Training That Prevents: Preparing Those First to See the Signs
March 16, 2026
GBMC HealthCare’s Sexual Assault and Forensic Examination and Domestic Violence (SAFE & DV) and Child Protection programs are staffed and prepared – around the clock, 7 days a week – to care and advocate for their patients. Part of this work is counseling survivors to prevent further harm from coming to them. But the most effective prevention happens earlier—through education, awareness, and the ability to recognize risk before it becomes crisis.
For GBMC’s SAFE & DV and Child Protection Program, prevention through education is a cornerstone of survivor-centered care. Central to that work is a deep partnership with Sandra Caldwell, School Safety Analyst at the Maryland Center for School Safety (MCSS) and a 2025 Circle of Advocates honoree.
Together, GBMC and the MCSS are changing how Maryland protects its youth.
Training Those Who Are First to See the Signs
School resource officers are often among the first adults to notice when something is wrong. They see students every day. They hear disclosures — sometimes direct, often hesitant. They can intervene when a child may be experiencing sexual assault, dating violence, trafficking, or abuse.
Through a statewide partnership begun in 2018 and led by Ms. Caldwell, Laura Clary, MSN, RN, FNE-A/P, SANE-A, SANE-P, Program Director, and GBMC’s SAFE & DV and Child Protection team serve as the official trainers for the MCSS, delivering comprehensive education on “Victimization of Youth.” The program ensures that responses are aligned with best practices in survivor-centered care.
Already, this effort has reached every school resource officer working in Maryland schools.
Caldwell’s work is practical, evidence-based, and grounded in decades of clinical expertise from GBMC’s SAFE & DV and Child Protection Program. The training equips officers to identify signs of victimization, respond in trauma-informed ways, and connect students with appropriate medical, advocacy, and community resources. It emphasizes that how an adult responds in the first moments after disclosure can shape whether a young survivor feels believed, supported, and safe.
A Shared Commitment to Prevention
“In today's world, those who work with students are expected to do so much more than their intended position. Having GBMC SAFE & DV and Child Protection Program as a resource removes some of the stress of knowing what to do and who to contact in those difficult situations. I know that when someone reaches out to the wonderful SAFE & DV and Child Protection team, they will get the assistance needed in a kind, compassionate, and knowledgeable manner, regardless of where the person is from. Having this powerhouse organization here in our state is such an advantage to our communities,” said Caldwell.
Sandra Caldwell has spent her career focused on school safety, youth protection, and systems-level prevention, in Maryland and across the country. She knows prevention requires preparation, partnership, and consistency.
The collaboration between the MCSS and GBMC brings together public safety, healthcare, advocacy, and education -- ensuring that prevention is not siloed but embedded across systems that touch young lives.
It also sends a powerful message: protecting children requires more than enforcement. It requires understanding trauma, recognizing vulnerability, and responding with care.
Honoring Leadership That Prevents Harm
Sandra Caldwell’s recognition as a Circle of Advocates honoree reflects the spirit of this work. The Circle honors leaders whose impact often happens behind the scenes—quietly strengthening systems that protect the most vulnerable.
Through her partnership with GBMC, Sandra has helped ensure that prevention is not an abstract goal, but a daily practice embedded in Maryland’s schools.
Together, the Maryland Center for School Safety and GBMC’s SAFE & DV and Child Protection Program are building safer environments for youth—where warning signs are recognized; disclosures are handled with care, and prevention begins long before a hospital visit is ever needed.
