PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — A program designed to help students affected by traumatic incidents received a district-wide expansion Thursday, connecting Philadelphia police and schools so children can receive additional support before arriving in the classroom.
The initiative, known as Handle With Care, was piloted last year at 15 schools in the city’s 22nd Police District, described as one of Philadelphia’s most violent areas.
The program has now expanded across the School District of Philadelphia.
The confidential alert system allows the Philadelphia Police Department to notify schools when a child may have been exposed to a crime scene, domestic violence incident or other traumatic event.
School staff receive notice that the student may need support, but not details of the incident.
“Rather than waiting until a child’s trauma manifest this way in a visceral reaction or academic trauma, early recognition creates an opportunity for early intervention,” Commissioner Bethel said.
School leaders involved in the pilot program said the approach allows educators to respond proactively to students’ needs.
“At time we can be more reactive, but with handle with care it’s more proactive. And not receiving the details of the incident that is also a game changer, because we’re not showing or displaying any bias on the even that the child may have witnessed or experienced,” said Dr. Shauneille Taylor, principal of Edward Gideon School.
Edward Gideon School was among the schools that participated in the pilot program.
According to district officials, the School District received 272 Handle With Care referrals from the Philadelphia Police Department last year.
Of those, 73 referrals involved students at the 15 pilot schools.
To prepare for the district-wide rollout, approximately 3,000 police officers and 15,000 school staff members were trained.
As the program expands, counselors and teachers will monitor students for potential signs of distress, including missed assignments, acting out in class or sudden changes in demeanor.
School officials say the goal is to identify students who may need support and intervene before trauma affects their academic performance or behavior.
Copyright © 2026 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.