We first introduced you to a Waunakee couple in January. Paul and Chris Gilbertson are trying to help kids in crisis situations. They began providing books to officers and paramedics as a way to help build positive relationships between those professionals and kids. Now the program is growing.

A program called R.E.A.C.H. A Child kicked off in Dane County just three months ago. It's founders had a vision of the program going statewide by April and going nationwide in the next year. "We already have someone in Illinois that is willing to head up the whole program and bring that to the state of Illinois and Minnesota as well. It's just a snowball from here and all we need is to try and slow down a little bit and get it piece by piece, get WI first and then spread out to the other states," explained Chris.

The Gilbertson's achieved their first goal. The program is going statewide and within the next three months, backpacks filled with books will be in squad cars and ambulances throughout the state. "It's quite the challenge, but we're looking forward to it," smiled Paul.

The effort means more kids could soon have an educational escape. "Getting books in the hands of kids that otherwise might not even have a book or they are traumatized by what's going on around them and it will take them somewhere else while they're reading," explained Paul.

Officers have the books in their squads and give them out at fires, accidents, domestic disputes, or whatever other traumatic situation is going on. Dane County implemented the program in December. In January, Madison police said the program was a great success and another tool officers could use when working with children. Now, the Wisconsin Police Chief's Association and the Badger State Sheriff's Association have endorsed the program and want the backpacks in their squads. "It's a huge task and right now we have about 10,000 to 15,000 books in our inventory and we need about 60,000. So we are helping the gracious people out in the communities will help us," explained Paul.

Initially the Gilbertson's and about 17 volunteers put together the 350 back packs to cover Dane county. They say it took that many people about 5 hours to complete the task. Since they're going statewide, they will need to put together 5,000 backpacks. So they are in need of a lot of help. Both with donations for books, transporting books to areas of the state, and of course putting the backpack packets together. The Gilbertson's say anyone can donate books. If you are looking at buying books, the Gilbertson's do get a major discount from many publishers for children's books, so they can accept donations to their non-profit organization as well. They can then use donations to buy books for the back packs going into squads.

To get in touch with the Gilbertson's or to learn more about the project log onto:
http://www.withwingsandahalo.org/

--------ORIGINAL STORY FROM JANUARY 17, 2008--------------

A Waunakee couple is hoping books will bring comfort to kids in traumatic or crisis situations.

"These are what we've created, it's called a B.A.C.K. packet," said Paul Gilbertson. Paul and his wife, Chris, came up with the idea of Become A Cheerful Kid packets. They're colorful bags filled with books that can be found in the back of squad cars and ambulances.

Madison Assistant Chief Randy Gaber says when Gilbertson came to him and other law enforcement officers with the idea of B.A.C.K. packets, he jumped on the idea. "It provides officers the opportunity to take children's books right out of their squad cars and then hand them to the kids," said Asst. Chief Gaber.

The idea is to have books to offer children who are in a crisis situation. It's something that can keep them occupied while police deal with the immediate needs of the crisis call and can also help kids keep their minds off what's going on around them. "I look at this really as an educational escape where they can kind of separate themselves from all those events that are taking place around them and really look and try to take that as a welcomed distraction from those stresses," said Asst. Chief Gaber.

"It occupies their mind for a half hour, 45 minutes and then hopefully by that time their immediate crisis has been diffused and it's not such a bad situation," explained Paul.

B.A.C.K. packets can be found in 350 squad cars or ambulances in Dane County. Madison police have been using the books for about a month and so far, it's a big hit. "It puts officers in a positive contact situation with the children and the families and we really feel there is nothing but good that can come from something like that," said Asst. Chief Gaber.

"There's just been such overwhelming response from the officers out on the street and just hearing their stories come in has just been heartwarming," said Chris.

The Gilbertson's say they're glad the books are helping police do their job and helping kids find and educational escape from what's going on around them. "Reading is such an avenue that leads kids in an upward path verses all the other negativity that's out there in the world," said Paul.

Paul Gilbertson is an author and has donated several books. He's contacted publishers from throughout the country for book donations for the program as well. Next month he will take this program to the State Police Chiefs Association to see if he can implement the program throughout the state. He hopes to get this program up and running nationwide as soon as possible. To learn more about this project and other projects the Gilbertson's are working on click on the web address below.

http://www.withwingsandahalo.org