Campus CARE Specialist

Connecticut State Community College•Middletown, CT

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Campus CARE Specialist provides non-clinical case management, outreach, and advocacy to support students experiencing personal, academic, or social concerns. This position reports to the Associate Dean or Campus Dean and collaborates closely with the CARE Functional Lead to ensure coordinated processes, consistent data practices, and alignment with institutional protocols. The Campus CARE Specialist connects students with appropriate university and community resources, ensuring coordinated care and consistent follow-up. This position also serves as Co-Chair or other core role on the CARE, leading efforts to identify, assess, and respond to students of concern in a proactive and collaborative manner. The Campus CARE Specialist demonstrates a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, with experience supporting students from marginalized backgrounds, first-generation students, refugees, and immigrant populations, ensuring that all students are met with compassion, cultural humility, and equitable access to resources. At the discretion of the campus, this position may be responsible for managing or supporting the food pantry, clothing closet, campus resource fairs, and other basic needs services that advance student well-being and success.

Requirements

Master’s degree in counseling, social work, higher education administration, student affairs, or a related field with two (2) or more years of experience providing support to college/university students or in a community agency focused on crisis intervention, student support, or case management that includes up to two (2) years of supervisory experience; or a combination of education, training and experience which would lead to the competencies required for successful performance of the position’s essential duties.
Direct experience supporting individuals in crisis, conducting risk assessments, and coordinating referrals across campus and community systems.
Understanding of trauma informed practice and a demonstrated commitment to and experience working with diverse populations, including students from marginalized backgrounds, first-generation students, refugees, and immigrant communities.
Strong understanding of college student development, crisis response, and case management best practices.
Ability to manage multiple urgent priorities at one time.
Proficiency in web-based case management platforms.
Experience designing and delivering training, workshops, or presentations for faculty, staff, or students.
Ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds, including individuals with disabilities
Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams)

Nice To Haves

Experience in crises response and conducting risk assessments.
Experience working in a college or university CARE/BIT setting.
Strong de-escalation, conflict resolution, and problem-solving skills.
Knowledge of federal compliance areas including FERPA, Title IX, and Clery.
Strong analytical and data tracking abilities.

Responsibilities

Provides a continuum of non-clinical case management services to students experiencing complex personal, academic, or psychosocial circumstances.
Conducts non-clinical suicide and violence risk assessments to evaluate the level of concern and determine appropriate next steps, coordinating safety planning and referrals as needed.
Participates in immediate response to urgent student situations and coordinates safety protocols with campus safety, campus Wellness Counselor and external agencies as needed.
Support students in accessing resources related to food, housing, transportation, financial assistance, and other identified basic needs.
Meets individually with students to assess needs, develop action plans, and connect them with relevant campus and community resources.
Manages a caseload of students, maintaining regular and follow-up documentation to ensure continuity of care and successful resolution of concerns.
Serve as co-chair or other core role on the campus CARE team, coordinating meetings, managing referrals, and facilitating timely communication among campus partners.
Reviews referrals from faculty, staff, family members, and others, exercising sound professional judgment to determine appropriate next steps, including CARE involvement, emergency response, or outreach to emergency contacts.
Provides consultation and guidance to faculty, staff, and families seeking support for students of concern.
Maintains accurate and confidential documentation within the case management database (e.g., Symplicity Advocate), ensuring compliance with institutional, legal, and ethical standards.
Collaborates closely with Mental Health and Wellness, the Office of Accessibility and Disability, Guided Pathways and Faculty Advisors, Equity and Civil Rights, Campus Safety, and the One Stop Student Services Office to ensure coordinated and holistic student support.
Coordinates with other stakeholders and content experts to implement with proactive outreach campaigns focused on early intervention, basic needs security, sense of belonging and holistic student well-being.
Collaborates on campus-wide wellness, belonging, and retention initiatives.
Has working knowledge of Title IX, student conduct processes, and Equity and Civil Rights, and collaborates to refer appropriate cases to the Equity and Civil Rights Office as well as the Campus Conduct Officer, ensuring interventions align with institutional policies and compliance requirements.
Develops and delivers training, workshops, and outreach programs for faculty, staff, and students on identifying and supporting students in distress, appropriate referral procedures, and understanding the CARE process.
Promotes culturally responsive practices that recognize and support the diverse identities and lived experiences of students.
Supports departmental initiatives, policy development, and data analysis related to student well-being, crisis response, and retention.
Assists in after-action reviews and continuity planning following high-impact cases.
Serve on related committees, teams, workgroups. Participates on the Mental Health Coalition.
Represents the Dean of Students Office on university committees and collaborative initiatives.
Attendance and participation at convocation and commencement ceremonies
Service on assigned committees and task forces
Attendance and participation at committee, staff, informational and professional meetings which may occur during evenings and weekends.