Olentangy Schools is partnering with the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office to provide additional support to students who may have experienced a difficult or traumatic event outside of school.

The district is launching Handle With Care, a collaborative, trauma-informed program that creates a confidential process for local first responders to notify designated school personnel when a student may need additional care and support at school.

The program brings together Olentangy’s Safety, Security and Preparedness and Wellness teams, building staff and local first responders to help ensure students receive the support they need when facing challenging circumstances.

“School safety is strongest when built through strong partnerships,” said Ron Vogel, Olentangy’s Director of Safety, Security and Preparedness. “Through our collaboration with the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, the Handle With Care initiative helps us better support students experiencing trauma or challenges outside of school and respond with greater awareness and compassion to help students feel safe, supported and ready to learn.”

How Handle With Care Works

When first responders encounter a child during a potentially traumatic event, they can send a confidential notification to the student’s school indicating that the student should be “handled with care.”

The notification does not include details about the event. Instead, it simply alerts designated school personnel that a student may be experiencing circumstances that could affect their well-being, behavior or ability to engage in learning.

With this information, trained school staff can respond with additional patience, understanding and support based on the individual needs of the student.

“The Delaware County Sheriff's Office works hand in hand with our partner schools to ensure a safe educational environment for our communities' youth,” said DCSO Sheriff Jeff Blazer. “From Safety Town to School Resource Officers, the safety and wellbeing of children remain our priority. The Handle With Care program is a very direct way to support the students when and where they need it most.”

“Handle With Care is another way to alleviate non-academic barriers for students by helping our staff respond with understanding and compassion when a child may be facing a difficult circumstance,” said Superintendent Todd Meyer. “The implementation of the program furthers the district's ongoing work to build strong relationships and create an environment where every student can flourish.”

Handle With Care is a statewide initiative built on collaboration among schools, first responders and community partners. Through a structured and confidential communication process, the program helps schools provide a safe and supportive environment for students who may be navigating difficult experiences outside of school.

OhioHWC is supported by the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health and directed by Hopewell Health Centers. OhioHWC collaborates with communities across Ohio to implement the program with fidelity.

Learn more about Ohio Handle With Care: www.ohiohwc.org