ASSURe Training Program

Empowering Faculty and Staff to Build a Culture of Care

The Care Fellows Program is a professional development opportunity for UC San Diego faculty and staff who want to strengthen their ability to support student well-being and contribute to a campus-wide culture of care.

Care Fellows participate in specialized training, professional development, and cohort-based learning to build skills in recognizing signs of distress, responding with confidence, and connecting students with appropriate campus resources. Through the program, Fellows also help expand access to suicide prevention education by sharing knowledge and facilitating training within the campus community.

Developed to create a sustainable model for suicide prevention education at UC San Diego, the Care Fellows Program equips faculty and staff with the skills and certification to offer free QPR Gatekeeper Training to campus colleagues. By developing a network of trained facilitators, the program helps make essential suicide prevention knowledge more accessible across campus.

Why Become a Care Fellow?

The Care Fellows Program offers an opportunity to grow professionally while making a meaningful contribution to student well-being.

As a selected Care Fellow, you will:

• Earn a QPR Train-the-Trainer Certification at No Cost: Receive the eight-hour certification training at no cost to you, equipping you to facilitate QPR Gatekeeper Training sessions for UC San Diego colleagues.

• Build Practical Skills: Develop strategies for recognizing signs of distress and supporting students who may be struggling.

• Strengthen Your Confidence: Learn how to respond to challenging situations and connect students with appropriate support.

• Expand Your Campus Knowledge: Deepen your understanding of UC San Diego's student support resources and referral pathways.

• Build Cross-Campus Connections: Collaborate with colleagues who share a commitment to student well-being.

• Make a Lasting Impact: Help expand access to suicide prevention education by sharing training and resources within your campus community.

• Develop Transferable Skills: Gain knowledge and facilitation experience that can support your professional growth beyond the fellowship.

Invest in Your Professional Development

Selected Care Fellows receive the QPR Institute's eight-hour Train-the-Trainer certification at no cost. This professional development opportunity equips Fellows with the skills to facilitate QPR Gatekeeper Training sessions, helping more members of the UC San Diego community recognize warning signs of suicide and connect people with appropriate support.

In exchange, Fellows commit to sharing this knowledge with the campus community by facilitating training sessions throughout the three-year fellowship. This model supports Fellows' professional growth while building a sustainable network of suicide prevention educators across UC San Diego.

What Is QPR?

QPR stands for Question, Persuade, Refer. It is an evidence-informed suicide prevention approach that teaches people to recognize warning signs of suicide, engage with someone who may be experiencing a suicidal crisis, and connect them with appropriate help.

Often compared to CPR because it equips everyday people to take action in a critical moment, QPR helps individuals understand how they can play a role in suicide prevention without needing to be mental health professionals.

Through the Care Fellows Program, participants will complete the QPR Institute's eight-hour Train-the-Trainer certification program. This certification prepares Fellows to facilitate QPR Gatekeeper Training sessions, helping more members of the UC San Diego community develop the knowledge and confidence to recognize warning signs and connect people with support.

An important distinction: Care Fellows are trained to provide suicide prevention education and connect students with resources. They are not expected to provide counseling, deliver clinical services, or independently manage crisis situations.

Program Commitment and Expectations

Care Fellows commit to participating in training, cohort activities, and suicide prevention education over three academic years. This sustained commitment helps establish a lasting network of campus professionals who can continue sharing these skills and resources.

Time Commitment

The fellowship requires a minimum commitment of approximately 30 hours over three academic years, including:

• Completion of the eight-hour QPR Train-the-Trainer certification program.

• Participation in required cohort meetings, reflection activities, and community-building opportunities.

• Facilitation of at least one QPR Gatekeeper Training session during Culture of Care Week, February 15–19, 2027.

• Facilitation of at least two additional QPR Gatekeeper Training session during each subsequent academic year through spring 2029, meeting the program's minimum training commitment.

Before Culture of Care Week

Fellows will prepare for their role through:

• Completion of the required QPR Train-the-Trainer certification pathway.

• Reflection and community-building activities with fellow participants.

During Culture of Care Week | February 15–19, 2027

Fellows will contribute to campus-wide suicide prevention education by:

• Facilitating at least one QPR Gatekeeper Training session.

• Supporting engagement with the broader UC San Diego community through designated program activities.

• Participating in the Culture of Care Week culminating event, which is optional but highly encouraged.

After Culture of Care Week

Fellows will continue developing their skills and contributing to a sustainable culture of care through:

• Reflection on their fellowship experience.

• Continued engagement with the Care Fellows cohort.

• Opportunities for ongoing learning and professional development.

• Continued facilitation of QPR Gatekeeper Training in subsequent academic years.

Understanding the Care Fellow Role

Care Fellows play an important role in making suicide prevention education and student support resources more accessible across UC San Diego. Their role centers on education, early recognition, supportive responses, and connection to appropriate resources.

Care Fellows are not expected to:

• Provide counseling or therapy.

• Serve as crisis responders.

• Act as student case managers.

• Investigate student concerns.

• Manage students' ongoing care.

• Be available outside their normal professional responsibilities.

• Handle situations independently when professional or emergency support is needed.

Care Fellows are encouraged to work within their professional roles, use established campus referral pathways, and connect students with appropriate support when concerns arise.

Help Build a Campus Culture of Care

The Care Fellows Program offers faculty and staff an opportunity to develop meaningful professional skills while contributing to a more informed, connected, and caring campus community.

By investing in suicide prevention education and expanding the number of trained facilitators across campus, Care Fellows help create a sustainable approach to supporting student well-being at UC San Diego.

Interested in Becoming a Care Fellow?

Interested in developing your suicide prevention skills, earning a professional certification at no cost, and contributing to a campus-wide culture of care? We invite UC San Diego faculty and staff to learn more about the Care Fellows Program!

Attend an Information Session

Have questions about the fellowship, the time commitment, or the QPR Train-the-Trainer certification? Join one of our virtual office hours to learn more about the program and determine whether it's a good fit for you.

Care Fellows Office Hours

• November 9, 3–4 p.m.

• November 16, 3–4 p.m.

Join the Zoom Meeting

Application Deadline

Applications are due November 30 at 12 p.m. (noon).

Selected Fellows must complete the QPR Institute's eight-hour Train-the-Trainer certification by February 12, 2027, in preparation for Culture of Care Week, February 15–19, 2027.

The certification is provided at no cost to selected Fellows as part of their participation in the program.

Ready to take the next step? Submit your application by the deadline to be considered for the Care Fellows cohort.