CARE Referrals

Source: https://css.caltech.edu/care-team/care-referrals Parent: https://css.caltech.edu/care-team

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CARE Referrals

Urgent Concerns

If you have an immediate concern about the safety of yourself, another individual or the community, please call Campus Security at 626-395-5000 for assistance. Campus Security will contact emergency personnel and guide them to the location if needed. If you are off-campus, please call 911.

If you have an urgent concern that can't wait until the next business day, but is not an emergency, please contact a member of the CARE Team during business hours for real-time consultation.

A good place to start is the Graduate Office or Undergraduate Deans Office, and you may also consult with Counseling Services staff.

If you need a consultation after hours, please call the Counseling Services main line, 626-395-8331, and press "2" to be connected with the on-call service. The clinician will ask you some screening questions and provide consultation, and may connect you to a Counseling Services staff member for additional assistance.

Identifying Students in Distress

The CARE Team welcomes referrals for any concern—big or small. Our work is most effective when we can "connect the dots" between patterns of concern and offer proactive support to students.

If you notice signs of distress, we encourage you to make a referral. Referrals can also be helpful for minor concerns, such as:

Difficulty adjusting to Caltech
Multiple requests for coursework extensions
Struggles with making friends or connections
Disrespectful behavior
Homesickness
Poor academic performance

What Happens After a Referral

All CARE Referrals are reviewed by the team. Any urgent concerns are addressed right away. In some cases, additional information is needed, and a CARE Team member may reach out to the referring party for more details.

The CARE Team member best positioned to help will typically invite the individual of concern to a brief check-in meeting. These meetings focus on understanding what resources the individual is already using and exploring additional services that may provide support. Whenever possible, a CARE Team member will also follow up with the referring party to discuss next steps and how to best support the individual.

Safety Concerns\ If a concern arises about an individual's personal safety—or the safety of the community—a CARE Team member will make direct contact. This may include encouraging the individual to meet with a professional staff member for a safety risk assessment.

These conversations are not punitive. The CARE Team is committed to balancing individual autonomy with community safety. In every case, we take a developmental, supportive approach that helps individuals access resources, reduce distress, and prevent further escalation or disruption.