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Campus Assessment Response and Education Team (CARE)

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The Campus Assessment Response and Education Team (CARE) was established* with the mandate to identify, assess, and monitor OCU students displaying moderate to extreme levels of concerning behavior, including distress, disruption, and/or behavioral dysregulation such as homicidal, suicidal, assaultive or self-injurious threats, and to implement timely interventions that protect the welfare of the student and the safety of the University Community. The primary goal is to intervene before a crisis arises.

For an immediate threat, call OCUPD at 405-208-5911

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* Originally established as the Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT). The BIT was renamed CARE on January 2022.

SUBMIT A PERSON OF CONCERN REFERRAL HERE

Secure Referral Form

Key Objectives

  • Increase identification of OCU Students whose behaviors are distressed, disruptive, and/or dysregulated.
  • Discuss situations brought to its attention by any member of the campus community seeking guidance on concerning, disruptive and/or problematic behaviors that might lead to aggression, self-harm or direct threat.
  • Centralize the process of collecting and assessing “red flags” raised by student behavior and documented by different sources within the University before there is a crisis.
  • Develop a coordinated plan to help students in crisis, mitigate risk, facilitate early intervention and protect and maintain campus safety.
  • Coordinate follow-up with the student of concern to ensure that recommended services, support and resources are deployed effectively.
  • Recommend mandated psychological assessment and/or medical leave/withdrawal, when necessary.
  • Balance FERPA, HIPAA and counselor privilege with University need-to-know and emergency communication needs.
  • Seek to participate in the protection of the campus community in cases of imminent threats to others or self.

Common Behavioral Warning Signs

  • Direct statements indicating distress, family problems, or loss
  • Expressions of hopelessness or worthlessness, crying or tearfulness
  • Lack of response to outreach from staff or course instructors
  • Excessive fatigue
  • Frequent or chronic illness
  • Coming to class or work bleary-eyed or smelling of alcohol
  • Angry or hostile outbursts, yelling or aggressive comments
  • Expressions of severe anxiety or irritability
  • Shakiness, tremors, fidgeting or pacing
  • Visible changes in weight, statements about change in appetite or sleep
  • Disorganized speech
  • Concern about a student by his/her peers
  • More withdrawn or animated than usual
  • Excessively demanding or dependent behavior
  • Deterioration in physical appearance or personal hygiene
  • Noticeable bruises, cuts or burns
  • Unusual inability to make eye contact
  • A hunch or gut-level reaction that something is wrong

The CARE process DOES NOT REPLACE faculty classroom management, disciplinary processes, and/or public safety or law enforcement responses to incidents. The CARE process provides the opportunity to help someone in need by referring concerning, alarming or distressing behaviors.