The Penn State Schuylkill CARE (Campus Assessment, Response, and Evaluation) Team helps to evaluate and support students experiencing academic, health, or safety issues. Use the CARE Team Referral Form to share a concern about a student’s academic progress, wellness, or safety. The primary purpose of this reporting is to proactively identify students of concern and provide early intervention for those students who appear to be experiencing academic, health, or safety issues.
What are the goals of the program?
Early identification of students who are at risk in one of the following areas:
- Unresolved academic progress with faculty intervention; students not responding to faculty attempts related to class attendance, course performance, etc.
- Personal health or wellness; students who continue to exhibit symptoms of impaired health, even after appropriate referral to a health provider.
- Students exhibiting behaviors or expressing comments which have the potential to impact the safety of self or others.
- Students exhibiting behavioral patterns that have the potential for disruption to others and impaired performance; or extreme changes in behavioral patterns (e.g., hyperactivity or very rapid speech, depressed or lethargic mood, deterioration in hygiene, etc.).
Early identification of faculty or staff that are at risk in the following area:
- Exhibiting behaviors or expressing remarks which have the potential to impact the safety of self or others.
For mental health emergencies related to imminent danger to self or others, please call 911.
How does it work?
The submission site is monitored daily, and submissions are screened for priority status. Referral sources are automatically notified by the system when the web-based form is received. The CARE Team meets bi-weekly (or as needed) to review the information submitted and determine the appropriate action. Referrals will be made to the appropriate departments. All submissions and interventions are documented, and records are confidentially maintained.
This early identification system is not meant to replace individual interventions by faculty and staff, or campus policies and procedures that are currently in effect. It should only be used if other direct methods have been tried and failed.
What about confidentiality?
All information is kept confidential by CARE Team members. Information regarding students may be shared on a strictly “need to know” basis in order to refer the student to the correct campus resource or intervene as appropriate. FERPA allows for communication to be shared among school officials who have a legitimate educational interest. Under FERPA, there is a clear exception for any risks to health or safety. Faculty/staff issues will only be viewed by Human Resources officials to determine appropriate action.
Please familiarize yourself with the Red Folder Initiative—a comprehensive guide to help faculty, staff, and others who interact with students to recognize, respond effectively to, and make referrals for any potentially at-risk student at Penn State Schuylkill.