Roane County adopts program to better help children affected by trauma

KINGSTON, Tenn. (WATE) Roane County leaders are working together to help give children a better support system at school when they don’t have one at home.

The Roane County Anti-Drug Coalition partnered with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and introduced the Handle with Care program to other local government agencies.

Handle with Care provides a notification to the local school system or child care agency when a child has been identified at the scene of a traumatic event.

The program allows first responders to identify a child at the scene and notify school systems that something happening at home could impact the child. The school system is then able to act accordingly to give students the attention they need.

Roane County Schools Assistant Superintendent Tony Clower was at the event and said there are 16 schools in Roane County and more than 6,000 students. He was one of more than a dozen county leaders and first responders who attended an information session to learn more about the program.

“We were excited to learn about the notification system provided by Handle With Care, which would alert us if a student was at risk of experiencing some type of trauma or traumatic experience,” Clower explained.

According to the Tennessee Handle With Care website, prolonged exposure to violence and trauma can seriously harm children’s ability to concentrate, behave appropriately and learn. This often leads to academic failure, truancy, suspension or expulsion, dropping out of school, or involvement in the juvenile justice system.

“This allows first responders to contact school districts with notification. The notice comes by email,” Evangeline Watanabe said. “All it says is ‘Handle with care, Johnny’ if a child was present during a call for service. We don’t give any details or that sort of thing.

“This gives law enforcement and first responders the opportunity to further help children who are in crisis or if they’ve experienced a traumatic event or if they’ve just had issues at home that they’re trying to overcome,” the Roane County Sheriff said. said Deputy Bureau Chief Tim Hawn.

Handle with Care started in West Virginia in 2013 and has spread across the United States. Several other Tennessee counties have already implemented the program.

“It’s important for our teachers to be aware of what our students are experiencing at home and a lot of times we don’t know, and this will definitely help us,” Clower said.

Agencies will now be required to undergo training to implement the program.

Roane County Schools Assistant Superintendent Tony Clower and Deputy Chief Tim Hawn said their offices are ready to bring this program to the region.

“It’s something we’ve been talking about for a little while, it’s a possibility,” Roane County Executive Wade Creswell said. “It just makes too much sense not to do it, to connect first responders with anyone who will be caring for children who have been through difficult situations.”