Wapello County Handle With Care

Handle With Care (“HWC”) programs promote safe and supportive homes, schools and communities that protect children, and help traumatized children heal and thrive. HWC promotes school-community partnerships aimed at ensuring that children who are exposed to trauma in their home, school or community receive appropriate interventions to help them achieve academically at their highest levels despite whatever traumatic circumstances they may have endured.

The ultimate goal of HWC is to help students to succeed in school. Regardless of the source of trauma, the common thread for effective intervention is the school or child care agency.

Handle With Care (“HWC”) programs promote safe and supportive homes, schools and communities that protect children, and help traumatized children heal and thrive. HWC promotes school-community partnerships aimed at ensuring that children who are exposed to trauma in their home, school or community receive appropriate interventions to help them achieve academically at their highest levels despite whatever traumatic circumstances they may have endured.

The ultimate goal of HWC is to help students to succeed in school. Regardless of the source of trauma, the common thread for effective intervention is the school or child care agency.

• Implement individual, class, and whole school trauma-sensitive curricula so that traumatized children are “Handled With Care”.
• Designate a staff member to receive Handle With Care notifications.
– Receive before the start of the school day.
– Communicate with designated building/classroom staff with the child’s name and three words: Handle With Care.
• Classroom staff or school personnel provide awareness, observation, and/or support for students.
• If support is needed: The School Counselor, Social Worker or Nurse provide an
assessment or intervention.

• Training to officers/deputies, fire department and EMT on department policy to identify, document, and report children encountered on the scene of calls.
• Officers are familiar with appropriate on-scene response when children are present to ensure the impact of trauma is minimized.
• Provide resources to parents/guardians.
• Daily reports: Contact designated school personnel and provide a Handle With Care notice. (Child’s name + Handle With Care)
• Build positive relationships with students.

• Connect to Mental Health Resources
• Provide trauma-focused therapy.
• Provide counseling at times that are least disruptive for the student.
• Participate in meetings necessary for student success.
• Can provide a mental health assessment, accommodation recommendations, and status updates to key personnel with permission from the child’s parent or guardian.
• Ensure that each child who is identified as “Handle With Care” is provided the resources for mental health services and any other services they may need