The Care Team is a service at Penn State DuBois that provides employees an opportunity to share a concern about a student’s wellness or safety. The main purpose of the program is to be proactive in assisting students by identifying students of concern and intervening early with students who appear to be having academic or health/safety issues. The Care Team may also work to improve retention and help the college avoid liability issues.
Goals
Early identification of students who are at risk in one of the following areas:
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 strange or bizarre behavioral patterns that have the potential for disruption to others and impaired performance; or extreme changes in behavioral patterns i.e. hyperactivity or very rapid speech, depressed or lethargic mood, deterioration in hygiene, withdrawn or disengaged, etc.) For mental health emergencies related to imminent danger to self or others please call 911.
How will this work?
Penn State DuBois employees will have the opportunity to identify and report concerns related to student behavior as it relates to academic progress, wellness or safety. The Care Team will meet to review the information submitted and determine appropriate disposition. Referrals can be made by emailing one of the Care Team members, or by submitting this form https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?PennState&layout_id=14. See below for the members of the committee. This Care Team is not meant to replace individual interventions by faculty and staff and should only be used if other direct methods have been tried and failed.
Committee Composition:
Director of Student Affairs, Health and Wellness Coordinator, Advising, Disability Services Coordinator, Mental Health Counselor, University Police and faculty representative from academic affairs.
Rebecca Pennington - [email protected]
Jill Betton - [email protected]
Jordan Rummel - [email protected]
Officer Cody Haag - [email protected]
Colleen Lanzoni - [email protected]
Adam Bundy - [email protected]
The Care Team is responsible for the following:
· Review of submitted information
· Documentation of actions
· Appropriate delegation for follow-up based on the situation addressed
What about confidentiality?
Details reviewed in the Care Team will be kept confidential by all members. Information 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 clear exception for any risks to health or safety.