Campus Assessment Response and Education Team (CARE)
Share Because You Care
The Campus Assessment Response and Education Team (CARE) was established* with the mandate to identify, assess, and monitor OCU students displaying moderate to extreme levels of concerning behavior, including distress, disruption, and/or behavioral dysregulation such as homicidal, suicidal, assaultive or self-injurious threats, and to implement timely interventions that protect the welfare of the student and the safety of the University Community.
Our goal is to intervene before a crisis arises, this is why the CARE process provides the opportunity to help someone in need by referring concerning, alarming or distressing behaviors. This does not replace faculty classroom management, disciplinary processes, and/or public safety or law enforcement responses to incidents.* Originally established as the Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT) and renamed "CARE" in 2022.
These links will take you to PDF files with useful information about the CARE Process and show you how to best respond to students in crisis:
- Increase identification of OCU Students whose behaviors are distressed, disruptive, and/or dysregulated.
- Discuss situations brought to its attention by any member of the campus community seeking guidance on concerning, disruptive and/or problematic behaviors that might lead to aggression, self-harm or direct threat.
- Centralize the process of collecting and assessing 鈥渞ed flags鈥� raised by student behavior and documented by different sources within the University before there is a crisis.
- Develop a coordinated plan to help students in crisis, mitigate risk, facilitate early intervention and protect and maintain campus safety.
- Coordinate follow-up with the student of concern to ensure that recommended services, support and resources are deployed effectively.
- Recommend mandated psychological assessment and/or medical leave/withdrawal, when necessary.
- Balance FERPA, HIPAA and counselor privilege with University need-to-know and emergency communication needs.
- Seek to participate in the protection of the campus community in cases of imminent threats to others or self.
- Lilly Berm煤dez-Wilkins, Associate Dean of Students, [email protected], 405-208-5161
- Dr. Levi Harrel-Hallmark, Dean of Students, [email protected], 405-208-6287
Use these examples to point out to the CARE team what you notice about a student that makes you worry about them:
LEVEL 1: GENERAL OUTREACH DUE TO PERCEIVED CONCERNS
- Student acting outside of their norm.
- Missed a few classes.
- Peers worried about their wellness but can鈥檛 put their finger on what鈥檚 wrong.
LEVEL 2: SIGNIFICANT ISSUES WITH DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS TO ACADEMIC SUCCESS
- Student has missed several classes.
- Little or no response to outreach.
- lack of attention or care for academic progress.
- Peers greatly concerned for wellbeing.
- Comments related to a general suicidal ideation (with no plan or means).
- Non-lethal self-harm (cutting, burning).
- Significant depression or anxiety.
- Burst of emotions (unusual or frequent).
- Medical issues such as eating disorders or debilitating illness (mind or body).
- Decreased socialization or self-care.
LEVEL 3: IMMINENT DANGER TO, OR FROM, STUDENT*
- Active plan to end their life or harm others and access to means.
- Comments such as, 鈥淚鈥檓 going to end it all,鈥� 鈥測ou won鈥檛 have to worry about me anymore after tonight.鈥�
- Social media posts with weapons and/or indirect comments about harming self or others.
- Incapacitating illness
Other common concerning behaviors:
- Direct statements indicating distress, family problems, or loss
- Expressions of hopelessness or worthlessness, crying or tearfulness
- Lack of response to outreach from staff or course instructors
- Excessive fatigue
- Frequent or chronic illness
- Coming to class or work bleary-eyed or smelling of alcohol
- Angry or hostile outbursts, yelling or aggressive comments
- Expressions of severe anxiety or irritability
- Shakiness, tremors, fidgeting or pacing
- Visible changes in weight, statements about change in appetite or sleep
- Disorganized speech
- Concern about a student by his/her peers
- More withdrawn or animated than usual
- Excessively demanding or dependent behavior
- Deterioration in physical appearance or personal hygiene
- Noticeable bruises, cuts or burns
- Unusual inability to make eye contact
- A hunch or gut-level reaction that something is wrong
* In the event of an ACTIVE crisis, call OCUPD's Emergency Line: 405-208-5911
