ESC of Eastern Ohio to Introduce Support Program

CANFIELD, Ohio – The ESC of Eastern Ohio will introduce the Ohio Handle With Care program in the Mahoning Valley. 

The program is designed to support children who have been exposed to adverse events. The initiative is a collaborative effort with the ESC of Eastern Ohio, school districts, first responders and local agencies and is modeled after trauma-informed programs implemented across the state.

In alignment with the statewide program, Mahoning Valley Handle With Care ensures that first responders, in instances such as arrests or accidents involving children, inform schools of the situation without disclosing sensitive details. This notification enables school staff members to offer targeted support to affected children in the aftermath of traumatic events.

“This program will help to round out the level of crisis support the ESCEO provides to our aligned school districts and the students and families we serve,” said Ashley Mariano, ESCEO prevention coordinator. “This is a preventative piece of our model that will complement the Mahoning Valley Student Support Network.” 

To introduce the program and provide an opportunity for community members to learn more, informational meetings are scheduled for 8:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday at the ESCEO, 7320 N. Palmyra Road.

Community members, educators and stakeholders interested in discovering more about the program are encouraged to sign up HERE for one of the informational meetings. The sessions will offer insights into the program’s objectives, methodologies and how stakeholders can actively contribute to supporting children in times of adversity.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.