focused therapy. The availability of on-site services helps to address barriers that the child and family may experience in attending therapy outside of the school setting.

    Training
    • A one-hour Handle with Care training presentation is required. The training provides an overview of the impacts of trauma on children, the impact of trauma on learning, key elements of the program and strategies for successful implementation.
    • Mental health providers working with children identified through the Handle with Care program must be trained and certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT).
  • Additional Partners

    Other stakeholders that can be included in the program’s development, implementation, sustainability and promotion include:

    • Fire departments
    • Emergency medical services (EMS)
    • Victim advocacy programs
    • Before and after school programs
    • Juvenile justice agencies and representatives, including probation and judges
    • Department of Child Services (DCS)
    • other youth-serving organizations
    Training
    • A one-hour Handle with Care training presentation is required. The training provides an overview of the impacts of trauma on children, the impact of trauma on learning, key elements of the program and strategies for successful implementation.

Handle with Care in Indiana

Click on a county to view their Handle with Care status and contact information (if applicable).

hwc logo

County Name Here

Northern region

Status: N/A

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Northern region

Status: Planning
Point of Contact:

Emily DelGrosso
emily@dacac.org

Tanya McKinney
tanya@dacac.org


Southern region

Status: Interested

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Northern region

Status: Interested

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Northern region

Status: Interested
Point of Contact:

Shelly Coons
michelle.coons@dcs.IN.gov


Northern region

Status: Interested

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Southern region

Status: Planning
Point of Contact:

Dr. Sandy Washburn
swashburn@browncountyschools.com


Northern region

Status: Planning
Point of Contact:

TBD


Northern region

Status: N/A

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Southern region

Status: Interested
Point of Contact:

TBD


Southern region

Status: N/A

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Northern region

Status: N/A

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Southern region

Status: N/A

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Southern region

Status: Active
Point of Contact:

Kevin Frank
kfrank@wcs.k12.in.us

Southern region

Status: Active
Point of Contact:

John Lee
jlee@dearborncounty.in.gov

Robin Kichler
rkichler@onecommunityonefamily.org


Southern region

Status: Active
Point of Contact:

Leann Porter
lporter@decaturco.k12.in.us


Northern region

Status: Active
Point of Contact:

Tori LaMotte
tlamotte@gkb.k12.in.us


Northern region

Status: Planning
Point of Contact:

Dr. Lynn Witty
lwitty2@comcast.net


Southern region

Status: Interested

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Northern region

Status: Interested
Point of Contact:

TBD


Southern region

Status: N/A

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Southern region

Status: Interested

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Northern region

Status: N/A

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Southern region

Status: Interested

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Northern region

Status: N/A

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Southern region

Status: Interested

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Northern region

Status: Active
Point of Contact:

Tricia White
tricia.white@meridianhs.org


Southern region

Status: Active
Point of Contact:

Emily Bock
ebock1@iuhealth.org


Northern region

Status: Planning
Point of Contact:

Sarah Richardson
sarahrichardsonlmhc@gmail.com


Northern region

Status: Active
Point of Contact:

Terry Miller
temiller@gcsc.k12.in.us


Southern region

Status: N/A

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Northern region

Status: Interested

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Northern region

Status: Active
Point of Contact:

Sherri Bergum
begrums@ncweb.me


Northern region

Status: N/A

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Northern region

Status: Interested
Point of Contact:

TBD


Southern region

Status: Interested

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Northern region

Status: N/A

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Northern region

Status: Planning
Point of Contact:

Stephanie Patterson
stephanie@jcdpc.org


Southern region

Status: Planning
Point of Contact:

R. Keith Howard
rkhoward1@comcast.net


Southern region

Status: N/A

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Southern region

Status: Planning
Point of Contact:

Shannon Chambers
chambers@jdc.co.johnson.in.us


Southern region

Status: Interested

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Northern region

Status: Interested

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Northern region

Status: Active
Point of Contact:

Christina Blaskie
christina.blaskie@parkview.com


Northern region

Status: Interested

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Northern region

Status: N/A

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Southern region

Status: Planning
Point of Contact:

Sheriff Mike Branham
mbranham@lawrencecounty.in.gov


Northern region

Status: Planning
Point of Contact:

Wendy Cook
wcook@intersect.org.in


Northern region

Status: Planning
Point of Contact:

Corey Davis
cdavis@marionhealth.org


Northern region

Status: Active
Point of Contact:

Thomas Kinnaird
tkinnaird@culver.k12.in.us


Southern region

Status: Interested

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Northern region

Status: N/A

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Southern region

Status: Interested
Point of Contact:

TBD


Northern region

Status: N/A

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Southern region

Status: Planning
Point of Contact:

Tiffany Oswalt
tiffany.oswalt@msdmartinsville.org

Brandy Hammans
brandy.hammans@msdmartinsville.org


Northern region

Status: N/A

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Northern region

Status: N/A

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Southern region

Status: N/A

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Southern region

Status: Active
Point of Contact:

Dr. Brandy Terrell
bterrell@sichc.org


Southern region

Status: Planning
Point of Contact:

TBD


Southern region

Status: N/A

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Southern region

Status: N/A

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Southern region

Status: Active
Point of Contact:

Dawn Lehmkuhler
dlehmkuhler@pcsc.k12.in.us


Northern region

Status: Active
Point of Contact:

Dr. Erin Hawkins
ehawkins@valpo.k12.in.us

Southern region

Status: Interested

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Northern region

Status: N/A

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Southern region

Status: N/A

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Northern region

Status: N/A

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Southern region

Status: N/A

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Southern region

Status: N/A

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Southern region

Status: N/A

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Southern region

Status: Active

Point of Contact:

Melissa O'Connor

moconnor@co.shelby.in.us


Southern region

Status: Interested

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Northern region

Status: Active
Point of Contact:

Cathy Dietz
cdietz@aarcinfo.org


Northern region

Status: N/A

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Northern region

Status: N/A

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Southern region

Status: Active
Point of Contact:

Police Chief Matthew Price
pricem@nesc.k12.in.us


Southern region

Status: N/A

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Northern region

Status: Active
Point of Contact:

Devon Moore
dmoore@westlafayette.in.gov


Northern region

Status: N/A

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Southern region

Status: N/A

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Southern region

Status: N/A

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Southern region

Status: N/A

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Southern region

Status: Active
Point of Contact:

Megan Kirk, Ph.D.
mrk@vigoschools.org


Northern region

Status: Interested

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Northern region

Status: N/A

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Southern region

Status: Planning
Point of Contact:

Ashlee Bruggenschmidt
abruggenschmidt@warrick.k12.in.us


Southern region

Status: Interested

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Northern region

Status: Active
Point of Contact:

Stephanie Baker
stephaniec@rcs.k12.in.us

Josh Amyx
josha@rcs.k12.in.us


Northern region

Status: N/A

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Northern region

Status: N/A

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


Status: Interested

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community.


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County Map Legend

Contact

Anyone can initiate contact to start the conversation about implementing Handle with Care in their community. We are here to act as a guide and support system for communities throughout implementation. To start the discussion, please contact:

Chelsie Irwin
Trauma Informed Communities Programs Director
cirwin@health.in.gov
Northern region contact

Heather Montgomery
Trauma Informed Communities Programs Coordinator
hmontgomery@health.in.gov
Southern region contact