Handle With Care (HWC) is a school-community response to help ensure that children exposed to trauma in their home, school, or community receive appropriate support to help them achieve emotionally and academically.
Before HWC First responders would file a mandated report for children that met the reporting criteria. If children did not meet the victimization criteria, they were not identified or provided additional services.
Now with HWC Intervention:
- All children at the scene are identified.
- The school is provided a HWC notification.
- Trauma informed practices are heightened at the school.
- Flagged student(s) are simply handled with care.
If a law enforcement officer encounters a child during a call, that child’s name and three words, HANDLE WITH CARE, are forwarded to the school before the next day. The school implements individual, class, and whole school trauma-sensitive curricula so that identified children are “Handled With Care”. If a child needs more intervention, on-site mental healthcare is available at the school.
- Improved cross-agency communication among first responder organizations and schools can help increase supports for students experiencing trauma.
- Increased training and use of trauma sensitive strategies by educators and school leaders will improve educational & life outcomes for students experiencing trauma resulting from Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).
School is a respectful and safe environment where children can build positive relationships with adults & peers, learn to manage their emotions, behavioral responses, and find academic success.
Handle With Care Notice
- It is only 3 words: Handle With Care.
- No details are ever given.
- It does not violate confidentiality, no details are ever given.
- Notice arrives to school before the next day.
- Need to know basis, only.
- Does not stay in child’s permanent record.
- May include other childcare service agencies.
- Does not set expectation for school staff to approach the student.
- Only heightens whole-school approach around Trauma Informed Care (TIC) protocols.
HWC Collaborative Partners of North Central & North Quabbin MA:
- Ashburnham-Westminster School District
- Ashburnham Police Department
- Athol Area YMCA
- Athol Police Department
- Athol-Royalston School District
- Boys & Girls Club - Gardner, Leominster/Fitchburg
- CAPS Collaborative (Ashburnham, Orange, Westminster)
- Clinical Support & Options
- Gardner Police Department
- Gardner Public Schools
- Heywood Healthcare
- Holy Family Academy
- Mahar Regional School District
- MOC Early Education
- Mount Wachusett Community College
- Narragansett Regional School District
- North Quabbin Community Coalition
- Northwestern County District Attorney, David E. Sullivan's Office
- Parent Professional Advocacy League
- Petersham Police Department
- Phillipston Police Department
- Royalston Police Department
- Templeton Police Department
- Orange Police Department
- Westminster Police Department
- Winchendon Police Department
- Winchendon Public Schools
- Worcester County District Attorney, Joseph Early’s Office
For additional information contact HWC’s Collaborative Liaison:
Renee' Eldredge at [email protected]
Program Leads: Gardner Police Department Deputy Chief Nicholas Maroni and Lt. John Czasnowski / Heywood Hospital, Selena Johnson, Director of Community Investment and Renee Eldredge, HWC Asst. Program Manager
HWC Collaborative Partnership of North Central & North Quabbin MA Resource Links:
Adverse Childhood Experience Children's Presentation
Adverse Childhood Experience Teen Presentation
Clinical Support & Options Emergency Services for Athol and Gardner
North Quabbin Community Coalition
Parent Professional Advocacy League
Trauma Sensitive Schools - Resources / Videos
Trauma Informed Organizational Assessment