Police Report “Handle with Care” program launched by Berrien County Law Enforcement and Berrien RESA The Berrien County Sheriff’s Office, Michigan State Police and local law enforcement have partnered with Berrien RESA to launch a program called “Handle with Care” for the 2019 school year. This program promotes a partnership between law enforcement and area school staff to better ensure that children exposed to traumatic events in their home or community receive appropriate interventions. The ultimate goal is to help children be safe and achieve success in school despite any traumatic circumstances they may encounter. “Our deputies encounter children in our community that unfortunately experience traumatic events that require a police response. This can range from neglect to the loss of a loved one. Life for that child does not stop once the officer leaves the scene. That child has the challenge of dealing with their current circumstances while trying to learn and thrive in school. It is our goal to improve communications with our local schools in an effort to help our youth heal from traumatic experiences,” stated Sheriff L. Paul Bailey. The “Handle with Care” program involves police officers sending a confidential notification to the child’s school alerting pertinent staff to “handle the student with care”. Before school starts the next day, officers will make sure the staff is sent a notice to handle a specific student with unique circumstances. “Our children experience traumatic events in their lives and then have to report to school the next day and perform as though nothing happened,” said Dr. Kevin Ivers, Superintendent of Berrien RESA. “‘The Handle with Care’ program supports districts’ staff in protecting our students and helping them be successful in the midst of chaos and trauma.” This program was adopted from the West Virginia State Police which initiated “Handle with Care” back in 2013. Since the launch, multiple law enforcement agencies, schools, and states have implemented the program. More info on the program can be found at http://www.handlewithcaremi.org/. During the launch of the “Handle with Care” program Berrien County Sheriff’s Office will continue to assess and discuss the program and adapt to the needs of Berrien County’s district staff and students. If you have any questions about the “Handle with Care” program please contact Deputy Kelly Laesch with the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office, Crime Prevention Unit at 269-983-7111 x: 7221 or klaesch@berriencounty.org.