Campus Assessment, Response, and Evaluation “CARE” Team

The purpose of the Missouri Western Student CARE Team is to develop proactive, collaborative, holistic approaches to identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with students exhibiting concerning behaviors, thoughts, or facing hardships. The team will provide regular communication between University partners, identify resources, and provide support for students needing care or who are experiencing distress. The CARE Team assists with two levels of student care and support: 1. Student Crisis and Distress and 2. Student Wellbeing and Success.

Student Crisis and Distress is an event involving a student that threatens the well-being of one or more individuals, or the university community as a whole. This may include personal crisis and/or behavioral issues. Specific examples: suicide ideation or attempts; death of a student; sexual assaults; physical assaults or other acts of violence; transport to hospital related to alcohol, drugs, eating disorders or serious injury; activities or events that may have an impact on the campus community and any personal tragedy or significant event that might impact a student’s ability to stay in school.

Missouri Western members can report concerns using the online tool. The CARE Team will research the issue to determine if an intervention is appropriate. All information submitted will be handled confidentially, with the purpose of assisting the student, faculty, or staff person you have named. By collaborating as a team, the CARE Team will strive to effectively balance the rights of individuals with the security of groups.

The Campus Assessment, Response, and Evaluation “CARE” Team functions to:

• Serve as the central point of contact for individuals reporting aberrant student behavior or behavior that deviates from an established baseline. Respond to a crisis that threatens the well-being of a student, or students.
• Meet with the student(s) involved to discuss needs, campus and community services, university expectations, and the Student Code of Conduct. Offer the student(s) appropriate assistance in various stages of the crisis.
• Gather and share information about the event, when appropriate.
• Triage reports, separate and clarify issues, define terms, identify additional information needed, identify patterns of aberrant behavior that may suggest a need for intervention.
• Utilize the NABITA Threat Assessment Tool which includes two main scales: The D-Scale: Life Stress and Emotional Health and the E-Scale: Hostility and Violence to Others. The risk level is reviewed each time a case is discussed and may shift over time as interventions are deployed or as the situation evolves. The risk level delineates the level of intervention and action to be considered by the team.
• Conduct a Violence Risk Assessment as needed or requested by Title IX.
• Identify individuals or groups affected by the event.
• Plan appropriate response(s) including use of campus and community resources, continuity of care, and support services.
• Assign responsibility for carrying out plans. Establish a single point of contact for a student in distress, when appropriate.
• Observe ongoing behavior of individuals who have displayed disruptive or concerning behavior.
• Assess threat/risk, available resources, and long-term success.
• Recommend initiation of internal investigation of incidents, voluntary/involuntary removal from campus, no contact orders, etc.
• Establish Return to Campus criteria with the Assistant Vice President/Dean of Students.
• Serve as a local resource to the university-wide Emergency Response Team in the event of a critical incident.
• Identify trends and/or patterns of behavior that may impact the campus community by sharing information on a regular basis.
• Educate the campus community about behaviors of concern and reporting procedures.
• Provide consultation and support to faculty, staff, administration, and students in assisting individuals who display concerning or disruptive behaviors.
• Recommend changes in policies and procedures to department directors, the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, or other responsible University representatives.
• Assess and respond to potentially dangerous situations involving the Missouri Western State University campus.

Student Wellbeing and Success includes situations that have the potential to negatively impact student success. Examples include students who have lost their off-campus jobs or housing due to COVID, immediate friend group of a student who has passed away, students in high demand major that are stressed from an approaching a tough exam, students without adequate food or supplies, strained family situations, students expressing increased anxiety or depression to their faculty, etc. Student well-being strategies will be developed by this Team.

The CARE Team does not oversee student discipline. If a member of the MWSU community would like to identify a student disciplinary issue, they should contact the Dean of Students.