Consultation, Assessment, Resources, and Education (CARE) Team
The CARE Team functions as a resource for early intervention. We help bridge the gap between a student in need and the resources available to them. We believe that by providing support early, we can help our students maintain their well-being and succeed in their professional journey. The CARE Team integrates culturally responsive and trauma‑informed practices.
The Consultation, Assessment, Resources, and Education (CARE) Team is Brite Divinity School’s proactive early‑intervention and threat‑management group. At Brite, we are deeply committed to the safety, well-being, and success of our students. The CARE Team is dedicated to supporting students who may be facing academic, emotional, psychological, or behavioral challenges, including those who may pose a risk to themselves or others.
CARE Team functions include Consultation, Assessment, Resources and Education.
Consultation—Assess concerns regarding the health, safety, and well-being of students by drawing upon professional experience within the campus community.
Assessment—Determine referred student's need for academic, emotional, psychological, spiritual, or physical support and refer to appropriate resources.
Resources—Identify campus and community resources, and adjacent TCU resources (Counseling, Health Services, and Accessibility) and connect students as needed.
Education—Provide professional development and training opportunities for faculty and staff. Promote educational opportunities for students such as conflict resolution.
The CARE Team includes the Dean, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Campus Chaplain (designed of the Department of Student Success), and at least one faculty member. Professional TCU Campus liaisons will be identified from the TCU Counseling & Mental Health Center and Public Safety/TCU Police.
Purpose
The CARE Team at Brite Divinity School is dedicated to promoting student well-being and cultivating a safe, supportive, and inclusive learning environment. The mission is to:
Serve as a trusted resource for faculty, staff, and students in addressing concerns about individuals experiencing academic, emotional, or personal challenges—including those who may be at risk to themselves or others.
Coordinate compassionate, collaborative interventions that prioritize student success and holistic well-being.
Promote student success and community safety by identifying needs, reducing barriers, and connecting students to appropriate resources.
Provide guidance and support to help students navigate challenges that may impact their personal development or the rights and safety of others.
Advocate for students during periods of personal or academic difficulty, ensuring equitable access to care and resources.
Engage the Brite community through education, consultation, and outreach to strengthen our collective ability to recognize and respond to students of concern effectively.
Care Before Crisis
Our Approach
The CARE Team functions as a resource for early intervention. We help bridge the gap between a student in need and the resources available to them. We believe that by providing support early, we can help our students maintain their well-being and succeed in their professional journey. The CARE Team integrates culturally responsive and trauma‑informed practices.
How the CARE Process Works
- Referral: A faculty member, staff person, or peer submits a confidential CARE Referral online.
- Assessment: The team reviews the information to determine the level of support needed.
- Outreach: The appropriate staff member reaches out to the student to offer a "check-in" and discuss available resources.
- Support Plan: Together, the CARE Team develops a plan, which may include referrals to counseling, academic coaching, or change in student status
Case Management, Confidentiality, and Compliance
The CARE Team employs a non-clinical case-management model focused individualized plans/recommendations, resource navigation, barrier reduction, documented outreach, and scheduled follow‑ups as needed.
FERPA: All Care Team records are protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. Information is shared only with officials on a “need to know” basis.
Non-Discrimination: All interventions must adhere to the Brite Nondiscrimination Statement, ensuring support is provided without regard to race, gender, sexual orientation, or denominational affiliation.
Documentation: Confidential and secure files will be maintained in the Dean’s Office, tracking CARE referrals and CARE Team interventions.
Educational Presentations promoting the CARE Team: Faculty Meeting/Work Day, All Staff Meeting, New Student Orientation, Community Conversations, Online Event for Faculty, Staff, and Students.
Reporting: A report including volume, risk-levels, resource connections, and resolutions will be provided to Brite leadership at the end of each semester.
Consultation and Assessment
Triage within 24 business hours of referral; student outreach within 48 business hours unless law‑enforcement or hospital referral is indicated.
Follow‑up touchpoint within 7 days; case review status assessed every 14 days until closed.
The CARE Team meets monthly, regardless of referrals, with the capacity for ad hoc emergency meeting within 2 hours when risk is elevated. Meetings are called and facilitated by the Director of Student Success.
