Responding to Students in Distress

March 18, 2024

Thank you to those of you who attended our  Campus Safety & Communication Townhall on March 7. On behalf of the Executive Team, we truly appreciate your participation and engagement on this critical topic.

As shared during the townhall, part of creating a more positive campus experience for students rests on our capacity to respond as efficiently as possible when a student is in distress and in need of support.

One of the areas that was discussed was how Chaffey College employees can reach out for help/assistance with students when needed. To help provide greater clarity in identifying the best way to respond to a student in distress, we have created the attached document which outlines best practices for when to contact Campus Police versus submitting an incident report or BIT referral. Further, the goal of this document is to serve as a quick reference point in outlining the role our BIT team plays in partnership with Campus Police and our Mental Health and Student Wellness Services led by Dr. Jennifer Henry.

Dr. Jennifer Henry is on campus to provide de-escalation tactics when she is with a Campus Police Officer responding to a call. In addition, she also offers case management work with students and her intern team. Together, students are able to take part in group therapy, one-on-one services and more. To learn more please visit.

Student Health Services is on campus to serve as a small urgent care medical site, where students can make appointments to be seen. Student Health Services is not an emergency first responder, nor should students be sent to Student Health Services for any type of medical emergency situation. In addition, students also have access to Telemedicine, offering them virtual health and mental health services.

For any medical emergency, the District emphasizes the importance of calling Campus Police at X6911 or 911. Please refer to the attached resource guide for more information.

It is highly encouraged that you keep this document readily available in your workspace, especially for employees who are student-facing.

Sincerely,

Henry D. Shannon, Ph.D.
Superintendent/President

Alisha Rosas
Associate Superintendent of Student Services and Strategic Communications

Misty Burruel
Interim Associate Superintendent of Instruction and Institutional Effectiveness

Troy Ament
Associate Superintendent of Administrative Services and Emergency Operations

Lisa Bailey
Associate Superintendent of Business Services, Human Resource and IT