South Georgia Tech initiates CARE program

August 13, 2018
SGTC CARE TEAM – Shown above (l to r) are members of the new SGTC CARE Team. They include: Vice President of Institutional Advancement Su Ann Bird, Vice President of Academic Affairs David Kuipers, Director of Campus Safety Sammy Stone, Vice President of Student Affairs Karen Werling, Special Populations Coordinator LaKenya Johnson, Dean of Enrollment Management Julie Partain, and Crisp County Campus Student Affairs Coordinator Kari Bodrey. Not shown are Assistant to the President Don Smith, Academic Dean Vanessa Wall, and Director of Human Resources Sandy Larson.
SGTC CARE TEAM – Shown above (l to r) are members of the new SGTC CARE Team. They include: Vice President of Institutional Advancement Su Ann Bird, Vice President of Academic Affairs David Kuipers, Director of Campus Safety Sammy Stone, Vice President of Student Affairs Karen Werling, Special Populations Coordinator LaKenya Johnson, Dean of Enrollment Management Julie Partain, and Crisp County Campus Student Affairs Coordinator Kari Bodrey. Not shown are Assistant to the President Don Smith, Academic Dean Vanessa Wall, and Director of Human Resources Sandy Larson.

South Georgia Technical College has created a new CARE (Campus Assessment Response and Evaluation) team. The mission of the CARE team is to provide a proactive and supportive interdisciplinary team approach to prevention, assessment, intervention, and management of situations that may impact the safety and well-being of individuals on the college campus.
Information about the CARE Team and CARE Program is on the South Georgia Technical College website at www.southgatech.edu/care. The information includes a CARE video that explains how students, faculty, and staff can work together to share information to keep the campus safe.
Karen Werling, SGTC Vice President of Student Affairs, is the Chair of this new program. The CARE team consists of a multi-disciplinary group of SGTC employees whose purpose is to meet regularly to support students, faculty, and staff by tracking any “red flags” over time, detecting patterns, trends, and disturbances in individual or group behavior.
The other members of the CARE team include: Assistant to the President Don Smith, Vice President of Academic Affairs David Kuipers, Vice President of Institutional Advancement Su Ann Bird, Crisp County Center Student Affairs Coordinator Kari Bodrey, Special Populations Coordinator LaKenya Johnson, Director of Campus Safety Sammy Stone, Dean of Enrollment Management Julie Partain, Academic Dean Vanessa Wall, and Director of Human Resources Sandy Larson.
“South Georgia Technical College’s goal is to promote a safe physical and emotional environment for members of the college campus as well as promote peace of mind for friends and family of the college community,” said South Georgia Technical College President Dr. John Watford. “The CARE team and CARE program is one of the tools that South Georgia Technical College utilizes to accomplish these goals.”
The CARE team focuses on the wellness concerns for others. This may include referrals about a person, an incident, or an issue of concern. It may include instances where there are violations of institutional rules or state and federal law. Any member of the college community may become aware of a troubling person or situation that is causing serious anxiety, stress, or fear. Individuals are encouraged to share these types of incidents with the CARE team by emailing care@southgatech.edu or filling out forms on line at www.southgatech.edu/care. However, in the case of an emergency or crisis, individuals should call 911 and contact campus safety immediately.
Behaviors that should be shared include: demeanor that represents a significant change in appearance, mood and/or social functioning; behavior that creates a disruptive or hostile campus environment; actions that potentially endanger the safety of any member of the SGTC community; conduct that impacts an SGTC community member’s physical and/or psychological well-being; actions that cause damage to personal or college property; and behavior that impacts the ability of students to learn, faculty to teach, or the college to conduct routine business.
Faculty, staff, students, and parents are encouraged to address their concerns with the individual prior to submitting a CARE referral, although this may not always be possible. Disruptive behavior and violent threats or acts may be complex, intimidating and confusing. The concerning behavior witnessed, may be one small piece to a larger puzzle the more completely describes the person of concern. By sharing these and any other behaviors or incidents that may be impacting an individual’s ability to be successful with the CARE team, appropriate resources can be applied.
For more information visit: www.southgatech.edu/care.