CARE Team

What is a CARE Team?

The Midland College CARE Team is a behavioral intervention team composed of dedicated employees from Instruction, Counseling, Student Resources, Campus Police, Student Life and Title IX. This behavioral intervention team provides support and resources for student showing signs of distress.

Consultation
Assessment
Resources
Education

  • Consultation – Assess concerns regarding the safety and well-being of students by drawing upon professional experience within the campus community

  • Assessment – Determine student's need for emotional, psychological, or physical support

  • Resources – Identify campus and community resources for students

  • Education – Provide professional development and training opportunities for faculty and staff. Promote proactive workshops for students such as stress management and conflict resolution

Mission Statement

To provide proactive and supportive multidisciplinary team approach to prevention, assessment, and intervention of situations or individuals that may pose a threat to the safety, well-being, success to self or the campus community.

Learn More

Click the links below for Details

When classroom management (with the help of your department chair and division dean) has been unsuccessful, or you are noticing an escalation in behavior, this is the time to make a referral to the CARE Team.

For more information, review "Identifying At-Risk Students" in the next section.

At one time or another, everyone feels depressed or upset. However, there are three levels of student distress which, when present over a period of time, suggest that the problems are more than the ‘normal’ reactions to life stressors.

LEVEL 1 – DISTRESS

Although not disruptive to others in the classroom or elsewhere, these behaviors in students may indicate that something is wrong, and that help may be needed:

  • Serious grade problems
  • Unaccountable change from good to poor performance
  • Change from frequent attendance to excessive absences
  • Change in pattern of interaction
  • Marked change in mood, motor activity, or speech
  • Marked change in physical appearance

LEVEL 2 – DISTURBANCE


These behaviors in students may indicate significant emotional distress, or reluctance or inability to acknowledge a need for personal help:

  • Repeated request for special consideration
  • New or regularly occurring behavior which pushes the limits and may interfere with class management, or be disruptive to others
  • Unusual or exaggerated emotional response

LEVEL 3 – DYSREGULATION


These behaviors may show that the student is in crisis and needs emergency care:

  • Highly disruptive behavior (hostility, aggression, etc.)
  • Inability to communicate clearly (garbled, slurred speech, disjointed thoughts)
  • Loss of contact with reality (seeing/hearing things that are not there, beliefs or actions at odds with reality)
  • Overt suicidal thoughts (suicide is a current option)
  • Homicidal threats
  • Individuals deficient in skills that regulate emotion, cognition, self, behavior, and relationships

MORE TIPS FOR FACULTY IN THE CLASSROOM

  • Create opportunities for connections in your classroom and work to engage the withdrawn, or socially isolated student
  • Phrase feedback positively whenever possible
  • During critiques, emphasize the purpose, process, and benefit of them. Seek to normalize the experience by using examples, such as an invited upperclassman’s work
  • Understand that some students lack basic life skills and are playing catch-up in many areas
  • Identify that Midland College can provide resources regarding self-care, stress management, test anxiety, depression, or other pertinent topics
  • Contacts:

OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM

  • Refer students to programs that will help them improve study skills and time management (Writing Center, Math Lab)
  • Encourage student involvement in events, campus clubs, community activities. Contact the Student Activities Coordinator for a list of student organizations and campus activities and watch for announcements posted in the Canvas Student Connection course.

  • Inform students with disabilities about the self-identification process to utilize accommodations. Refer them to the Disability Coordinator:

    Ty Soliz
    Director of Residence Life and Accommodations
    Scharbauer Student Center, Room 135
    (432) 685-6467
    asoliz@midland.edu

  • Engage with students at activities and on campus – this helps them feel valued!
  • Consult with the CARE team as needed for feedback. We are here to support the students and you.

All educators should know the basics of how to de-escalate a situation to refocus students, provide student support, and foster a safe learning environment.

Read and learn how to quickly de-escalate a situation with by downloading your own copy of the provided De-Escalation Script.

De-Escalation Script (pdf)

In An Emergency

Contact the MC Police Department immediately!
The MCPD has officers trained as mental health officials for the college.
(432) 685-4734 - 24/7

Non-Emergency

In NON-EMERGENCY situations, the CARE Team urges you to utilize the provided incident report form to make a referral.

CARE Incident Report Form


CARE Team Contacts

Joseph Granado - Dean of Student Life, CARE Team Co-Chair
(432) 685-4695

Shep Grinnan – Counseling
(432) 685-4505

Nicole Cooper – Title IX
(432) 685-4781

Anthony Soliz - Housing
(432) 685-6467

 

Non-Emergency

In Non-Emergency situations, the CARE Team urges you to 
utilize the provided incident report form to make a referral.

CARE Incident Report Form