Handle With Care (HWC) is a communication protocol that alerts a school when a child has been present at the scene of a potentially traumatic event. Law enforcement sends a simple notice with just the child’s name, age, and school, no details of the incident are shared. This allows school staff to quietly offer extra support.
HWC
What is Handle With Care?
Why It Matters
Trauma can disrupt a child’s ability to learn, focus, and feel safe. HWC gives schools the opportunity to respond with empathy rather than discipline. With just a little notice, school staff can help a child feel seen, supported, and ready to learn.
Confidentiality
The notification is kept confidential, and information is shared only with those who need to know to provide support.
How It Works
01
Law Enforcement Notification
When police or first responders encounter a child during a traumatic event, they submit a confidential "Handle With Care" notice to the child's school before the next day.
02
School Awareness
The school receives only the child's name, age, and school, no details about the incident. Designated staff discreetly inform appropriate teachers and personnel.
03
Trauma-Sensitive Response
Teachers and school staff provide flexibility and support: quiet space, grace with deadlines, emotional check-ins, or mental health referrals if needed.
- 2nd Grade Teacher, Georgia
"Handle With Care gives me the tools to show up for my students in the moments that matter most".
One Small Alert. One Big Difference.
Handle With Care
When a child is exposed to a traumatic event, how the adults around them respond can make all the difference. Handle With Care is a simple, powerful way for law enforcement, schools, and mental health providers to work together to ensure that child is met with compassion, flexibility, and support the very next school day.
Georgia
In Action
Handle With Care is gaining momentum across Georgia. Thanks to partnerships led by Resilient Georgia, the Georgia Center for Child Advocacy, and 18 regional coalitions, over 135 counties are now engaged in trauma-informed initiatives. Local leaders in Troup, Chatham, Camden, and Effingham counties are already seeing the impact.
See where Handle With Care is being discussed, implemented, or fully active >>
Spotlight Story
Handle With Care
Savannah-Chatham, GA
When children experience trauma, that pain often follows them into school. In Savannah-Chatham County, the Savannah Police Department and Savannah-Chatham County Public School System joined forces to change that through the Handle With Care program.
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After an incident, officers sent a confidential alert to a child’s school — no details, just a heads-up that care might be needed. This small step allowed teachers and counselors to respond with empathy, not questions.
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By linking law enforcement, schools, and mental health professionals, Savannah’s Handle With Care program made sure every child was truly handled with care.
- Savannah Police Officer
“Unattended trauma is hard on adults — imagine what it’s like for a child.
How To Get Started
Start in Your Community
Gather key partners: schools, law enforcement, mental health, community leaders - Form a local HWC team - Set up a notification process - Train staff - Stay connected
Trainings & Support
Check out upcoming trauma-informed care trainings, webinars, and on-demand videos from our partners.
Request a Planning Call
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Resources
Handle With Care Resources
