Elizabethton, Tennessee — In an inspiring initiative aimed at supporting children who’ve been exposed to trauma, the Carter County Sheriff’s Office has teamed up with the Carter County School System for a program called Handle With Care.
Originally launched in West Virginia in 2013, this program has a proven track record of success. It’s since been adopted in other states, including Tennessee, where it is facilitated by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. The partnership between first responders and school systems is designed to provide crucial support to youngsters dealing with potentially traumatic incidents.
Exposure to violence and trauma at a young age, without proper support, can lead to a variety of negative outcomes. These include emotional, behavioral, and physical health issues as well as poor school performance. The Handle With Care program aims to lessen these negative effects by providing on-the-spot support and, when needed, trauma-focused interventions at school carried out by staff or mental health professionals.
In practice, here’s how the program works: When a police officer responds to a home due to a potentially traumatic event like a death, house fire, overdose, or domestic violence, they complete a Handle With Care notification. This notification is then sent to program coordinators within the school system. Importantly, the notification only contains the words “Handle With Care” and excludes specific details about the incident to protect the privacy of the student and their family.
This generic alert helps school staff to be on the lookout for signs of traumatic stress, such as crying, anger, withdrawal, or behavioral changes. The school personnel can offer additional support or, if needed, collaborate with the school counselor or social worker to secure further assistance for the student.
“The goal of this partnership and the Handle With Care program is for all students to succeed, despite the circumstances they experience outside of school,” said Jenny Jones from the Carter County School System’s Coordinated School Health/Family Resource Center.
“We have trauma-informed faculty and staff who are trained to recognize signs and symptoms of mental health challenges. We also have student support coordinators and counselors available at every school in the district. We are grateful for this partnership with the Carter County Sheriff’s Office and the additional layer of support it provides for our students,” she added.
Sheriff Mike Fraley echoed these sentiments, expressing his pride in the collaborative effort. “I believe Handle With Care will provide students who are dealing with traumatic life experiences access to the support they need to make it through a difficult time,” he said.
Beyond immediate care, the program has a lasting impact. By enabling students to receive timely and appropriate support, Handle With Care helps reduce the long-term effects of trauma. This proactive approach ensures that students’ emotional and mental health needs do not go unmet, providing a safer and more supportive learning environment.
The partnership between the Carter County Sheriff’s Office and the Carter County School System represents a community-focused approach to addressing childhood trauma. By uniting first responders with educational professionals, the initiative ensures that no child has to face traumatic events alone and that they receive the help they need to succeed academically.
This collaborative effort is particularly significant given the statistics highlighting the severe impacts of unaddressed trauma. Numerous studies have shown that children who experience untreated trauma are more likely to struggle with mental health issues, lower academic performance, and even physical health problems later in life.
The Handle With Care program is designed to intercept these issues early on, providing a crucial safety net for vulnerable students. By maintaining the privacy of the children and their families, the program fosters trust and encourages more open communication between home and school environments.
As the program continues to expand and evolve, the Carter County community anticipates positive outcomes in student well-being and academic performance. The Handle With Care program stands as a testament to the power of community collaboration and the importance of addressing mental health and trauma in educational settings.
For other communities looking to adopt similar initiatives, the success of the Handle With Care program in Carter County offers a compelling model. It highlights the importance of partnerships, trauma-informed care, and timely interventions in supporting children through challenging times.
As Sheriff Fraley aptly put it, “Our students are our future, and we owe it to them to ensure they have the support they need, no matter what challenges they face outside of school.”
