News and press releases

A new initiative, “Handle With Care,” partners local school districts and law enforcement agencies in an initiative to support children who experience traumatic events.

When law enforcement encounters a child at the scene of a traumatic event, the child’s name and three words, “Handle With Care” are communicated to the child’s school before the school bell rings the next day. This enables teachers and school personnel to offer support, rather than discipline to a student. For example, the teacher might provide extra help with coursework, refer the child to the school counselor, be flexible with deadlines or delay or reschedule exams or projects. The initiative protects the child’s privacy as no details of the traumatic event are shared with the school.

Handle With Care is presented through Columbia Pacific CCO and the Resilient Clatsop County network, to prevent and heal childhood trauma and build family resilience. Partners include the Oregon State Police, Clatsop County Sheriff’s office, Seaside, Gearhart, Astoria, Cannon Beach and Warrenton police departments and the Seaside, Astoria, Jewell, Knappa and Warrenton-Hammond school districts.

For more information, contact Angel Escobedo at escobedoa@careorgeon.org.

To see this article click here.