White Co. Sheriff’s Department receives statewide recognition

The White County Sheriff’s Department has been honored with the “Handle With Care” Award in recognition of its outstanding implementation of a trauma-informed program designed to support children affected by emergency situations. 

TBI State Coordinator Agent Evangeline Watanabe, who noted White County ranked first among counties of similar population size and fourth overall across the state of Tennessee, was on hand to present the award to Sheriff Steve Page. 

The Handle With Care program enables first responders — including law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services — to notify local schools when a child has been present at a traumatic scene. This simple notification allows educators and mental health professionals to quickly provide trauma-sensitive support to affected students. 

“We are excited to work with such great partners on a program that will help students achieve at their highest levels despite whatever traumatic circumstances they may have endured,” Sheriff Page said. 

The initiative is coordinated through the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Dangerous Drugs Task Force and is funded by a state grant that provides technical assistance, training, and program support at no cost to White County. 

The Handle With Care is made of three components:  

1. Law enforcement notifies the school district with a simple message stating “Handle With Care” after encountering a child at a traumatic scene. 
2. School officials relay the notice to the appropriate teacher or counselor, who monitors the student and provides trauma-sensitive accommodations such as additional time on assignments or tests, reteaching lessons, or referrals to the school nurse or counselor.  
3. If needed, students may be referred to outside mental health providers for additional support. 

Developed in 2011 by the West Virginia Children’s Justice Task Force in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Handle With Care program aims to reduce the negative impacts of trauma on children’s academic and emotional well-being. Since its pilot launch in 2013, the program has expanded to more than 65 cities nationwide.