What happens when kids who witness gun violence go to school? This Philly program aims to help.

By Kristen A. Graham, The Philadelphia Inquirer | September 28, 2026

Stoneleigh Fellow and Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel initiated the districtwide “Handle With Care” program in Philadelphia, which allows officers to make referrals to schools attended by child witnesses to crimes.

The “Handle With Care” program allows officers to make referrals to schools attended by child witnesses to crimes. Schools are then alerted that one of their children may need extra attention, with staff trained in trauma-informed practices and poised to offer more support.

“Having that heads up has made a profound difference for our school,” Taylor said at a news conference in a Gideon hallway Monday.

The program is the brainchild of Bethel, a former district safety chief and longtime city officer, who dreamed for years about figuring out a way to better care for kids who witnessed traumatic events.

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Related Fellows

Kevin Bethel, MS Stoneleigh Fellow

Brandy Blasko, PhD Stoneleigh Fellow

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