The Abington Care Team (ACT) is a service at Penn State Abington that provides members of the Abington community an opportunity to share a concern about a student’s wellness or safety. The main purpose of the ACT is to be proactive in assisting students of concern and intervening with students who appear to be having academic or health/safety issues.

How does the Abington Care Team work?

The ACT is NOT an emergency response system. These submissions will be reviewed during normal business hours Mon-Fri 8-5.

If you need immediate assistance and/or the behaviors are reflecting imminent risk of harm - contact Penn State Crisis Line at 215-881-7577 or call the Police at 911.

If you have a concern about a student, please submit your concern on the care form.

Penn State Abington students, faculty and staff will have the opportunity to share concerns related to student behavior as it relates to academic progress, wellness or safety. The ACT will meet to review concerns and determine appropriate action steps. Referrals will be made to the appropriate academic or administrative unit.

ACT is not meant to replace individual interventions by faculty and staff and should only be used if other direct methods have been tried and failed.

Abington Care Team

  • Mary Ellen Glick, Case Manager
  • Chris Walters, Coordinator for Student Success
  • Rachel Brown, Director of Faculty Development
  • Chavonne Campbell, Student Disabilities Coordinator
  • Alexis Chojnacki, Sergeant for University Police & Public Safety
  • Dagmara Karnowski, Senior International Student Advisor
  • Danielle Discher, Financial Aid
  • Erin Foley, Director of Athletics
  • Gina Kaufman, Director of Student Affairs
  • Keisha Johnson, Director of Residence Life and Community Standards
  • Huijiao Xu, Licensed Professional Counselor and Global Mental Health Wellness Advocate

Team responsibilities:

  • Review of submitted information
  • Documentation of actions
  • Appropriate delegation for follow-up based on the situation addressed

Goals

Identification of students who are at risk in one of the following areas:

  • Students not responding to faculty attempts related to class attendance, course performance, etc.
  • Personal health or wellness; students who continue to exhibit symptoms of impaired health, even after appropriate referral to a health provider
  • Students exhibiting behaviors or expressing comments which have the potential to impact the safety of self or others
  • Students exhibiting strange or bizarre behavioral patterns that have the potential for disruption to others and impaired performance; or extreme changes in behavioral patterns i.e. hyperactivity or very rapid speech, depressed or lethargic mood, deterioration in hygiene, withdrawn or disengaged, etc. (For mental health emergencies related to imminent danger to self or others please call 911.)

What about confidentiality?

Details reviewed in the ACT submissions will be kept confidential by all members. Information may be shared on a strictly “need to know” basis in order to refer the student to the correct campus resource or intervene as appropriate.

FERPA allows for communication to be shared among “school officials” who have a legitimate educational interest. Under FERPA, there is clear exception for any risks to health or safety.  There is also an option to submit a report anonymously.

Refer (We Need You!)

Faculty and staff have a direct link to students and can contribute to their well-being. Declining academic performance and worrisome behaviors are often indicators that a student may be facing struggles in other areas. Faculty and staff are often the first to recognize when a student is distressed, distressing, or just needs additional support.