This is not a "new story" but I think this program is critical to consider for Central Florida (as far as I understand we have not implemented this here). At a recent trauma-healing conference I was able to hear about the success of this program in Manatee County Schools and I believe this could be a model for what is possible her in Central Florida. Please see the article by the Brandenton Herald below:
Detention may be the wrong option for a student who acts out in class, and sometimes a stomach ache is more than just a stomach ache.
That’s why Manatee County put its Handle With Care program into action on Monday. As part of the initiative, law enforcement officers will notify the school system when a child experiences something traumatic, such as domestic violence or drug use, allowing schools to better understand their students’ behavior.
“Police at the scene of the event have been trained to identify the children present, find out what school they attend and send the school a confidential email that simply says, ‘Handle (child’s name) with care,’” a news release from Drug Free Manatee states. “The memo will not provide any other details in order to protect the family’s privacy.”
Handle With Care started in West Virginia, where one police department sent nearly 600 notices between 2013 and 2016, according to the state Center for Children’s Justice.
Drug Free Manatee has partnered with local law enforcement agencies, the School District of Manatee County, the Safe Children Coalition and the Department of Children and Families to start a local version of the program.
[To read the complete article by the Bradenton Herald, visit: https://www.bradenton.com/news...rticle207727554.html]
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