The CARE Team’s policies, procedures, and practices will undergo a comprehensive annual assessment by the Dean’s Office, with findings reported to the Masters Program Committee. In addition, the CARE Team will provide the faculty with a semesterly report summarizing its work, including key data such as the number of CARE referrals and the types of concerns reported (e.g., general concerns, academic concerns, physical or wellness concerns, safety-related concerns, and other relevant categories). These reports will support ongoing transparency, effectiveness, and community well-being.
The CARE Team will adopt National Association for Behavioral Intervention and Threat Assessment NABITA Risk Rubric (D/E scales).
Title IX
Specific academic misconduct like plagiarism is handled through academic-related policies. Title IX works to provide a safe and supportive environment for students, staff, faculty, and University community who are seeking assistance and advice for incidents of sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating or domestic violence, and stalking. To make an Office of Institutional Equity (OIE) report: click here. A report of violation of the Title IX policy may be made to the Brite Title IX Coordinator, Vanessa Daley at any time. The Title IX Coordinator is available to meet during regular office hours, in person, by telephone, or by email, with any student, employee or third-party to discuss this policy or the applicable procedures. Outside of regular office hours, a report of violation of this policy may be made to the Title IX Coordinator by telephone, email, or mail.
The Title IX Coordinator at Brite Divinity School is:
Vanessa Daley
2925 Princeton Street, Suite 312
Fort Worth, TX 76129
Phone: 817.257.7579
Email: v.daley@tcu.edu
Frequently Asked Questions
The Campus Consultation, Assessment, Resources, and Education (CARE) Team is made up of a collaborative group of staff/faculty members that work together to identify, assess, and support community members who are struggling or are engaging in concerning behaviors. The CARE Team system empowers community members to express concern by submitting a CARE referral online. You can submit a referral for any student, including yourself, to receive caring outreach and get connected with support.
The CARE Team is not a disciplinary body. Our purpose is support, not punishment. While a disciplinary referral deals with violations of the Student Code of Conduct, a CARE Report is used when there is concern for a student’s or the community’s well-being. Our goal is to help students get back on track before a situation reaches the level of a conduct violation.
We handle all reports with the highest level of discretion. While we cannot guarantee absolute anonymity (as we must comply with safety regulations and FERPA), information is only shared with the professionals on the CARE Team who "need to know" in order to help the student.
When you make a CARE Referral, the CARE Team reviews the information you have provided, assesses the situation’s urgency, and reaches out to the referred community member in the manner most befitting their circumstance.
A CARE Referral is an expression of concern from one community member about another. It is not punitive, but instead a way of expressing care. The CARE Team reaches out to individuals who have been referred to us with the goal of providing support and connection to resources to address a person’s individual needs. If referred individuals are engaging in threatening or disruptive behaviors, unprofessional behavior or illegal or dangerous activity, there may also be consequences based on the student code of conduct or laws, but this is also done from a place of care. Our ultimate concern is for the health, wellbeing, and success of community members.
No. Interactions with the CARE Team are kept separate from your academic record. We view seeking help as a sign of professional maturity. The existence of a CARE Report does not appear on your transcript.
Absolutely. Students can "self-refer" when they feel overwhelmed and aren't sure where to start. We can serve as a single point of entry to help you navigate the various support services at Brite and/or TCU.
If you are worried about a friend, classmate, colleague, or student within the Brite community, but you aren’t sure if it warrants a CARE Referral, make a referral! CARE Team members are trained in outreach, assessment, and response. They will reach out to the struggling community member after receiving the referral to offer support and assess their circumstances and needs.
The CARE Team will discreetly gather more information. If intervention is needed, a team member will reach out to the student. We generally do not share the details of our interaction with the person who filed the report to protect the student’s privacy, but we may follow up with you to let you know the report was received.
No. The CARE Team does not provide 24/7 emergency response. If there is an immediate threat of harm to self or others and emergencies, please call TCU Police Department at 817-257-7777 or call 911. For non-emergencies, call 817-257-8400 or refer to FrogShield for immediate assistance.
The team is composed of representatives from Academic Affairs, Chaplain (student success), and faculty leadership, with consultation from Student Health and University Counseling. This multi-disciplinary approach ensures that we can address a student’s needs from every angle—mental, spiritual, academic, and physical.
While it is often helpful to have a transparent conversation with the student about your concerns, it is not required. If you feel that telling the student might escalate the situation or if you are uncomfortable doing so, you may submit the report privately, and the CARE Team will handle the outreach.