Handle With Care: Oklahoma

Cleveland County Sheriff Launches ‘Handle With Care’ Program With Schools

Thursday, August 29th 2019, 5:40 pm By: News 9

The Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office is implementing a new program this school year to address emotional trauma among students, called Handle With Care. 

This partnership allows school districts to know when a child has experienced trauma, allowing them to be handled with care.

Last year, the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office investigated 77 domestic violence related crimes and 43 child victim crimes. Lexington Schools Superintendent Chad Hall said the problem is actually much larger.

“We’re seeing the majority in some of our rural schools experiencing those kinds of situations in their lives,” Hall said.

Hall told News 9 those impacts are felt in the classroom through a child’s behavior.

He said, “Obviously it’s hard to concentrate when your mind is on something that’s happened to you or someone you love.”

Now, though, when Cleveland County deputies respond to a call, they have a conversation with kids and learn their name, grade and the school they attend. Then they send a simple note to administrators to “handle with care.”