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Contract 2021-100Ag, WITy 2021 100q oP'M re rr' Heal' MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING I his Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is made by and between the School Board of Lake County, Florida ("District"), the Lake County Sberiff s Office ("LCSO"), Astatula Police Department, Clermont Police Department, Eustis Police Department, Fruitland Park Police Department, Greveland Police Department, Howey-in-the-Hills Police Department, Lady Lake Police Department, Leesburg Police Department, Mascotte Police Department, Mt Dora Police Department, Tavares Police Department, Umatilla Police Department, and The Department of Children and Families collectively referred to as the "Parties" or individually as a "Party" This MOU shall be effective as of the date of the last -executed signature below (`Effective Date'). 1. PURPOSE The Handle with Care (HWC) program is a statewide trauma -informed response initiative aimed at helping children succeed in school by alerting school staff that a student has been exposed to a potentially traumatic event. Childhood exposure to violence and trauma, without the right support, is often associated with increased risk of poor outcomes in emotional, behavioral and physical health over the life span. Children exposed to violence and trauma are also at a higher risk of poor school related outcomes. The ultimate goal of this project is to help students succeed in school and directly addresses the goal of mitigating these negative impacts of exposure to trauma when it does occur, by providing support, if necessary, to children identified by local law enforcement and the Department of Children and Families. H. NOTIFICATION OF EXPOSURE TO TRAUMA Acknowledging the collaborative work already underway in the community around trauma and specifically around social and emotional health within the school system, this MOU will focus on a notification to the District by law enforcement when a child is exposed to trauma or violence in a the he= or in the cemummity to enable the child's school to handle the child with care upon his " or her arrival at school the next school day following the incident. The phrase "lraurna or violence" shall be construed broadly and by way of example and not by way of limitation, shall mean and include any event where a child is a victim or witness, artperienoes or is involved in, or is questioned relative to, any of the following: the abuse of a family member, loved one, or pet; abuse or neglect; child custody, visitation or support or other domestic relations controversy where there is law enforcement intervention; community violence; the commission of a crime; loss of a family member or friend; an overdose; the arrest of a family member; racism or any other form of discrimination; homelessness; mental illness and/or substance abuse by a parent or caregiver, hospitalization or family illness; incarceration of a parent Page 1 of 18 or family member; sudden, unexpected or frequent changes in caregiver, school, program or home life; natural disasters; or similar acts or experiences. Should there be a question as to whether a child has been exposed to trauma or violence; judgemu rn should be exercised in the best interests of the child and in favor of notification. III. RESPONSIBILITIES OF LCSO, ASTATULA POLICE DEPARTMENT, CLERMONT POLICE DEPARTMENT, EUSTIS POLICE DEPARTMENT, FRUITLAND PARK POLICE DEPARTMENT, GROVELAND POLICE DEPARTMENT, HOWEY-IN-THE- 3IH.LS POLICE DEPARTMENT, LADY LAKE POLICE DEPARTMENT, LEESBURG LICE DEPARTMENT, MASCOTTE POLICE DEPARTMENT, MT. DORA POLICE EPARTMENT, TAVARES POLICE DEPARTMENT, UMATILLA POLICE EPARTMENT, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES COLLECTIVELY "AGENCIES' OR INDIVIDUALLY "AGENCY' • ,i The Agencies shall send an HWC notification to the LCSO Juvenile Court Liaison, who in turn will provide notification to Lake County Schools District Points of Contact (POC) identifying the child(ren) believed to have been exposed to trauma or violence which Agencies' personnel might benefit from increased care and/or attention from school persormel. B. Notification by the LCSO Juvenile Court Liaison of my identified child(ren) shallbegiven to the LCS District POC via a secure Ooogle Document prior to the start of the following school day. C. Notifications will contain no specific information about the incident in order to maintain privacy of the child and his or her family. D. The Agencies shall otherwise maintain the confidentiality of victims, children, and families as required by law. IV. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DISTRICT A. The District shall appoint a Mental Health Specialist as a Point of Contact (POC) for receipt of notifications from the LCSO Juvenile Court Liaison to disseminate student notifications to the designated point persons within each school by providing them with the HWC Notice Form The designated point persons within each school shall include: an identified School Administrator. the school -based Mental Health Liaison, an identified School Counselor, the student's Teacher(s), the School Nurse, and the Schools Resource Officer/Deputy. B. Upon receipt of a notification identifying a child(ren) who has/have been exposed to trauma or violence, a designated point person(s) within each school will then disseminate the information to any other relevant staff. C. Notified school personnel shall monitor the student for exhibited academic and/or behavioral challenges which may require additional support in the classroom setting and/or school. If additional support is needed, a referral will be sent to the school -based Mental Health Liaison. If no additional support is needed, school personnel shall comirme with regular classroonr/school activities. D. The District POC will ensure a HWC identification will appear in the LCS' Student Information System for a period of two weeks following the notification, and continue to monitor any student who receives a HWC notice for any future supports. Page 2 of IS E. The District shall provide annual training on trauma informed care to all school personnel. Information on the program will also be available for parents and guardians on the District's website. F. District personnel shall maintain the confidentiality of the child's information, including but not limited to academic records, health records, and mental health services. Notifications may be maintained for any purposes consistent with the purpose of this MOU but shall not be part of any child's permanent record. V. TERM AND TERMINATION This MOU shall remain in effect until terminated as provided herein. Any Party has the right to cancel this MOU with at least 30 days written notice to the other Parties. Should any Party terminate this MOU, then the MOU shall remain in effect as to all other Parties, unless terminated at the request of the District. VI. MODIFICATION The terms of this MOU may be amended by a written addendum signed by all Parties. However, additional agencies, whether a law enforcement agency, may become a party to this MOU upon execution of an addendum to this MOU between the District and such agency without ratification by the other Parties. 1'/1MFIV13111Y111 Each Party shall be responsible for actions and/or omissions by that Party and its agents. No Party assumes any liability for any actions and/or omissions by any other party. However, each Party to this MOU agrees to cooperate fully with all Parties in the defense of any claims made against any Party. This cooperation will include, but is not limited to, the following: A. Immediate notification to the applicable Party of any accident or incident resulting in personal injury, damage or having the potential for liability; S. Immediate notification to the applicable Party of any claim made against it alleging liability; C. Permitting the applicable Party to conduct a parallel independent investigation of any incident, and/or D. Making personnel and records available to the applicable Party for purposes of the investigation or defense of any claim and/or legal proceeding to the extent permitted by law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the governmental Parties expressly state their intention to avail themselves of the benefits of Florida Statutes § 768.28 and of other statutes and comma law governing sovereign immunity to the fullest extent possible. VIII. EXECUTION This MOU may be executed in counterparts (including by email), any one of which shall be deemed an original and all of which collectively shall be deemed a single instrument. Page 3 of 18 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this MOU on the respective dates under each signature. "DISTRICT" THE SC HOOLB ARD NTV, FLORIDA By. W Mum S. Mathias, Chairperson Date: Attest: ✓ Diane S. Ko &gay. S e tcndent Page 4 of 18 CLERMONT POLICE RTMENT By: Name: cko r r3 17ao'^ ay Title: Qo l ue Date: L ((i a a 1 i 1 1'I MOM Page 7 of 13 No further pages.