CARE Team FAQs

The CARE Team can assist with any and all concerns (not just crises) about members of the GCSU community. Concerns about an individual may include troubling behavior or potential threat to themselves or others. The individual may be a student, employee or visitor.

You can call the Office of Student Care & Outreach at 478-445-7535 or by emailing care@gcsu.edu. 

Emergency?

The Risk line is an in-the-moment urgent, support line answered by Public Safety. Call 911 or fill out this form to report an emergency to the RISK line. A CARE referral will be also be submitted.

Public Safety is available 24 hours a day for immediate emergencies. The Office of Student Care & Outreach and other members of the CARE Team are available Monday through Friday 8-5.

Call GCPD at 478-445-4400 or call 911 if someone is displaying behavior that is life-threatening to themselves or others. Once you've gotten immediate help, make a referral to the CARE Team.

Any concern regarding a member of the GCSU community can be shared with the CARE Team. Every referral—no matter how small or whether it has been reported before—helps us better understand the situation. We continually piece together information from various sources to form a clearer picture of what’s happening.

Yes, you can submit a referral anonymously.

However, providing your name allows the CARE Team to follow up if we need more information and to support the individual more effectively. In most cases, students appreciate knowing that someone cared enough to help connect them with support.

If you have information that is important for others to know, you should make the referral.

Unless you are a licensed counselor, doctor, or clergy, you do not have confidentiality to offer. FERPA allows you to share this information with the team.

Explain that the purpose of the referral is to ensure they have the most appropriate support for their current challenges:

“Thank you for sharing this with me. I am very concerned about you and everything you’ve been going through. There is a team on campus, the GCSU CARE Team, that helps with these types of issues. I’m going to make a referral and they will reach out to you to check in and offer support."

We will share as much as appropriate with you, keeping in mind that we want to help the individual feel safe and comfortable sharing information with the team without fear that sensitive information will be shared across campus.

If you would like more information, please contact the Office of Student Care & Outreach at 478-445-7535 or by emailing care@gcsu.edu. 

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