Behavioral Intervention Team

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Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT)

The BIT was created to:

• Centralize faculty and staff reports of concerns about students’ behaviors.
• Determine if the situation poses a threat.
• Assist students, staff, and faculty with resources and referrals that will prevent further escalation that may lead to disciplinary action or academic risk.
• Provide case management of reports from staff and faculty by a diverse team of educational and health professionals.

The BIT is needed because the Vice President and Dean of Student Services have consistently handled ALL behavioral reports. The number of monthly reports received ranges from 2-18, with the average being 10 per month. Other college campuses have implemented a BIT to streamline reporting and resolution. ELAC has recently formed this team with the goal of efficiency and safety for our campus.

Please use the BIT referral form available at the link above. Or you can complete the PDF form and email it to BIT; link on the left.

Faculty and staff can reach out to BIT when:

• Students are not responsive to online classes, project due dates, or are repeatedly missing scheduled meetings/classes via Zoom, etc. and there is a concern for the student’s well-being.
• Students demonstrate any worrisome, inappropriate, or out-of-the-ordinary behavior.
• Students reveal that they are depressed, overly stressed, or otherwise in need of mental health support.
• Students reveal that they are homeless, food insecure, or survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault.
• Students engage in cyber-bullying, sexual harassment, etc.
• Student writings convey clear intentions to harm self or others.
• Students post threatening online content on any social media.
• Students need support due to the loss or illness of a family member/friend.

When in doubt, reach out to BIT. Referrals for information purposes only are welcomed and help BIT notice patterns or escalation of behavior.

Mental health therapy and medical telehealth appointments are available to current ELAC students through our contractor, Via Care, by calling 323-268-9191. After-hours services are available.

If a student is in immediate danger of harming themselves or others, or threats to do so are made, or the student’s safety is immediately in jeopardy, please call 911, campus Sheriffs 323-265-8800, or your local law enforcement. Then, please inform BIT.

Additional resources are below and on the attached “Hotlines” flyer.

Department of Mental Health ACCESS line: 24/7, emergency and non-emergency psychiatric resources and services. 800-854-7771

Crisis Text Line: 24/7, text 741741

Veterans Crisis Line: 800-273-8255 press 1. 24/7. Text: 838255. Chat: veteranscrisisline.net

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233. 24/7. 200+ languages. Chat: thehotline.org

East Los Angeles Women’s Center Hotline: 800-585-6231. 24/7. Domestic violence, sexual assault. 

What should you report?

• Anger and rage
• Hysterical or emotional outbursts
• Eating disorders
• Suicidal threat
• Hopelessness, desperation
• Anxiety, depression
• Impulsive or rash behaviors
• Bullying
• Delusional or paranoid speech
• Constant frustration
• Direct threats of harm to others
• Vague or unclear threats
• Yelling or disrespectful actions
• Extremely odd behavior
• Substance abuse
• Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Sexual Harrassment
• and many other behaviors that are disruptive or pose harm to students or others

Also Reportable

• Non-urgent, information only.
• Social Services Needs (i.e., Housing, Food, Substance Abuse, Counseling)

Assess the Risk

• LOW: Disruptive or concerning behavior. Student may or may not show signs of distress. No threat made or present.
• MEDIUM: More involved or repeated disruption. Behavior more concerning. Likely distressed or low-level disturbance. Possible threat made or present. Threat vague and indirect.
• HIGH: Seriously disruptive incident. If there is a threat of harm to themselves or others, Call Sheriff’s Office Immediately.

How to File a Report

• Complete the BIT form online, click HERE
  OR
• Complete a hard copy of the form (Download) and deliver it to the office of Miguel Duenas - Vice President of Student Services (E1-213), Erica Mayorga, Dean - South Gate,  or email it to @email

The Reporting Cycle

• Report is submitted.
• BIT acknowledges receipt of report.
• BIT meets and develops a plan of action.
• BIT follows-up with the referring party.

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For Title IX situations, please contact:
Title IX Coordinator: Angelica Toledo,
Dean, Academic Affairs/Workforce Development
Email: ToledoA@elac.edu
 

ELAC Title IX webpage: http://elac.edu/About-ELAC/ADA-Compliance/title-ix

Title IX is about gender equity in education. This means not discriminating on the basis of sex and includes sexual harassment and sexual assault (which are forms of sexual misconduct). This also includes treating people equitably regardless of sexual orientation or expression, and/or possible transgender identity.