Expanding Trauma-sensitive Supports for Students

In 2019, the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) launched ReClaimWV to encourage public schools’ use of the Handle With Care (HWC) program to identify and support students who experience trauma, especially as a result of the opioid crisis. SRI’s proposed project seeks to expand implementation of the HWC 2.1 program in up to 26 Berkeley County elementary, middle, and high schools to identify students at risk for trauma due to the opioid and substance abuse epidemic. The purpose is to coordinate responses and mobilize adults in schools and the community to (1) engage in evidence-based, trauma-sensitive care by building community collaboration among law enforcement officers, youth- and family-serving organizations, and schools; (2) deliver high-quality training on the effects of trauma and HWC 2.1 protocols; and (3) share data related to substance abuse and trauma events that impact community safety and student well-being.