Red Folder Initiative
Recognize
Respond
Refer
Preparing to Reach Out
- Know the available campus resources and the referral process
- If safe, meet privately and always allow sufficient time to meet
- Ensure your safety
- If you decide not to have direct contact with the student, refer the incident immediately
- Contact JCPS if a student expresses a direct threat to self or others, or acts in a bizarre, severely irrational or disruptive way
Connecting With the Student
- Clearly express your concerns focusing on the behavior in nondisparaging terms
- Allow the student to talk
- Do not challenge or become argumentative with the student
- Ask directly if the student wants to hurt themself or others
- Respect the students privacy without making false promises of confidentiality
- Document all incidents and attempts to resolve the situation
Making the Referral
- Recommend Services and provide direct referrals; assist student in contacting resources
- Frame any decision to seek and accept help as an intellegent choice
- Make sure the student understands what actions are neccessary
- Be frank with the student about your limits (e.g., time, expertise)
- Encourage and assist the student to make and keep an appointment and set a follow-up meeting with the student
Assisting Students in Distress
Academic
- Sudden decline in quality of work and grades Repeated absences
- Disturbing content in writing or presentations (e.g., violence, death)
- Talking about more personal issues rather than academic issues in office hours
- Continuous classroom disruptions Repeatedly asking for extensions or turning in late work
- Doesn't respond to repeated requests
- Marked changes in physical appearance including deterioration in grooming, hygiene or weight loss/gain
- Sudden change of energy and personality
- Excessive fatigue
- Sleep disturbances
- Intoxication, hangovers, or smelling of alcohol or marijuana
- Disoriented or “out of it”
- Emails at odd hours (middle of the night)
- Isolation
- Lack of follow through on promises
- Sense of hopelessness
- Self-disclosure of personal distress that could include family problems, financial difficulties, depression, grief or thoughts of suicide
- Excessive tearfulness, panic reactions, irritability or unusual apathy
- Verbal abuse (e.g., taunting, badgering, intimidation)
- Expressions of concern about the student by their peers
- Panicked or anxiety ridden
- Death of family member/friend, grief
- Lack of boundaries
- Unprovoked anger or hostility
- Making implied or direct threats to harm self or others
- Academic assignments dominated by themes of extreme hopelessness, rage, worthlessness, isolation, despair, acting out, suicidal ideations or violent behaviors
- Strange or bizarre behavior indicting loss of contact with reality
- Stalking or harassing
- Excessive communication via email, texting or phone
- Trust your Instincts! Please look at the resource guide to find the best support a student in distress may need.
Say what you see:
- Be direct (without judgement)
- Stick to the facts
- Don't make assumptions
- Describe the changes you've noticed
- Ask if they are okay
- Listen
- Let them know you are there for them
- Be patient and listen
- Offer help where you can
- Ask what they need
- Remove distractions
- Summarize what they say
- Provide a space to be heard
- Be curious, ask questions
- Be present and patient
- Stay calm
- Let them know they are not alone
- Affirm their feelings
For example:
"Before we get too far into talking, I need to let you know that I am a responsible employee, which means that I am required by the school to report your situation to the Title IX Coordinator who works really hard to keep your information very private."
Reassure them of the Title IX Coordinator's resources and role. Give them the option to stop and talk to confidential resources, like a counselor.
If they are looking for confidential support, please look at the list on the following page. For any questions regarding Mandated Reporting please contact the Title IX Coordinator at 814-641-3152.
Conversation Tips:
- I've missed you in class lately. Is everything OK? Is there anything I can do to help?
- You haven't participated in the past few classes. Is there anything you want to talk about?
- It sounds like you are really overwhelmed! Is there anything I can do to help out?
- Thank you for sharing your experiences. I am not an expert in this area, but I know someone who may be able to help. Would it be OK if I put you in contact with them?
Is the student a danger to self or others, or does the student need immediate assistance
for any reason?
Yes
The student's conduct is clearly and imminently reckless, disorderly, dangerous or
threatening, including self-harm behavior or having a weapon.
Call 911
Call JCPS: 814-641-3636
I’m Not Sure
The student shows signs of distress but I am unsure how serious it is. My interaction
has left me feeling uneasy and/or concerned about the student. - Submit a notice of
concern using this link and refer students to appropriate campus resource from list.
No
I am not concerned for the student's immediate safety, but they are having significant
academic and/or personal issues and could use some support. - Please submit a notice
of concern for the student.
RESOURCE GUIDE
Confidential Campus Resources
- Counseling Services: 814-641-3353
- Broad Top Health Services: 814-643-3205
- Campus Ministry: 814-641-3362
- SPoT: 814-641-3076
Campus Resources
- Public Safety: 814-641-3636
- Campus and Residential Life: 814-641-3323
- Dean of Students: 814-641-3157
- Dean of Student Success/Violence Prevention: 814-641-3077
- Academic Services: 814-641-3150
- Student Accessibility Services: 814-641-5840
- Dean of EDI: 814-641-3173
- Title IX Coordinator: 814-641-3152
Confidential Community Resources (24/7 lines)
- Tri County Crisis Hotline: 800-929-9583
- Huntingdon House (domestic violence/stalking): 814-643-1190
- The Abuse Network (sexual assault): 888-810-2444
National Resources
- Emergency: 911
- National Suicide Hotline: 988
- Crisis Text Line: text PA to 741741
- The Trevor Project (LGBTQ+ support): 866-488-7386 or text START to 678-678
- Steve Fund (BIPOC support): text STEVE to 741-741
Assisting with Dating & Domestic Violence
- Confusion
- Bruises
- Withdrawing from activities
- Isolation
- Fear
- Defends partner or laughs it off
- Quick moving relationship
- Humiliation
- Sense of worthlessness
- Change in clothing or style
- Exhaustion
- Frequent texts
- Silence
- Economic instability
- Remain Calm
- Say what you see with no judgement
- Believe the victim/survivor
- Make it clear it is not their fault
- Give the victim/survivor control—let them make decisions about what to do next
- Be available for the student to express a range of emotions: crying, screaming, being silent—just listen
- Respect the student's privacy without making false promises of confidentiality
What to Say:
- “I am so sorry for what you are experiencing.”
- “Thank you for sharing.”
- Recommend services and provide direct referrals; assist student in contacting resources
- "This is your story to tell, if and when you choose to tell it."
- Frame any decision to seek and accept help as an intelligent choice
- Make sure the student understands what actions are necessary (Title IX Coordinator)
- Be frank with the student about your limits (time, expertise, etc.)
- Encourage and assist the student to make and keep an appointment, and set a follow-up meeting with the student
- “You are not alone—there are people in place that can help you.”
The SPoT - confidential
Ellis Hall 113
814-641-3076
thespot@juniata.edu
24/7 Help - confidential
- Huntingdon House: 814-643-1190
- Juniata College Public Safety: 814-641-3636
- Tri County Crisis Hotline: 800-929-9583
- Counseling Services: 814-641-3353
- Broad Top Health Services: 814-643-3205
- Campus Ministry: 814-641-3362
- Public Safety: 814-641-3636
- Campus and Residential Life: 814-641-3323
- Dean of Students: 814-641-3157
- Dean of Student Success/Violence Prevention: 814-641-3077
- Academic Services: 814-641-3150
- Student Accessibility Services: 814-641-5840
- Dean of EDI: 814-641-3173
- Title IX Coordinator: 814-641-3152
- Emergency: 911
- National Suicide Hotline: 988
- Crisis Text Line: text PA to 741741
- The Trevor Project (LGBTQ+ support): 866-488-7386 or text START to 678-678
- Steve Fund (BIPOC support): text STEVE to 741-741
Assisting with Sexual Assault
- Withdrawing from activities
- Sadness/Depression
- Substance abuse
- Fear/Anxiety
- Unkempt
- Inability to attend to assignments or concentrate
- Absences
- Distrust/Anger
- Refrains from sexual contact or becomes overly sexual
- Exhaustion
- Numbness/Dissociation
- Confusion
- Denial
- Remain Calm
- Believe the victim/survivor
- Make it clear it is not their fault
- Give the victim/survivor control—let them make decisions about what to do next
- Be available for the student to express a range of emotions: crying, screaming, being silent—just listen
- Respect the student's privacy without making false promises of confidentiality
- Assure the victim of your support
- Ask before giving any physical support
What to Say:
- “I am so sorry for what you are experiencing.”
- “Thank you for sharing.”
- Recommend services and provide direct referrals; assist student in contacting resources
- Frame any decision to seek and accept help as an intelligent choice
- Make sure the student understands what actions are necessary (Title IX Coordinator)
- Be frank with the student about your limits (time, expertise, etc.)
- Encourage and assist the student to make and keep an appointment, and set a follow-up meeting with the student
- “You are not alone—there are people in place that can help you.”The SPoT
The SPoT - confidential
Ellis Hall 113
814-641-3076
thespot@juniata.edu
24/7 Help - confidential
- The Abuse Network: 888-810-2444
- Juniata College Public Safety: 814-641-3636
- Tri County Crisis Hotline: 800-929-9583
- Counseling Services: 814-641-3353
- Broad Top Health Services: 814-643-3205
- Campus Ministry: 814-641-3362
- Public Safety: 814-641-3636
- Campus and Residential Life: 814-641-3323
- Dean of Students: 814-641-3157
- Dean of Student Success/Violence Prevention: 814-641-3077
- Academic Services: 814-641-3150
- Student Accessibility Services: 814-641-5840
- Dean of EDI: 814-641-3173
- Title IX Coordinator: 814-641-3152
- Emergency: 911
- National Suicide Hotline: 988
- Crisis Text Line: text PA to 741741
- The Trevor Project (LGBTQ+ support): 866-488-7386 or text START to 678-678
- Steve Fund (BIPOC support): text STEVE to 741-741