CARE Team

CARE Team

We Care About All of Our Penguins!

The Office of the Dean of Students (DOS) provides advocacy and guidance to the YSU community. To ensure students remain our central focus, we offer a primary point of contact for navigating personal or academic challenges.

Our priority is fostering a safe community where every student feels supported and secure. We specialize in helping students navigate challenging family dynamics, mental health concerns, and food or financial insecurity. By accepting referrals and collaborating with the YSU CARE Team, we provide the dedicated guidance students need to thrive in a respectful, protected environment.

Key Areas of Support

  • A Safe Community: We proactively manage concerns to ensure a secure, civil environment where all Penguins can focus on their success.
  • Family & Personal Advocacy: We provide guidance for navigating challenging family dynamics, medical crises, or issues with faculty and staff.
  • Mental Health: Support for emotional well-being, including depression, anxiety, or hospitalizations.
  • Basic Needs: Resources for students facing food, housing, or financial insecurity.

The YSU CARE Team

The YSU CARE (Concern – Assessment – Referral – Education) Team is in place to address issues of a serious nature that that may pose a threat to the safety of a student or any member of our campus. We accept (and encourage) referrals from students, their families, faculty, staff, and the surrounding community with the goal of providing outreach, guidance, and assistance. Faculty and staff are especially encouraged to report any problematic, disruptive, or anti-social behavior. These behaviors might not appear significant in isolation, but may trigger concern if combined with reports from other sources. If in doubt, please submit a Penguin of Concern Referral Form.

 

How do I make a referral?

  •   Access the Penguin of Concern Referral Form. Please complete the form as thoroughly as possible to help determine urgency of the situation and next steps. If you have questions regarding the form or the process, please contact the Dean of Students at 330-941-4721 or the Assistant Dean of Students at 330-941-4704 during regular business hours. You may also email the Office of the Dean of Students directly at dos@ysu.edu.

 

What happens when I make a referral?

  •   The Penguin of Concern Referral Form simply identifies an individual (or group) who may be in need of assistance. Referrals give staff an opportunity to explore the full picture and respond with the appropriate support. If in doubt about the situation, please keep in mind the referral process is designed to help the individual, not punish them. Referring an individual may also help to ensure the overall well-being and safety of our campus community.

 

Can I make an anonymous referral?

  •   Youngstown State University will, to the extent possible, respect the wishes of reporters concerning their anonymity. However, there may be situations where the identity of the reporter will need to be disclosed or will become apparent because of the actions taken to address the situation. Please note that we may need to ask questions of the referral source in order to gather additional information to best address the concerns shared. It is also possible that we may be required to release information in response to a court order, subpoena, or open records request.

How does the follow-up process work?

Identification of the Individual(s) of Concern

  •   The CARE Team accepts referrals from students, their families, faculty, staff and community members.

 

Assessment of the Situation

  •   With the exception of cases involving Title IX, the Office of the Dean of Students serves as the primary recipient for Penguin of Concern Referral Forms and manages the majority of issues/situations.

 

Referral as Appropriate

  •   Referrals and recommendations may occur through informal or formal channels, dependent on the individual characteristics of the case and the severity of the behavior of concern. Great care is taken to ensure this is the most appropriate intervention for both the individual and our campus community.

 

Education and Follow-Up

  •   The individual (or group, in some unique situations) will be provided education as appropriate. The YSU CARE Team will continue to monitor the individual(s) of concern as long as appropriate in order to best ensure their success and safety. Case closure is based on the level of concern presented.

SITUATIONS INVOLVING ACTIVE OR IMMEDIATE RISK

All members of the YSU community have the responsibility to report any situation that could possibly result in harm to anyone at YSU. In the case of an active or immediate risk of violence to self or others, the YSU Police Department should be contacted immediately at 330-941-3527 (or 911 from a campus phone).

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CARE Team Members

  • Assistant Dean of Students Advocacy Support and Wellbeing (Chair)
  • Interim Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students
  • Executive Director of Student Affairs/Ombudsperson
  • Assistant Dean of Students, Community Standards & Student Conduct
  • Chief, YSU Police Department
  • Clery Compliance and Campus Safety Officer
  • Director or Assistant Director, Student Counseling Services
  • Dean of Students Case Manager(s)
  • Associate Provost, Academic Administration
  • Associate Vice President, Student Experience
  • Director, Accessibility Services
  • Department of Intercollegiate Athletics - Designee
  • International Programs Office - Designee