OKCPD Implement New Youth Trauma Assistance Program

Oklahoma City Police are rolling out a new program to help young victims and witnesses of trauma.

The program called the Handle with Care, was first used in West Virginia and now Oklahoma City Police officers say they're on board as well.

The way it works is fairly simple according to police and doesn't cost anything to implement. When officers respond to calls involving children suffering from trauma, they'll now be able to click on a link in an email which provides basic information related to the child, including name, age and where they attend school.

The information is forwarded to the Oklahoma City Public School District and follow up services are made available at school the very next day in most cases.

Police said more children than you would think could use the help.

"Approximately 60 percent of American children go through some kind of trauma whether that's being the victim of a crime or some type of abuse, so it's a very stagerring stat that needs to be addressed," said OKCPD Major Paco Balderrama. 

Oklahoma City Fire have also been helping implement the program in the city.

In month or so since the program was adopted, police said it's been used about a dozen times.