SEAHO Report - Fall 2024 - 20

Charting a Path
of Care and Concern:
A Strategic Approach for Housing
and Residence Life Professionals
By Dr. Amy Lorenz, University of North Florida & Katie Lewis, University of North Florida
The rising complexity of student needs on college campuses requires housing and residence life departments
to rethink their approaches to care and concern. From mental health struggles and academic pressures to
housing insecurity and relationship challenges, the issues facing today's students are multifaceted. For midlevel
and upper mid-level professionals, who often serve as the bridge between students, staff, and campus
resources, this shift presents both challenges and opportunities. These professionals are well-positioned to
drive meaningful change by refining care and concern processes.
At the 2024 SEAHO conference, the authors facilitated a roundtable discussion on care and concern
processes within housing and residence life. The session aimed to equip participants with actionable
strategies to enhance the care and concern support they provide to students, share best practices, and
explore technology solutions for documenting and managing cases. The conversation was fulfilling for both
the presenters and participants, and as a result, we would love to share our learning with the entire SEAHO
association.
Addressing the Growing Care and Concern Needs of Residents
Housing and residence life departments have seen a surge in reported concerns, including mental health
crises, academic stress, financial difficulties, and more. In response, the expectations from students, families,
and campus partners for follow-up support have also increased. Navigating this landscape requires robust,
collaborative systems and a team approach.
Successes and Challenges in Care Situations
A key to success in managing care situations is the efficiency in which students are connected to appropriate
resources. Developing and implementing steps and processes for timely and clear follow-up can help staff
document cases, ensuring swift and effective response times to student needs.
Crisis situations are inherently unpredictable, which can make it difficult to manage expectations internally and
among campus partnerships. Different officers may have different timelines or approaches to handling crises,
which can create misalignment, increased caseloads, and strain on resources. Defining roles in providing
immediate and long-term support for residents is crucial to resolve these challenges.
Leveraging Campus Partnerships to Support Students
Students of concern typically need support from at least one if not multiple offices; at times, the office(s) and/or
individuals who are best suited to support students may extend beyond the bounds of housing and residence
life teams. The chart below is a real-life example of a student of concern (anonymized) who experienced
suicidal ideation and the many offices involved in incident response and support.
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SEAHO Report - Fall 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of SEAHO Report - Fall 2024