The CARE Team at SCCC is a multidisciplinary group of faculty and staff that meets weekly to address concerns about student well-being and safety in a collaborative manner. Faculty are encouraged to learn more here and on the CARE Team webpage.

Faculty often find themselves in a unique position when it comes to student wellbeing. Picture this: a student approaches you after class asking to talk. As the professor, you’ve noticed their recent assignment is late, they have missed the last few classes and, despite being well engaged earlier in the semester, they are suddenly at risk of failing the class.

As the conversation unfolds, it becomes clear there is more going on than just academic decline. Maybe the student shares that they are dealing with challenges at home, struggling with basic needs, experiencing mental health difficulties or overwhelmed with stress. Supporting students in distress is a shared responsibility across the college, and faculty do not have to navigate these situations alone.

SCCC faculty remain encouraged to reach out to their department chair, refer students to mental health and wellness offices and contact Public Safety when there are immediate safety concerns. While those steps remain unchanged, the college has an additional resource to help support students: the CARE Team.

What is the CARE Team?

The CARE Team (Coordination, Assessment, Response, Education) is a multidisciplinary group of faculty and staff dedicated to addressing concerns about student well-being and safety in a collaborative way. The goal of CARE Team intervention is to work directly with students to better understand their experiences, connect them with resources and provide support that promotes their academic success and overall well-being.

Why refer a student?

Faculty can refer to the CARE Team for a number of reasons related to student well-being. Some common referrals might include:

• Sudden change in academic performance or classroom behavior
• Disruptive or unusual class participation; student is off topic, argumentative or using abusive language toward others
• Written assignment responses that are confusing, concerning or violent in nature
• Signs of emotional distress such as frequent crying, panic, anger or withdrawal
• Any references to suicide, self-harm or similar themes
• A student sharing significant personal challenges such as housing instability, food insecurity or family crisis

The CARE Team process does not replace a referral to mental health and wellness, a disciplinary process or contacting public safety when there are immediate concerns, but the CARE team can offer structured, individualized support to students based on their needs.

How can the CARE Team help?

The CARE Team meets weekly to discuss student referrals and assess each case individually. The team uses a structured assessment tool developed by the National Association for Behavioral Intervention and Threat Assessment to understand student behavior and risk level.

Intervention may include CARE Team outreach, connection with resources, assistance with withdrawal or academic processes all the way to a mandated evaluation to assess safety and risk concerns. The goal of the CARE Team’s connection with a student is ultimately to identify and implement interventions that support a student’s success both in and out the classroom.

Every student’s situation is unique, and the CARE Team takes an individualized approach to supporting each student. In many cases, faculty may be the first people students turn to, and classroom dynamics often foster positive relationships that encourage students to share personal challenges. Sometimes the CARE Team may work collaboratively with faculty members to help engage students and connect them with appropriate resources. This approach allows the college to provide support while maintaining meaningful relationships that help students navigate challenges.

How do I refer to the CARE Team?

Faculty and staff can refer to the CARE Team by sending an email from their college email address to care@sunysuffolk.edu. Students can also self-refer or connect directly with the CARE Team by sending an email and can learn more information by visiting our website at sunysuffolk.edu/care. Faculty members are asked to include the following information in a CARE Team referral:

• Demographic information (name, student ID, contact information)
• Objective description of actual observed behavior, statement, written communication or situation that led to your concern
• Specific examples including direct quotes of what was said, emails exchanged, assignments, etc., relevant to your concern.

For behaviors that violate the SUNY Suffolk Code of Conduct, the CARE Team will make a referral to campus conduct officers and/or associate deans, and the CARE Team process often happens alongside a conduct process.

An explanation, not an excuse

The goal of the CARE Team is to provide context and support for students who are experiencing challenges that impact their behavior or academic engagement. The process doesn’t excuse disruptive or concerning behavior, nor does it replace disciplinary processes when they are warranted.

Instead, the CARE Team works to help students better understand the impact of their behavior, connect them with appropriate resources and implement interventions that reduce the likelihood of continued challenges in the classroom or on campus.

If you have questions or want to learn more about the CARE Team, reach out to the co-chairs: College Director of Mental Health & Wellness Julia Kiely and College Director of Disability Support Services Jennifer Forni.