“After four years of grassroots efforts in 35+ communities and interagency collaboration, Handle With Care has reached a critical threshold for statewide expansion,” said Adrienne Elder, Director of Early Intervention with the Public Health Institute of Oklahoma.
In collaboration with community advocates, state agency partners, and Representative Ajay Pittman, the Handle With Care Study #22-080 was a success at the Oklahoma State Capitol. On Thursday, October 20th in Room 4S.5, there was representation from over ten sectors, including urban and rural community voice, law enforcement, schools, behavioral and health services.
Amber Adams, a parent leader from Beggs in northeast Oklahoma, says that “Handle With Care is a huge step forward, so children and families do not have to walk through a traumatic experience alone.”
Amber Costilla, a coalition coordinator from the Oklahoma panhandle of Texas County, has played a critical role facilitating local collaboration. She shared she is “really proud of the collaboration occurring between Guymon Police Department and Guymon Public Schools. They have signed a memorandum of understanding that has clear and simple roles for law enforcement, schools, and behavioral health providers to provide early supports for children, as needed.”
Lieutenant Kyle Hill (Moore Police) and Captain Michelle Henderson (OKC Police) agree that, “Expanding Handle With Care statewide in Oklahoma would be an easy win for all involved (urban and rural) to help children after being exposed to a traumatic event and increase early support. This simple communication protocol (a legally-compliant HWC notice via email with no details of event) from law enforcement to a school has a tremendous impact for our communities and positively changes the trajectory of children’s lives. The HWC notice is a simple yet critical piece to the continuum of care, so children do not fall through the cracks.”
Representative Pittman is ready to take next steps which includes drafting bipartisan legislation for the 2023 legislative session to expand Handle With Care statewide. She concurs that “increasing a common language with cohesive training and communicating with consistent protocol will maximize resources to support children/teens after a traumatic event.”
HWC Agenda for Study #22-080
Short overview video from our founding partners in West Virginia
HWC Video from Oklahoma City
HWC website and program description
HWC annual report
Sample HWC notice
Template Protocol for Law Enforcement
Recording of Video of Handle With Care Study #22-080
For more information, please email: info@handlewithcareok.org
