DUBLIN, Ohio — Dublin City Schools is trying to improve the way the district assists students with trauma.
This year, the school district launched "Handle with Care," a statewide program that allows first responders to privately notify school administrators whenever a student experiences trauma outside of school hours that could then affect their behavior and mental well-being in the classroom.
The district is the first in Franklin County to implement the program.
School is a constant for kids. Whether it’s a bad day or a good one, most of the time students show up to the classroom.
Officer Scott Nichelson, a Dublin police officer and student resource officer, sees a lot in his job.
“We spend a lot of time having adult conversations about adult topics [with students] and they come to school almost believing themselves to be more mature than they really are. They try to handle adult problems,” said Nichelson.
Nichelson oversees the "Handle with Care" program at Dublin City Schools. He helps train staff and first responders on how to handle students who have something traumatic happen outside of the classroom. The program streamlines the process for first responders to notify school districts if a student faces trauma outside of school hours.
“It’s been great. It lets them know that any unexpected behaviors that would normally be a disciplinary issue, can now be looked at through a different lens. We can provide different resources,” he said.
The details of the incidents of trauma are not shared with the district.
“It could be anything from a police report, fire in a house or maybe there is a disturbance in the neighborhood, domestic violence,” said Tyler Wolfe, director of student wellness at Dublin City Schools.
Wolfe said the impact of trauma on kids can vary. But it’s the job of those who work in the district to know how to handle that trauma.
“Things that happen outside of school are a lot of times transferred right into school. We have the opportunity to respond to those things and try to help kids have a better day,” said Wolfe.
Katy O’Neal, assistant principal at Sells Middle School, said she has already seen the positive effects of the program. They have had incidents reported and it’s made a difference in how staff respond.
“From there we decided as a team to let the student’s entire team of teachers know that the student is going through a difficult time in life. And just to keep extra eyes on that student,” said O’Neal.
In the future, Dublin City Schools hopes to help other districts in the county launch the program.
“We are finding out what’s going on with them, what’s in their heads. Then we know how we can help them, what resources can we provide to them and their families,” said Nichelson.