Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT)

The Behavioral Intervention Team serves as a central resource for addressing behavioral concerns that may impact student and campus safety. This multidisciplinary team intervenes in situations where students are experiencing distress or displaying harmful or disruptive behavior. Early, proactive intervention is essential in preventing major crises.

Mission

The Behavioral Intervention Team is committed to promoting safety via a proactive, multidisciplinary, coordinated, and objective approach. It works to prevent, identify, assess, intervene, and manage situations that may pose a threat to the wellbeing of our campus community (e.g., students, faculty, staff, and visitors). 

Purpose

The team tracks patterns, trends, and disturbances in individuals or in group behavior. The team receives reports of disruptive, problematic, or concerning behavior from students, staff, and faculty; conducts investigations; performs threat assessments; and determines the best mechanisms for support, intervention, warning/notification, and response. The team then deploys its campus resources and/or community resources and coordinates follow-ups. 

How to File a Report

Complete the BIT Referral Link

A member of BIT will provide an email as acknowledgment of the referral within 1-2 business days. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at lamc-bit@lamission.edu

If an individual is in immediate danger of harming themselves or others, has made threats to do so, or their safety is at immediate risk, please call 911 or Campus Security at 818-364-7843.

BIT Members

  • Claudia Velasco, Vice President, Student Services  

  • Fabiola Mora, Dean, Academic Affairs and Title IX Coordinator 

  • Louis M. Lopez, Deputy, LA Sheriff’s Department, Campus Security  

  • Robert Schwartz, Disability Specialist, DSPS Office  

  • Katherine Kirst, Counselor/Coordinator, Veterans and International Students  

  • Vanessa Hernandez, Coordinator, College Promise and TRiO/SSS 

  • Steve Ruys, Director, Athletics Department  

  • Giovanni Ochoa, Counselor/Coordinator, College Culture Re-Entry Hub 

What Should You Report?

  • Anger and rage
  • Anxiety, depression
  • Direct threat of harm to self and/or others
  • Hysterical or emotional outbursts
  • Suicidal threat
  • Hopelessness, desperation
  • Impulsive or rash behaviors
  • Bullying
  • Delusional or paranoid speech
  • Constant frustration
  • Vague or unclear threats
  • Yelling or disrespectful actions
  • Extremely odd behavior
  • Substance abuse

And many other behaviors that are disruptive to the learning environment or pose harm to students or others

If there is a threat of harm to themselves or others, call the Sheriff’s Office immediately. (818) 364-7843 

Resources

For Title IX inquiries, please refer to our Title IX webpage.

Title IX Coordinator: Fabiola Mora, Dean, Academic Affairs | Email: MoraFP@lamission.edu

TimelyCare: 24/7 | Virtual Mental Health Counseling

Department of Mental Health ACCESS line: 24/7 | Emergency and Non-Emergency Psychiatric Resources and Services | Phone: 800-854-7771

Crisis Text Line: 24/7 | Text: 741741

Veterans Crisis Line: 24/7 | Phone: 800-273-8255 Press 1 | Text: 838255 

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 24/7 | Phone: 800-799-7233 | 200+ languages 

Women's Center Hotline: 24/7 | Phone: 800-585-6231 | Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault