Care Team
The Care Team is here to support students who may be struggling with behavioral or well-being concerns. Meeting weekly, the team works together to connect students with personalized resources, encouragement, and accountability, while ensuring safety and care for both the individual and the campus community.
Location: Top Floor of the Student Center - Hillsboro location
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Holli Gillam, Care Team Chair, Director of Student Conduct and Community Standards
Email: hgillam1@jeffco.edu
Phone: 636-481-3262, TTY Users Dial 711
Care Team Oversight and Coordination; Core Team Meeting Facilitation; Care Team On-Boarding, Supervision, and Training; Student and Employee Training and Consultation; Immediate Interventions, Report and Assessment for Continuous Improvement
Ross Politte, Lead Care Team Non-Clinical Case Manager, Student Support/Deputy Title IX Coordinator
Email: rpolitt5@jeffco.edu
Phone: 636-481-3267, TTY Users Dial 711
Non-Clinical Case Management Oversight and Coordination; Care Team Meeting Facilitation; Proactive Support; Assess Referrals; Student Engagement & Intake, Individualized Needs and Risk Assessment, Resource Identification and Connection; Ongoing Case Management and Support
The Core Team addresses non-imminent, critical or elevated student concerns. Imminent concerns should be directed to 911, 988, or campus police.
Non-Imminent, Critical or Elevated Concerns May Include, But Are Not Limited To:
- Destructive or disruptive actions
- Substance use that creates a significant, but non-life threatening safety risk
- Vague, indirect, or non-lethal threats or impulsive violence (toward self or others)
- Suicidal ideations that are non-imminent or lethal
- Significant impairment in mood, relationships, or academic performance
- Threats or ultimatums of potentially violent retaliation
- Desire to replicate violence
Meet the Core Team
The Core Team meets bi-weekly to gather data, assess, and implement interventions. Core Team members may also be called together to address immediate concerns, as needed.
Dr. Kim Harvey-Manus
Vice President of Student Services
David Parchim
Campus Chief of Police & Director of Emergency Management
Holli Gillam
Director of Student Conduct and Community Standards
Kristine Bogue
Director of Student Compliance/Deputy Title IX Coordinator
Gina Holstein
Director of Student Wellness and Counseling Services
In addition to Core Team members, additional College employees serve as liaisons to the Care Team from their departments/offices as Case Managers for students referred to the Care Team. Case management support and resource connection is offered related to the following areas:
- Academics: attendance, study habits, time management, etc.
- Financial/Social Services: employment, transportation, food resources, financial resources, etc.
- Social Support: family, relationships, peer support, increase/decrease social networking, become more/less involved on campus, etc.
- Emotional Wellness: mood, thoughts/speech, appearance/demeanor, difficulty managing stress/trauma, self-harming behaviors, etc.
- Environmental Wellness: inadequate/unsafe/unstable housing, homelessness, etc.
- Grief/Loss of Loved One
- Physical Health: sleep, appetite, medications, medical care/insurance, medical condition, etc.
- Substance Use: addiction, recovery/cessation, etc.
- Suicidal Ideation: if at imminent risk, contact 911 or 988 and submit a report after safety is established
- Conduct/Legal: any legal action/pending case a student is involved in or concerned about
For a list of commonly used resources, please visit our Vikings Care Resource Page.
Meet our Additional Care Team Members
The Care Team meets bi-weekly to gather data, assess, and implement interventions.
Ross Politte
Student Support/Deputy Title IX Coordinator
Michael Gruzeski
Jefferson College Arnold Liaison
Connie Nash
Academic Services Liaison
Keri Schmidt
Residential Life Liaison
Gregg Crain
Athletic Department Liaison
Jenna Chunn
Counseling Services Liaison
- Watch a few short videos on ways to recognize common signs and how to offer support.
- Check out Vikings Care Initiatives page for online training opportunities.
- Request a Respond Mental Health Training, email Jenn Gann at jgann2@jeffco.edu.
- Still unsure of how to recognize if a student is in distress, contact us at 636-481-3215.
A student whose academic progress or functioning in the college environment is impacted by stressors (see examples listed below) and/or impact their well-being and/or the well-being of others.
- Student tells you directly they are struggling with a situational stressor
- Frequent interruption and/or asking off-topic questions
- Disruptive, or unusual participation in class
- Inappropriate emotional outbursts
- Withdrawal or isolation
- Irritability
- Loss of interest
- Sudden decline in quality of work
- Bullying or teasing behavior
- Marked change in personal hygiene or appearance
You could be the first person to notice a concern about a student. At Jefferson College, we want to offer support before the concern escalates. When in doubt, send in a referral.
If you have any questions or are unsure, please contact the Care Team Chair, Holli Gillam, at hgillam1@jeffco.edu or call 636-481-3215.
The Care Team referral can be accessed in several ways through the Jefferson College website and the MyJeffco homepage. You can also call 636-481-3215 to request a Care Team member to respond to your location to assist a student, or walk a student to the top floor of the Student Center.
The Care Team accepts anonymous referrals. Anonymous referrals may limit the staff’s ability to provide services to the student, gather additional information from the referral source, and/or provide updates to the referral source. When filling out a report, the “reporter’s name” section can be left blank.
Students who refer other students to the Care Team are guaranteed that their names will not be disclosed to the student of concern. However, the anonymity of the referral source cannot be guaranteed as the student of concern may be able to determine who referred them based on the context or information provided in the referral.
The Care Team Chair will respond within 2 business days confirming receipt of the referral and may ask for additional information. Updates to the referral source will occur as appropriate under FERPA. Care Team will always balance the need to provide helpful updates to the referral source with the need to maintain a student’s privacy.
Anyone can submit a Care Team referral.
A private contact is someone at the college who will do their best to keep your information to themselves. The information you shared with that person will only be shared if another college employee has a need to know.
No, referrals fall under the guidance of FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) . FERPA allows the Care Team to disclose information to any Jefferson College official with an educational need to know and to any person that may be needed to assist in addressing a health or safety emergency.
The Care Team does not guarantee non-disclosure of faculty or staff referral sources. If a faculty or staff member is concerned about the possible disclosure of the referral source, they should contact the Care Team chair at hgillam1@jeffco.edu or 636-481-3215 for consultation prior to submitting a referral.
It is always encouraged to let the student of concern know you are submitting the referral, and that someone from the Care Team may be reaching out.
