What is FOCUS?
FOCUS i
s a notification system designed to decrease the negative impacts on children who are exposed to violence and trauma by improving communication and collaboration between first responders, schools and community resources. A traumatic event is a shocking, scary, or dangerous experience that can affect a child emotionally and physically.
History of FOCUS:
- Modeled after the successful Handle with Care program in West Virginia, and has also been effectively implemented in Stanislaus County, California as the FOCUS program
- Goal is to provide children with a more stable alternative in the aftermath of traumatic events
- In 2021, Orange County Department of Education began implementing FOCUS with pilot school districts and law enforcement agencies
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