HELENA — Last spring, the Helena Public School District partnered with the Helena Police Department to launch the “Handle with Care” program.
“We just pull that student aside and ask if they’re OK and if they need anything,” said Helena Middle School Principal Cal Boyle.
This program helps support students who have experienced a traumatic event outside of school hours.
Handle with Care provides a process for law enforcement to promptly notify school authorities if a student witnesses a traumatic event.
“There’s a national model. Fortunately, the district where I previously worked here in Montana had a chief of police who was interested in this and wanted to try it out.” Helena Public Schools said Rex Welts, superintendent of schools.
Responding officers can confidentially notify the district administration through the ‘Handle with Care’ portal.
“That link goes to the district office and we investigate the students and siblings associated with the student and then inform the corresponding principal and councilor that this student is likely coming to school in a traumatized state.” Mr. Waltz said.
The school district has not received any information regarding the incident, only the student’s name is known.
“We worked hard to protect the family’s rights, which is confidentiality. We don’t know the details,” Wertz said.
Principals, teachers, school counselors, and other relevant staff can provide extra support as students return to the classroom.
So far this school year, the district has received about 60 “handle with care” notices.
“Most of the things we’ve experienced, the students have always been willing to talk and have always been really supportive, but I’m really hoping for a situation where it can help get a child out of a really tough time. So this is a huge benefit,” Boyle said.
The district says meeting students where they are emotionally available can help keep them on track in the classroom and provide resources to help them recover.