Resources for Parents

a graduate standing with her parents

As a parent or guardian, you offer a valuable perspective to the CARE network, often providing historical information about your student that helps the CARE team better conceptualize the student’s behaviors, struggles, and how to successfully approach him or her with reasonable options.

We encourage parents to submit a CARE Referral when there is reason to be concerned about a UR student. Whether this student is your child, or a UR student known to your child, the CARE network can be of assistance. You might want to submit a CARE Referral if.....

  • Is the student missing multiple classes?
  • Is there something going on in your family (e.g., death, divorce, other significant event) that may negatively affect the student’s performance?
  • Have you noticed a significant change in the student’s behavior?
  • Has the student been ill for a long period of time?
  • Is the student presenting signs of being in distress (e.g., feeling incredibly overwhelmed, talking about “wanting to give up," presenting other signs of significant stress)?
  • Is the student isolating him- or herself?

If you are still uncertain about whether you should submit a CARE Referral, please review the pre-referral process page for questions to consider before referring a student to CARE. You may also or instead choose to submit a Bias-Related Incident Report or Community Concern Report.

Submit a concern

CARE-related Resources

One-on-one consultations

If you would like to discuss your concern or share information about the UR student prior to submitting a CARE Referral, then the Director of Parent Relations, Dawn Bruner, can be of assistance. In some cases, Dawn can suggest offices on campus that can appropriately support the student of concern prior to enacting the CARE network. In other cases, Dawn may suggest that you submit a CARE Referral so the team can assist in reaching out to the student through multiple University offices.

Dawn Bruner can be contacted at dawn.bruner@rochester.edu or (585) 275-5415.

Counseling-related concerns

If you believe your son or daughter would benefit from the services provided by the University Counseling Center (UCC), or have questions about the resources UCC offers, please call (585) 275-3113. Although limited information regarding whether a student has been using UCC can be provided, a UCC staff member is available to discuss your concerns and offer suggestions based upon the counseling and counseling-related resources that are available at the University of Rochester.

University Counseling Center: Resources for Parents

Additional CARE-related information

If you would like additional information about the CARE system and how the CARE staff identifies and triages students who are in or heading toward distress, please contact a CARE staff member at CAREnetwork@rochester.edu or (585) 275-4085.

Conversation Starters

Are you concerned about your student? Not sure how to initiate the conversation with them? Below are a few suggestions that may aid in telling your student about the resources available on campus.

  • “I can’t help but notice that you [list behaviors or concerns]. Where have you gone on campus to receive support?”
  • “Do you have anyone on campus that you think could be really helpful to you right now?”
  • “Let’s submit a CARE Referral so a CARE staff member can let us know how to work through these challenges.”
  • “Who else on campus knows what you’ve been going through?”
  • “We can work through this. Let's start by talking with Dawn Bruner about what resources are available.”