Care Referral Program (Formerly The Red Folder)

What is a Care Referral?

The mission of the University of San Francisco Care Referral Program is to support cura personalis, care for the whole person. As a staff or faculty member, you may encounter students who need your assistance for academic reasons; physical and mental health reasons; and/or other personal reasons. You may be the first contact and play an important role at USF in providing resources to support our students.

Care Referrals allow staff and faculty to inform the Office of the Dean of Students about students in need of support or assistance. These referrals are used to initiate collaborative action plans to assist the referred student. 

  • If you are concerned about the welfare of a student, yourself, or other students
  • If your effort to manage a significant classroom behavioral concern has not resolved the problem
  • If you have referred the student in the past and there seems to be no improvement or things seem to be worsening 
  • If a student requests assistance in dealing with personal issues that are outside of your area of expertise or your role as a faculty or staff member

THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS TO MAKE A CARE REFERRAL:

  • If you are unable to submit a report online using the button below, you may call the Office of the Dean of Students at 415.422.5330 during business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, excluding holidays)
  • You may email the Office of the Dean of Students at deanofstudents@usfca.edu with the student's information and a brief description of the situation. Emails are responded to during business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, excluding holidays)

What happens after a Care Referral is received?

The Office of the Dean of Students Response Team will review your referral and make a decision about engaging the Care Response Team (CRT). The Care Response Team (formerly the Crisis Management and Behavioral Intervention Team) is an interdisciplinary team of trained professionals from Student Life, Academic Affairs, and the Department of Public Safety who meet regularly to collaboratively address the needs of students of concern, monitor student behavior, direct students/faculty/staff to community resources and consult with departments or individuals impacted by a student's behavior. In accordance with privacy laws The Office of the Dean of Students Response Team can rarely share outcomes with those who make Care Referrals, but will ensure follow up.

Contact the Department of Public Safety 24 hours/7 days a week at 415.422.2911 in cases of emergency which may include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • possession of a weapon
  • suicidal actions or threats
  • acts or threats of violence/sexual violence
  • out of control emotions/hearing voices, tangential speech, or something similar
  • student injury, illness or death

Once Public Safety dispatch is called, appropriate protocols will be put into place. This may include working with trained crisis responders in the Department of Public Safety; Counseling Psychological Services (CAPS); Office of Student Conduct, Rights, and Responsibilities; and/or The Office of the Dean of Students.