The CARE (Campus Assessment, Response and Evaluation) Team is comprised of campus responders that include the Dean of Students, Public Safety, Counseling Services and Director of Housing. They meet regularly and on demand to discuss behavioral incidents and concerns occurring on campus, discuss, plan, and implement intervention strategies regarding students who are at risk of harming themselves or others.

Members come to the team with experience in managing health, behavior and safety aspects of the Campus experience and may therefore spot trends and set up early intervention services as they evaluate behaviors from a variety of campus perspectives. The Team shall facilitate interventions; suggest referrals to appropriate offices, or request mental health assessments.

The team provides an early intervention resource for SUNY Broome’s faculty, staff, and students to consult on student behaviors of: distressing, disruptive or threatening behaviors of concern.

There are 4 categories of behavior which may require attention by the CARE Team.

1. Self-injurious behavior/suicidal ideation or attempt.
2. Erratic behavior (including online activities) that can disrupt the mission and/or normal proceedings of college students, faculty, staff, or others.
3. Behavior that is not understood but is concerning or disturbing to others.
4. Involuntary transportation to the hospital for alcohol and drug use/abuse or mental health crises.

CARE Team Mission: 

The Campus Assessment, Response and Evaluation (CARE) Team works collaboratively to prevent, identify, assess, and respond to behaviors and situations that pose, or may pose a disruption to the safety and learning opportunities of our College community and/or to support students whose patterns of behaviors have raised concerns for their well-being.

SUNY Broome CARE team reviews reports about the student in distress and takes appropriate action to best ensure the student’s well-being, the community’s safety, and the student’s success here at SUNY Broome. The CARE Team works collaboratively to prevent, identify, assess, and respond to behaviors and situations that pose, or may pose a disruption to the safety and learning opportunities of our College community and/or to support students whose patterns of behaviors have raised concerns for their well-being. The team provides early intervention resources for SUNY Broome’s faculty, staff, and students and consult on student behaviors that are distressing, disruptive, or threatening and of concern.

Examples of behaviors that should be brought to the attention of the team:

1. A student submits an English assignment about committing suicide.
2. Two students make a class video about placing bombs on campus.
3. Someone receives an email stating, “I’m going to kill everyone in the Math Dept.”.
4. A student’s web page has links to web pages with information about poisoning others with cyanide.
5. A student corresponds with a faculty member using language that indicates disordered thinking.
6. A student communicates suicidal/homicidal intent to another.
7. A student displays other odd or threatening behaviors.

To make a CARE Team referral, please contact Counseling Services by stopping in SS210 or calling ext. 5210, or calling Public Safety at ext 5083. If a situation requires immediate attention, please call 911 (9-911 if using a campus telephone).

What do I do if I know a student who may need to be referred to the CARE process?

If you feel there is an immediate threat, call Public Safety by dialing 911 or 9-911 from an off campus phone. You will be asked for basic information about the student, how to contact you (in case the CARE Team has follow-up questions) and for a description of the incident or behaviors that prompted the referral.

You are the CARE Team’s best resource because you may be familiar to the student. If you are comfortable doing so, tell the student that you are concerned and ask if he/she is ok. In many cases, students will indicate that he/she could use some help and you can refer them to the SUNY Broome’s Counseling Services at 607-778-5210.

What happens after I make the referral?

CARE team members evaluate the information and make a decision about whether the student should be assessed/interviewed. Reporting is the most critical step.

What happens to the student in the CARE Team process?

The CARE Team provides students with confidential, respectful, proactive support, while offering resources and balancing the educational needs of students with the mission of SUNY Broome Community College.

How do I know if a concerning behavior is a CARE Team issue, or is more appropriately handled by other campus resources?

You do not have to make this determination. The most critical step is that you report the concerning behavior by calling one of the following CARE Team members:

• Dean of Students: Scott Schuhert 778-5681
• Office of Public Safety: Chief O’Connor 778-5083
• Counseling Services: Melissa Martin 778-5210
• Director of Housing: Amy Ziezula 778-5681

If another campus resource is more appropriate, the CARE Team will refer the student and handle the transfer of information.