COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Branch Intermediate School District Superintendent Kris Jenkins told the district’s Board of Education Wednesday that there have been over 30 “Handle with Care” notices since the program involving Branch County schools, law enforcement, and mental health providers started lastSeptember.
The goal of the program is to make sure any child who is exposed to a traumatic event in the home or in the community gets the proper intervention.
Jenkins said the bulk of the notices were from the City of Coldwater but they have gotten some notices from the Michigan State Police and a few from Bronson.
She said they plan to talk with Union City school officials during the first week of February in hopes of bringing them on board.
As part of the program, police officers send a confidential notice to the child’s school before classes start the next day, which alerts pertinent staff to “handle the student with care.”
This program was adopted from the West Virginia State Police which started it back in 2013. More information can be found at www.handlewithcaremi.org.
