Roanoke College CARE Team
Mission Statement:
The CARE (Coordination, Assessment, Response, Education) team is a college wide team of appointed staff responsible for identifying, assessing, and responding to concerns and disruptive behaviors by students who struggle academically, emotionally, psychologically, or who exhibit behaviors that are negatively impacting their success or present a risk to the health or safety of the college or its members.
Team Goals:
- Provide a safe and supportive environment for members of the college community
- Gather, assess, and deploy interventions with individuals who demonstrate concerning or threatening behavior
- Provide support and resources to community members who are concerned for another individual
If you are concerned about a student's immediate health, safety, or welfare, please call the Campus Safety Office (540-375-2310). Campus Safety staff members can assist you with assessing the situation and determining if immediate action is necessary or if a referral to the CARE Team might be more appropriate.
The CARE Team is comprised of key staff members from several College departments. This team approach helps ensure consistency of care and action. Each team member brings a variety of skills and perspectives to the table, which helps ensure that our efforts are well-informed, appropriate and made with the best interest of all community members in mind.
The CARE Team consists of the following members:
| CARE Team Leadership: | ||
| CARE Team Co-Chairperson Amy Perkins Dean of Students Interim Title IX Coordinator perkins@roanoke.edu (540) 375-2592 |
CARE Team Co-Chairperson Sandy McGhee Associate Dean of Students Director, Student Health & Counseling Services mcghee@roanoke.edu (540) 375-2286 |
Joe Mills Director of Campus Safety mills@roanoke.edu (540) 375-2310 |
| CARE Team Members: | ||
| Ellasen Elroumy Senior Assistant Director of Residence Life & Housing spangler@roanoke.edu (540)375-2308 |
Donovan Hill Coordinator of Wellness Operations donohill@roanoke.edu (540) 375-2286 |
Sarah Lupton International Student Services Director lupton@roanoke.edu (540) 375-2068 |
| Dustin Persinger Asst Director of Academic Services for Accessible Education persinger@roanoke.edu (540) 375-2247 |
Jeri Person Academic Program Coordinator person@roanoke.edu (540) 375-2012 |
Colleen Quigley , MS, LPC Assist. Director Student Health & Counseling cquigley@roanoke.edu (540) 375-2286 |
| Dr. Tony Ryals Assist. Dean of Students for Student Success Strategies ryals@roanoke.edu (540) 375-2410 |
Lauren Wood Administrative Specialist Dean of Students Office wood@roanoke.edu (540) 375-2596 |
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
What are some examples of reasons I should submit a CARE Team referral?
Examples of some reasons to submit a referral include the following:
- Self-harm
- Threat to self or others
- Significant change in behavior
- Concerning written materials in class
- Loneliness, isolation, or difficulty with college transition
- Health concerns or hospital transport
- Relationship issues
- Substance abuse concerns
- Financial or basic needs concerns
- Emotional distress, feelings of hopelessness, or mental health concerns
How can I submit a referral to CARE Team?
If there is an imminent safety threat, please contact Campus Safety (540-375-2310) or 911 immediately.
In all other circumstances, use this link.
How do I know if this situation rises to the level of submitting a CARE team referral?
Let the CARE Team make this determination. The most critical step is that you report the concern. If another campus resource is more appropriate, the CARE Team will refer the student and handle the transfer of information.
When should I submit an alert on EAB/Navigate versus make a referral to CARE Team?
If you feel the behavior is a low-level concern impacting their academic performance, you can start by issuing the appropriate alert in EAB/Navigate. If you feel there are aggravating circumstances causing the issue, or if the behavior persists, you should make a referral to CARE Team.
What happens after I submit the referral?
Members of CARE Team will review the referral and determine the necessary response. If urgent, the student’s immediate well-being will be assessed by appropriate staff members. If the concern is not urgent, the referral will be discussed at the weekly CARE Team meeting and appropriate follow-up will be assigned.
Will someone follow-up with me after I submit a referral?
You will receive electronic confirmation that your referral has been submitted. While we welcome your partnership, we are committed to student privacy and may be limited in what we can share and, in certain cases, will not be able to share details with you regarding CARE Team’s follow-up. If you have a specific question, please feel free to contact a member of CARE Team.
What happens to the student after a CARE Team referral is submitted?
A plan of action to support the student is outlined and then reviewed during the subsequent meeting. A Team member will be responsible for contacting the student to initiate an appropriate response. Students may be referred to additional campus and/or community resources.
Will students be disciplined?
The CARE Team protocol is aimed specifically at assessing the situation and providing care and support to promote student success and well-being. It does not address disciplinary issues.
What are some suggestions for assisting students in distress or students exhibiting inappropriate behavior?
If there is an imminent safety threat, please contact Campus Safety (540-375-2310) or 911 immediately.
In other circumstances, you may consider the following responses:
- Talk to the student privately to help minimize embarrassment or defensiveness.
- Listen carefully to the student and respond to both the content and emotion in the conversation.
- Discuss your observations and perceptions of the situation frankly and honestly with the student.
- Ask directly if the student is having any thoughts of harming self or others.
- Respect the student’s value system even if you don’t agree with it.
- Clarify the limits on your ability to help. Instead, offer the student information on the resources available.
- Avoid making promises of complete confidentiality. If a student is resistant in sharing the information needed, you may consider responding with a statement similar to this: “I want to help you, but I need to better understand the situation so that I can get you connected to the right resources. I would only share the information that others might ‘need to know’.”
- Acknowledge inappropriate or strange behavior without being judgmental.