Behavioral Intervention Policy

Policy Statement

Georgia College & State University (“Georgia College” or “University”) values all members of the campus community and strives to provide a safe learning and working environment. Georgia College seeks to provide a route of communication, assessment, and intervention for concerning behaviors exhibited by members of the campus community.

Definitions

CARE Team Management

A comprehensive and collaborative process designed to manage concerning behaviors by engaging campus resources as appropriate through Crisis Assessment Response and Education (“CARE”). Behaviors that indicate an ongoing threat to self or others are immediately referred to the Georgia College Threat Assessment Team (“TAT”).

Employee CARE Team

The group responsible for identifying and managing reports of concerning behavior of faculty and staff that rise to a level of concern beyond day-to-day supervision and HR advisement or intervention. The Employee CARE Team is comprised of representatives from Human Resources, Legal Affairs, Academic Affairs, and Public Safety, with other members of the University community included as necessary. Behaviors that indicate an ongoing threat of harm to self or others are immediately referred to the TAT.

Student CARE Team

The group responsible for identifying and managing reports of the concerning behavior of students. The Student CARE Team is comprised of representatives from the Dean of Students office, Residence Life, the Counseling Center and Public Safety, with other members of the University community included as necessary. In most instances referral to existing resources are sufficient to manage the behavior. Behaviors that indicate an ongoing threat to self or others are immediately referred to the TAT.

Care Team Referral/Notification

CARE Team referrals/notifications are made through the automated online CARE submission referral form, or by calling the dedicated CARE phone number. Employees, students and other concerned individuals can also make referrals directly to members of the appropriate CARE Team. All reports of imminent harm to self or others shall be made to law enforcement immediately. 

Concerning Behavior

Behavior(s) that indicates an apparent and non-transient inability to cope with the realities of their daily life.

Threat

Word(s), action(s) or behavior(s) indicating a potential for harm to self or others. A threat can be verbal or nonverbal, intentional or unintentional, and may be made against a specific person or general in nature.

Threat Assessment

Processes designed to identify and manage risk of harm to self or others.

Threat Assessment Team

The group responsible for managing the university threat assessment and management processes. The Team is comprised of representatives from the Counseling Center, Student Affairs, Human Resources, Legal Affairs, Academic Affairs, and Public Safety, with other members of the University community included as necessary.

Threatening Behavior

A threat that creates an immediate sense of fear for anyone observing the behavior. Threatening behavior should be reported immediately to law enforcement. 

 

Keywords

Behavior Intervention

CARE

Crisis

Harm

Threat Assessment

Reason for Policy

The purpose of this policy is to implement processes to assess behaviors that may negatively affect a community member’s ability to function. These behaviors range from those indicating a non-transient inability to cope with the realities of life, to threats of harm to self or others.

 

These processes are the Student and Employee Crisis Assessment Response and Education (CARE) Teams, and the University Threat Assessment Team (TAT).

Proposed Outcome

This policy also outlines procedures for team consultation with faculty and staff

who are concerned about the behavior of a student who is potentially dangerous to self

and/or others or is extremely disruptive or threatening.

Applicability of the Policy

This policy applies to all faculty, staff, students, volunteers, vendors, temporary and contract workers of Georgia College.

Related Policies

Georgia College Employee Handbook

Georgia College Faculty Handbook

Georgia College Employee Assistance Program

University System of Georgia Ethics Policy

Procedures

I.  Reporting Behavior

1. Concerning Behavior
   1. Members of the community are encouraged to report concerning behaviors through the CARE online submission form or by calling (478) 445-7475. (478-445-RISK). Employees, students and other concerned individuals can also make referrals directly to members of the appropriate CARE Team. All reports of imminent harm to self or others shall be made to law enforcement immediately. 
   2. Threatening Behavior
      1. Members of the campus community must report acts and threats of violence to the GC Police Department by calling (478) 445-4400 or 911. 
      2. Threatening or Concerning Behavior of a Non-Member of University
         1. Reports of concerning or threatening behaviors of a person not affiliated with the university will be automatically referred to the university TAT.

