CARE Team

Cuyamaca College

The CARE Team is dedicated to a proactive, coordinated, and planned approach to the identification, prevention, assessment, management, and reduction of interpersonal and behavioral threats to the safety and well- being of the Cuyamaca College community.

 

CARE Team Process

A CARE Team referral (through Maxient) is submitted when someone is concerned about a Cuyamaca College student.

 

The CARE Team Chair (Dean, Student Success & Equity) will appoint one of the team members as a Case Manager and will reach out to the student of concern to provide support and resources.

 

  • If there are no additional concerns from the student, the referral source, or the core team, the CARE referral is closed.
  • The CARE Team Case Manager will reach out to the person who referred the case prior to closing the referral.

Tips for Working with Students of Concern

Ensure Safety First

  • If there is an immediate threat to safety (self or others), call campus security or 911.
  • Do not attempt to physically intervene unless trained and necessary.

Stay Calm and Present 

  • Use a steady, non- threatening tone of voice.
  • Maintain open and non- defensive body language.
  • Take deep breaths to regulate your own emotions.

Create a Supportive Environment

  • Move to a private, quiet area if safe and possible.
  • Reduce environmental stressors.

Listen Actively and Without Judgment

  • Give the student your full attention; use eye contact if culturally appropriate.
  • Avoid interrupting or trying to "fix" the issue.
  • Validate their feelings: "That sounds really difficult."
  • Do not challenge their reality unless you know how to reality test.

Speak Simply and Clearly

  • Use short, clear sentences.
  • Avoid sarcasm, complex explanation, or confrontational language.

Ask Open- Ended, Non- Threatening Questions

  • "Can you tell me how you're feeling right now?"
  • "What would help you feel safer?"

Set Boundaries if Needed (Do not get in a power struggle)

  • If the student becomes aggressive, firmly but respectfully say:  "I want to help you, but I need you to speak calmly so that we can talk."

Encourage Support and Resources

  • Offer to help them contact our Mental Health Counselors or CARE Team.
  • Let them know: "You are not alone - there are people here who care and can help."

Know Your Limits

  • Your role is to offer calm support and to refer appropriately.
  • Normalize how they are feeling.

 

Use this form to report student welfare concerns and help ensure a safe, supportive College community.

 

Report a Concern

 

 

Questions: Please contact Lauren Vaknin, Dean of Student Affairs at (619-660-4295) or Lauren.Vaknin@gcccd.edu