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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The program has now expanded across the School District of Philadelphia.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
School staff receive notice that the student may need support, but not details of the incident.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
School leaders involved in the pilot program said the approach allows educators to respond proactively to students’ needs.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
Edward Gideon School was among the schools that participated in the pilot program.<\/p>\n
According to district officials, the School District received 272 Handle With Care referrals from the Philadelphia Police Department last year.<\/p>\n
Of those, 73 referrals involved students at the 15 pilot schools.<\/p>\n
To prepare for the district-wide rollout, approximately 3,000 police officers and 15,000 school staff members were trained.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
School officials say the goal is to identify students who may need support and intervene before trauma affects their academic performance or behavior.<\/p>\n
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