Local police and school officials met in City Hall and heard on Monday about a program, “Handle With Care,” that seeks quick support to get children who have been abused, witnessed a traumatic scene (like being present when someone else was abused or even killed), or were otherwise at the scene when police arrived.

“Exposure to trauma in a child,” according to information passed out by Beth Tomlinson, “especially if it is chronic, repeated or severe, can impair healthy brain development causing cognitive delays and difficulty with emotional regulation and impulse control.”

Tomlinson was speaking as a guest of the Bethlehem Community Advisory Board meeting on Monday at the Bethlehem City Hall rotunda. Bethlehem NAACP President Esther Lee was the host of the meeting.

She was representing a non-profit organization called Resilient Lehigh Valley who is promoting the Handle With Care program to local schools and police departments as a way to quickly get traumatized children to the attention of their school guidance counselors and teachers.

The idea is that police officers on the scene where some traumatic event took place would take note of the children who were in the area, whether victims or by-standers, and report that fact to local school officials. These school counselors, administrators and teachers would then know a particular student might need special attention or accommodation.

The system would not be burdensome to the police as the officers on the scene would simply report the information with no need to follow up or take further action. Children in need of immediate child protective action would continue to be referred to the appropriate child services agency.

Mayor Robert Donchez attended as did PA Representative Steve Samuelson, both of whom expressed support for the program.

Also in attendance were Bethlehem City Council members Michael Colón and Grace Crampsie Smith.

Rabbi Michael Singer attended representing Congregation Brith Sholom. He wanted to know, “Have teachers been trained [in the program.]”

Esther Lee, who is a former BASD school board member, observed, “Our teacher are not equipped. They are not social workers.”

“We are not asking the police or the teachers to be social workers,” said Tomlinson.

Bethlehem’s new Police Chief, Michelle Kott, attended the meeting as did at least two unidentified City of Bethlehem Police Officers. The officer’s testified that in almost every case they are involved in, children are present at the scene often as frightened family members or witness.

“Kids are involved not once a week,” said one of the officers. “It happens every night.”