CARE Team

The Fitchburg State Community Assistance and Risk Evaluation (CARE) team is a university-wide team of appointed staff and administrators responsible for identifying, assessing, and responding to the needs and concerning behaviors of students who struggle academically, emotionally, or psychologically, or who present a risk to the health or safety of themselves or members of the campus community. The operations of the CARE Team are managed by the Office of CARE and Case Management.

We rely on our campus constituents to foster this community of care by referring students, with pertinent information and detailed examples of their concerns, using the form below:

Care Team Referral Form

Please note, this is not a system to use for emergencies. In case of an emergency, regardless of time of day, when a student's well-being is in jeopardy, please contact University Police at 978.665.3111.

Common examples of concerns that may be referred to the CARE Team may have been classified below:

• Academic Concerns – Concerns related to, or impacting, a student’s academic performance
• Basic Needs and Financial Concerns – Information that suggests or confirms that a student is struggling with accessing sufficient food, shelter, or transportation
• Dangerous Behavior – Behavior that causes one to fear for one's personal safety, or the safety of others, that does not first require the immediate attention of University Police (see above)
• Disruptive Behavior – Behavior that interferes or disrupts the educational or co-curricular environment of other students or university operations
• Distressed Behavior – Behavior or information indicating a student is feeling alarmed, upset or worried
• General Concerns – Concerns about the behavior and/or welfare of a student based on the appearance, demeanor of a student, or general information that causes concern
• Missing Students – Students who have been missing for a period of time, or a shift in typical classroom attendance or behavior is observed

This form will be sent directly to the CARE Team. You may be contacted for additional information or clarification if needed. If you are concerned about a student, and are unsure of submitting your concern(s) through this form, please contact the Office of CARE and Case Management at care@fitchburgstate.edu, r the Chair of the CARE Team directly:

• Joseph Flanagan
  Director of CARE and Case Management
  jflana15@fitchburgstate.edu
  978.665.3887

For organizations, departments or groups who would are interested in additional information or training opportunities regarding CARE and Case Management processes, please contact care@fitchburgstate.edu.

Additional Resource

• Red Folder

CARE Team Membership

The CARE team consists of representatives from key departments and functional areas with multidisciplinary expertise. These members meet weekly to review concerns and provide follow-up support and interventions. Membership on the CARE team is non-hierarchical in nature and represents an ongoing commitment to the mission of the CARE team.

• Chair of the CARE Team*
  • Joseph Flanagan, Director of CARE and Case Management
• Academic Affairs
  • Dr. Franca Barricelli, Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs
• CARE and Case Management
  • Oneirys Rondon, Case Manager, CARE and Case Management
• Counseling Services*
  • Dr. Robert Hynes, Assistant Dean of Student Support
  • Lauren O'Brien, Associate Director of Counseling Services
• Disability Services
  • Emily Stark, Director of Disability Services
• Housing and Residential Services*
  • Kris Braun, Director of Housing and Residential Services*
• Student Conduct*
  • Tim St. John, Dean of Students
• Student Success
  • Jason Smith, Assistant Dean of Retention and Student Success
• Title IX and Equal Opportunity
  • Rebecca Newell, Director of Title IX and Equal Opportunity
• University Police*
  • Captain Richard Nelson 
  • Lieutenant Andrew Lamarche 

* Signifies members of the CARE Team who are considered Core Members. Core Members are departments prepared to triage any CARE Referrals that require a more immediate, coordinated response.

CARE Network

Members of the CARE Network primarily serve as consultants for the specific populations they serve, and play a key role in supporting students referred to the CARE Team from their respective areas.

• Academic Coaching and Tutor Center (ACT)
  • Dr. Kat McLellan, Director of Academic Coaching and Tutor Center (ACT)
• Athletics and Recreation
  • Matthew Burke, Executive Director of Athletics
  • Laura Pierce, Athletics Academic Success Advisor
• Financial Aid
  • Denise Brindle, Director of Financial Aid
• International Education
  • Nelly Wadsworth, Director of International Education
• Military and Veterans Services
  • Nolan Buck, Director of Military and Veterans Services
• Student Engagement
  • Ben Kadamus, Assistant Dean of Student Engagement
• School of Graduate, Online and Continuing Education (SGOCE)
  • Jennifer Murray, Assistant Director of Enrollment and Advising Resources
• TRIO Student Support Services (SSS)
  • Dr. Beth Swartz, Director of TRIO Student Support Services (SSS)