In West Virginia, a multidisciplinary program identifies and treats trauma in real time, writes Bethany Bray for Counseling Today. The Defending Childhood Initiative (DCI) brings together law enforcement, school staff, and mental health professionals to create a safety net for youth. For example, a child might witness police response to a domestic violence incident at home early in the morning. Through DCI, police are trained to note whether a child was present, find out what school the child attends, and file a "handle with care" notice. The form doesn't give details, but lets a school know the student may need extra attention. In other cases, a parent or caregiver might alert the school about a parent's impending military deployment, or the death of an extended family member. After being alerted, DCI's network kicks in to provide whatever the child may need at school -- from a space to shower, nap and change clothes to a chance to retake a test or recurring sessions with a trauma-focused therapist. Law enforcement personnel and entire school staffs -- principals to cafeteria workers -- complete DCI training to help them identify and be sensitive to child trauma. The first pilot schools in West Virginia adopted the program in 2013. In less than two years, law enforcement recorded 414 incidents involving 768 children through DCI. Following its success in five pilot schools at the elementary, middle and high schools levels, DCI is poised to expand statewide. More

Source:  Public Education News Blast

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