MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Ky. (LEX 18)- — School starts in Montgomery County next week and with a new year comes a new partnership with the local sheriff's office.
Sheriff David Charles has pioneered a plan to help students who might be dealing with trauma at home. The "Handle with Care" program offers a direct line of communication between the sheriff's office and the affected student's school.
"Often, we deal with cases of the night that involve children. A domestic, house fire, accident, where the children are temporarily displaced or their night is disrupted," explained Sheriff Charles. "For example, if they had to go to the grandparents in an emergency situation, chances are of them having their homework would be very small."
Under certain circumstances, the staff at the school is now aware and they can help the student cope with what is going on at home. Families in the county think the program will be a huge success.
"Kids open up to someone they trust and that's the big issue is trust. If you have a teacher or a counselor or someone you feel like you can talk to, I think that would be a great idea," said Janet Whaley, a grandparent at one of the schools.
