Drug Free Manatee Executive Director, Sharon Kramer, is hopeful a new program will get quick counseling to kids who have experienced trauma.
Her department helped implement a new program that requires law enforcement officers to notify the school district when a child is present during a trauma.
“They are letting the schools know that the child may have experienced some sort of trauma. It could be abuse in the home or a shooting in the neighborhood,” said Kramer.
She said the program has already worked in other states.
“The purpose is to just let the school know that this child is one that has experienced it and may need special care,” said Kramer.
Manatee County grandmother Gerri Stanhope believes the program will be effective.
“I think it's a great program. I think the kids are hurt by things that happen at home and they don’t speak up out of fear sometimes,” said Stanhope.
The program is slated to start in Manatee County this Spring.
