The Program Coordinator

Director of the West Virginia Handle With Care Program

Countless children across the state and country have better lives because of Andrea Darr’s empathetic nature and penchant for hard work. Darr and several colleagues who served on a subcommittee of the West Virginia Children’s Justice Task Force created the Handle With Care program, which aims to help children exposed to violence and trauma by providing support and empathy as soon as law enforcement gets involved. The program has proven to be a great success in the Mountain State and is now spreading across the country.

When the pandemic took many students out of schools, Darr sprang to action, facilitating  weekly virtual meetings to ensure kids in need were getting the best support they could offer. “I hope that HWC will continue to spread across West Virginia and the country to ensure all children experiencing trauma get the help they need, because they deserve it.”

“I hope that Handle With Care continues to spread out across West Virginia and the country to ensure that children experiencing trauma as a result of exposure to crime, violence, and abuse get the extra care and concern they deserve.”

Written by Tara Wine-queen

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