By Jerry Filmore
WORCESTER, Mass. — Resilient Worcester, a partnership between Clark University and the City of Worcester’s Governance Council on Children, Youth, and Families, has received a three-year $347,000 Determination of Need grant from UMass Memorial Health to expand trauma response services for young children across the city. The funding will allow Resilient Worcester to broaden the reach of its Handle With Care program to childcare and out of school time providers and to add a Family Navigator position within The Hub, Worcester’s coordinated trauma response system. The announcement was made during a virtual event held Tuesday, February 24, with representatives from Resilient Worcester, municipal leaders, and local health and human service agencies.
Expanding Handle With Care to Early Childhood Providers
Worcester adopted the Handle With Care model in 2019. The national school-community response program allows first responders to send a confidential notification to a child’s school when a student has experienced a traumatic event in their home, school, or community. The message includes the child’s name, school, age, and the words “Handle With Care,” alerting school personnel that additional support may be needed. With this new grant, those notifications will now be shared with childcare and out of school time providers, extending support beyond the traditional school day. Dr. Laurie Ross, leader of Resilient Worcester and associate provost and dean of the College at Clark University, said expanding alerts to childcare providers helps ensure younger children receive support throughout the day. City Manager Eric Batista said the program builds on earlier work through the Worcester Youth Violence Prevention Initiative, launched in 2018 to examine risk factors contributing to youth violence. He noted that trauma was identified as a significant risk factor in later involvement in youth violence. According to Batista, the Handle With Care network now includes 30 local partners and has responded to more than 400 situations since its implementation. Worcester Police Chief Paul B. Saucier said expanding the program to early childhood providers helps ensure continuity of care beyond school hours. District Fire Chief Scott Armstrong stated that in 2025 the Worcester Fire Department submitted 89 referrals for children impacted by fire-related events. Matt Morris, director of School Safety for the Worcester Public Schools, said the notifications help schools respond with appropriate supports to address attendance, behavior, and academic needs.
Adding a Family Navigator to The Hub
The grant also supports the addition of a Family Navigator within The Hub, Worcester’s community trauma response system. The Hub brings together local nonprofits, municipal services, and state agencies to coordinate individualized support plans for individuals and families affected by traumatic events. Anthony Rossi of the Seven Hills Foundation assumed the Family Navigator role in September. The position focuses on helping families connect with resources and navigate multiple systems during times of crisis. Michelle Webber, a social worker with the City’s Department of Health and Human Services, described how coordinated support through The Hub has helped families address housing and other basic needs.
Community Partners and Research
The partnership includes Seven Hills Child Care Resources, Clark University, Worcester Public Schools, Worcester Police Department, Worcester Fire Department, the Worcester District Attorney’s Office, Edward Street Day Care, the Together for Kids Coalition, and the Coalition for a Healthy Greater Worcester. Ross said the funding strengthens the Worcester Youth Violence Prevention Initiative, which she launched approximately ten years ago. She reported decreases in gun and knife incidents involving individuals ages 25 and younger, as well as declines in arrests of young people. Specific data sources were not provided during the announcement and are pending official documentation. Graduate student Cameron Smith is part of the Resilient Worcester research team, working with community partners to collect and interpret program data to inform future development and evaluation. More information about the Determination of Need funding process is available through the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. A direct link to additional program details from Resilient Worcester is pending confirmation.
🔍 The W.U.W. Verification Box
- Project / Topic: Expansion of Resilient Worcester’s Handle With Care program and addition of Family Navigator
- Current Status: Three-year grant awarded; expansion underway
- Key Dates or Decisions: Grant announced February 24; Worcester adopted Handle With Care in 2019
- Estimated Cost: $347,000 over three years
- Timeline: Three-year grant period; implementation ongoing
- Immediate Next Steps: Expand notifications to childcare providers; continue data collection and program evaluation
- Primary Sources: Resilient Worcester; Clark University; UMass Memorial Health; City of Worcester officials
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