Campus Assessment, Response & Evaluation Team

Campus Assessment, Response, and Evaluation Team (C.A.R.E.)

Vision Statement:

The Campus Assessment, Response, and Evaluation (CARE) Team at Mid-Plains Community College is composed of a trained panel of professionals advancing campus safety and support for the MPCC Community.

Purpose Statement:

Mid-Plains Community College strives to provide and maintain a safe and healthy environment for students, employees, and guests. To identify and monitor behaviors of concern MPCC has instituted the Campus Assessment, Response, and Evaluation Team (CARE).

The Campus Assessment, Response, and Evaluation Team at Mid-Plains Community College is an area-wide threat assessment and behavioral intervention team that monitors threats to the campus community. The CARE Team serves the college service area by providing threat assessment, case management, and intervention strategies. 

Please make contact with the CARE team when:
• an individual exhibits behavior that is threatening to themselves or others,
• is overly aggressive or threatening to others, 
• is disruptive to the mission of MPCC
• may be indicative of future and potentially escalated threats to students or the MPCC community.
 
REMEMBER: IN AN EMERGENCY YOUR FIRST CALL SHOULD BE TO 9-1-1

If you would like to make a report to the Campus Assessment, Response, and Evaluation (CARE) Team: 

  1. Go to Report an Incident on the MPCC website.
  2. Read the information on the page.
  3. If you still wish to proceed with a report, Click the “Make a Report” Button.
  4. Complete the Report and click submit.

As a member of the MPCC community, you are responsible for reporting behavior that is unusual or threatening – even if you do not perceive the risk as immediately dangerous. To report concerns that may not pose immediate threats, use the link above or contact one of the following CARE Team members:

Dean of Student Life, Dr. Brian Obert: (308) 345-8109
Director of Human Resources, Rebecca Wrage: (308) 535-3679

Legal agencies and research gathered from institutional tragedies strongly support that educational institutions must address campus safety in a much more unified, planned, and proactive manner than ever before. It is no longer acceptable for higher education institutions do not have a centralized campus team and system to help identify individuals in distress early, and connect these individuals with appropriate resources and provide follow-up care.

The CARE Team coordinates MPCC’s resources to address the needs of individuals who are experiencing significant behavioral disturbances in order to recommend collaborative and purposeful interventions.  The CARE Team seeks to do away with the “information silos” that exist on campus by sharing information, which allows us to reach individuals who are in distress much sooner.

The mission of the CARE Team is to assess circumstances, enhance communication, and initiate appropriate responses to specific behavioral problems of students and employees that pose a potential threat to the safety and security of the MPCC community.

The CARE Team meets frequently to review and assess behaviors of concern.  The team will also meet as needed in emergency situations requiring an immediate response.

You should refer individuals who are exhibiting behaviors that pose a threat to safety or that cause a significant disruption to the MPCC community. Signs to look for include:

  • Self-injurious behavior.
  • Suicide ideation or attempt.
  • Danger or threat to others (violence, threats or implied threats of violence and intimidation).
  • Possession of a weapon.
  • The inability of an individual to take care of themselves (serious mental health concerns or substance abuse).
  • Erratic behavior that is disruptive to the normal proceedings of the MPCC community.

REMEMBER: IN AN EMERGENCY YOUR FIRST CALL SHOULD BE TO 9-1-1

The intention of the CARE Team is not to punish or single-out individuals. The CARE Team was developed to assist individuals who are in need of guidance or services.

  1. When a referral is received, the CARE Team will conduct an inquiry which may include interviewing witnesses and reviewing any supporting documentation.
  2. Once the initial inquiry is completed, the CARE Team will conduct a threat assessment using the NaBITA Threat Assessment Matrix (PDF).  Acts of targeted violence typically follow a logical progression of behavior (Ideation-Planning-Acquisition-Implementation). Threat Assessment is a systematic process that is designed to identify persons of concern, gather and assess information and develop strategies to manage the situation.
  3. Once the threat assessment is complete the CARE Team will determine what action, if any, needs to be taken. The CARE Team will take into consideration the individual’s best interest as well as the best interest of the MPCC community. The CARE Team Threat Assessment Process (PDF) will be used as a guide to determining next action.   

McCook CARE TEAM:

McCook CARE Team Chair, Dean of Student Life:  Dr. Brian Obert
Vice President of Student Services and McCook Community College:  Kelly Rippen
MCC Assistant Director of Residence Life:  
MCC Associate Director of Learning Commons: Kathleen M. Wheeler
Title IX Coordinator: Rebecca Wrage
MCC Faculty:  Renelle Mooney

 

North Platte CARE Team:

North Platte CARE Team Chair, Associate Dean of Student Life: Jason Osmotherly
Vice President of Academic Affairs and North Platte Community College:  Dr. Jody Tomanek
Title IX Coordinator:  Rebecca Wrage
NPCC Director of Residence Life:  Kade Erickson
NPCC Director of Learning Commons: Bobbi Muehlenkamp
NPCC Director of Advising: Susan Horne
NPCC Faculty:  Jimi Cole

 

PLEASE NOTE:

  • Mid-Plains Community College will pursue disciplinary, civil or criminal action as appropriate under the circumstances against any person who engages in violence, threats of violence, or intimidation.
  • Mid-Plains Community College prohibits retaliation against persons who make reports in good faith.
  • Individuals who file knowingly false or misleading reports or provide knowingly false or misleading information in an inquiry may face disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal from MPCC.