The Fort Worth Police Department is strengthening its commitment to protecting children through the expansion of its Handle with Care program, an initiative designed to provide extra support for students who witness or experience potentially traumatic incidents.
When officers respond to calls involving domestic violence, assaults, shootings, or similar events where children are present, they discreetly collect basic details such as the child’s name, age, and school. That information is then securely shared with ESC Region 11, which passes notifications to teachers and staff at the child’s school. Importantly, no specifics of the incident are disclosed—only that a student may need additional attention or support.
The program equips educators to recognize changes in behavior through a trauma-informed lens, rather than a punitive one, and helps connect children with resources to cope…