The BIT is a cross-campus collaboration of student-serving staff and faculty interacting directly with students to address their needs. This dedicated team works on the ground to identify potential threats to the community or individuals. The BIT focuses on ensuring the safety and well-being of the entire campus community by:
The BIT contributes positively to the overall health & well-being of the FLC community by identifying, assessing, and reducing risk of harm and developing appropriate interventions.
Community members can report concerns. Reports from Housing, Campus Police, or other sources are also reviewed. Safety concerns such as suicidal ideation or harm to others should be reported to 911 or campus police first, followed by a referral to BIT. Upon receiving a referral, the BIT coordinator confirms receipt and provides information on next steps.
BIT coordinator reviews all incoming reports and brings reports of concern to BIT at weekly meetings. During meetings, prior cases are discussed, new cases are presented, and the team engages in the three-step process for each report. BIT may contact the referral source or others working with the person of concern for more details, with consideration of FERPA and the person’s best interest.
BIT utilizes the NABITA Risk Rubric and determines the risk level for each case as a team. The Risk Rubric assesses life stress, emotional health, and hostility and violence toward others on a scale of 0-4.
BIT regularly reassesses risk levels during team meetings. Assessing risk is critical to identifying the concerns present in the case and deploying interventions that align with the level of concern.
Interventions are developed and deployed based on the level of risk, with increasing intensity and scope as the risk level rises. The NABITA Risk Rubric guides intervention decision-making, and team members have the authority to implement assigned interventions.
If necessary, the Office of Compliance and Community Standards may be involved to enforce student participation in assessment or intervention.
We encourage you to go with your gut. If something does not feel right, it probably isn’t. Consider consulting with a colleague, supervisor, Counseling Center staff, or a member of BIT.
Is someone you are interacting with expressing frustration that their needs are not being met by the College?
Feel free to refer them to the Campus Concern form, where they can report trouble with faculty or staff, facilities, bias incidents, etc.
People having a crisis sometimes perceive their dilemma as inescapable and feel an utter loss of control.
If you believe someone you are talking with is in crisis, walk them to the Counseling Center, call the Axis Care Line at 970-247-5245, text HOME to 741-741, call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or call Campus Police and stay with the student until help arrives. If there is a medical emergency or immediate danger of harm, call 911 and say you need support for a mental health crisis.
Supporting someone who is struggling can be difficult. Here are some tips compiled by our team on navigating, supporting, and taking good care of yourself while doing so. Please also check out the videos we’ve collected to learn even more.
We are committed to creating a healthy, inclusive, and safe environment for our community members. If you have a concern, use our Campus Concern Reporting form.
Email: committee-behavioral-intervention-team@fortlewis.edu.
Contributes positively to the overall health & well-being of the FLC community by identifying, assessing, and reducing risk of harm and developing appropriate interventions in response.