Title: Handle with Care: Tennessee Statewide Initiative
Date: April 30th, 2024
Time: 10am - 11am CST/11am - 12pm EST
Description:
Handle with Care is a simple and effective program that allows first responders to quickly send a notification to school districts advising them when and if a child was present at an incident that involved a call for service to provide services as needed. This presentation will cover the importance and impact the initiative for children in the school system.
Training Objectives:
- Provide information to improve students’ understanding of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE's) and PCE’s.
- Learn to identify traumatic events involving children and understand the impacts of these traumatic events on children and trauma-informed approach.
- Provide general information about Handle With Care (HWC).
- Guidelines for Law Enforcement/ School Districts/Community Agencies for Handle With Care Program.
Presenter(s):
Evangeline Watanabe
Evangeline Watanabe began her role as Statewide Handle with Care Coordinator in March 2022. She completed her undergraduate education at Covenant College in Economic Community Development in 2012. She has a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Tennessee with a concentration in organizational leadership. She also has earned certificates in Human Services Management, which is a graduate-level certification from the Network for Social Work Management and Supporting Students Exposed to Trauma from the 3C Institute. Evangeline’s work experience has ranged from case management to policy and procedure development for both corporate entities and non-profit organizations. Beginning in late 2020, she developed a trauma-informed program for children ages 8-13 with Dream Streets, a local non-profit, that collaborates weekly with the West Nashville Police Precinct’s Community Engagement team. Both her educational background and work experience have her expertly positioned to develop frameworks and structures for the Handle with Care program to be implemented statewide.
About AIMHiTN:
The Association of Infant Mental Health in Tennessee (AIMHiTN) exists to support infants and young children and the adults who impact their early relational health. Our focus is on prenatal care up to a child's sixth birthday because we know it's those earliest years that matter most. AIMHiTN delivers education, training, and resources to assist caregivers, educators, healthcare providers, and other professionals in their everyday interactions with infants, young children, and their families. Our work helps ensure healthy communities and a productive workforce for generations to come, creating a brighter future for all. Simply put, we support the workforce that supports our future workforce.
