By Dylan Venglar/ reporter

For five years, a group of faculty and staff has been giving aid to students with troubles — ones that could be remedied with a helpful, guiding hand.

The CARE team has become a districtwide project that focuses on students with problems whether from emotions, stress or trauma.

“We don’t want to leave them twisting in the wind,” NW student development services vice president Joe Rode said.

Started by TR student development services vice president Adrian Rodriguez five years ago, the CARE Team program is now led by Rode with Rodriguez serving as co-chair. Members come from all departments on each campus: counseling and student support services to TCC police and faculty.

According to a CARE brochure, the teams aim to address concerns on safety and well-being, determine needs for support of any nature and give referrals to appropriate resources, collaborate with resources and promote proactive educational wellness seminars.

“We normally work with a student until they are in a good place — this may mean a few weeks or an entire semester,” NE counseling and advising director Condoa Parrent said.

It may be only one visit.

The campus teams meet weekly to discuss referrals received. They are notified when referrals are submitted and take immediate action if warranted, Rode said.

“Referrals are open to anyone who feels a student may be in distress or present a threat to themselves, the campus or the community,” he said.

The NW Campus team  received 23 referrals from faculty with some of the students being homeless.

A student’s risk is labeled mild, moderate or elevated to determine how the team will assist the student.

“CARE Team cases are kept open until whoever is assigned the student’s case makes a recommendation to the team to close it,” NE student development services vice president Magdalena de la Teja said.

Counselors and staff work with the students during the referral period, giving information and assistance as needed in relation to the referral, de la Teja said.

“Each case is different, and the measure of success is defined differently for each student,” Parrent said. “However, when we looked at the students who have been assisted by the CARE Team the past couple of semesters, we saw a rise in the number of students who were retained from semester to semester.”