 II. CARE Teams

1. Responsibilities
   1. CARE Teams are responsible for evaluating reports of concerning behaviors. Team members will evaluate existing information while seeking additional information/details to determine if the behavior(s) warrants ongoing case management by the CARE Team, or if the behavior(s) rise to the level of a threat and should be referred to the Threat Assessment Team. If ongoing case management by the CARE Team or referral to the TAT are not indicated, no further action will be taken by the Care Team.
   2. In most cases CARE Teams will identify, recommend, and implement interim actions, such as monitoring, referral to Counseling, checks by residence life staff and other appropriate points of contact, and referral to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) or similar resources for employees. Information on the success of these action will determine the need for additional activities and continued monitoring. If behaviors continue or worsen CARE Teams will evaluate to determine additional actions at the CARE Team level, or referral to the TAT.
   3. Meetings
      1. CARE Teams will hold regularly scheduled meetings. When a member of a CARE Team receives a report of concerning behavior he/she will confer with at least one other Team member to determine if action can wait until the next scheduled meeting. If agreement cannot be reached a special CARE meeting will be scheduled soon as practicable. Any member of the Team is authorized to assemble the full Team.
      2. Team Members
         1. CARE Teams shall be comprised of those individuals as appointed by the University President.

III. Threat Assessment Team  

1. Responsibilities
   1. The TAT will use available resources to identify the risk of harm to self or others. This is a proactive process that seeks information to identify the presence of a pathway to violence. If determined that a pathway exists, the TAT will develop and implement threat management activities.
   2. If the TAT determines intervention is necessary, the appropriate official will work through the appropriate department head and Dean, Vice President or Provost. All activity will be consistent with university policy and applicable law.
   3. Depending on exigent circumstance law enforcement may undertake unilateral law enforcement action to address the threat.
   4. Team Members
      1. The TAT shall be comprised of those individuals as appointed by the University President. 

IV.  Cooperation and Confidentiality

1. All faculty, staff, students, volunteers, vendors, temporary and contract workers of Georgia College must cooperate with the assessment processes. Cooperation may include undergoing an evaluation by a designated healthcare professional.
2. Information brought to the attention of a Team will be handled with the utmost discretion and confidentially. Any generated records of concerning behavior will be held in strictest confidence and will not be maintained with other university record systems such as employment, personnel, academic medical, or mental health records.

 V. Recordkeeping

1. Recordkeeping responsibility will be designated within the respective CARE and Threat Assessment Teams.  TAT records will include initial reports of concerning or threatening behavior, information used to identify the threat, management activities conducted, documentation of the response to threat management activities, and the current status of the Threat Assessment process. 
2. All records will be kept in the appropriate data storage tool with limited, need-to-know access.   

 VI.  Training

1. GC will provide ongoing community training to provide information on concerning and threatening behaviors, reporting concerns, general information on threat assessment and management.

Creation Date:  June 2018

Revision Date: N/A

Last Reviewed Date: June 2018

Next Review Date: May 2020

Responsible Department:  Human Resources/Public Safety

Cabinet Approval Date: July 2018

Effective Date: July 2018

Threat Assessment Team Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with CARE teams.
• Provide new information as necessary regarding current cases.
• Advise on issues related to Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
• Provide case specific legal guidance.
• Provide appropriate recommendations for managing possible threats.
• Implementing/coordinating the risk/threat assessment response.
• Discerning trends and/or patterns of at risk and threatening behaviors.

CARE Team Responsibilities:

• Receive information about concerning behavior.
• Provide outreach and resources to the campus community, as appropriate.

• Provide education and training for employees, faculty, staff and students.
• Prioritize cases as to the assessed urgency.
• Escalate cases that may have potential threat components to the Threat Assessment Team.

CARE/Threat Assessment Process

Once you have made a report to either CARE Team, the following process will be implemented:

1. Respond to report as soon as possible, typically within 24 hours (Depending on nature).
   1. If report is received electronically, provide reporter with a confirmation email.
2. Open a CARE/Threat case.
3. Identify the subject(s) of concern.
4. Collect available information.
5. Interview witnesses and subject(s) of concern as appropriate.
6. Assess whether subject(s) is an imminent threat to self or others and take appropriate action.
7. If imminent threat, report directly to GC Police.
8. Develop specific intervention/prevention strategy.
   1. Self-harm intervention should be case specific.
   2. Identify appropriate resources available to the individual.
9. Facilitate meetings with GC employees regarding the situation on an as-needed basis.
10. Engage in appropriate follow-up to support individual subject and/or unit/department.