TRENTON – Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal and Interim Education Commissioner Kevin Dehmer today announced a new Statewide “Handle With Care” Program to support schoolchildren in New Jersey who have experienced traumatic events.
“Handle With Care” (HWC) is designed to promote partnerships between law enforcement and schools to provide a safe and supportive academic environment for children exposed to "adverse childhood experiences,” or ACEs. ACEs, if unaddressed, can lead to problems such as drug use and depression, and they can have a lasting impact on a child’s health, well-being, and academic success.
Under the program, law enforcement officers notify a child’s school promptly if the child is involved in a traumatic event, so that teachers can mitigate the negative impact, rather than compounding it by disciplining the child for behavioral or performance issues that may be linked to the trauma.
The program ensures that the child’s privacy is strictly protected. Details of the traumatic event are not shared with the school, and teachers are directed not to discuss the event with the child.
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