Care Model

The CARE Model equips you with strategies for taking action. Depending on the situation at hand and your personal style for intervening, there is always an option for taking action while keeping yourself safe.

Here are some examples of ways to use the CARE Model to help others:

• Confront the Situation: Calling out a friend for a microaggression, “Hey, what you said was harmful because X”
• Alert Others: Talking to the party host about a student who passed out, “I’m worried about this person who passed out, can you check on them to see if they are alright?”
• Redirect Attention: Seeing an argument between a couple get heated and coming up with an excuse to separate them. “Hey! So and so is looking for you! Want to come with me and help find them together?”
• Engage After: Checking in on a peer who was harassed. “Hey, what they said was not cool. I wanted to reach out and see how you are feeling, how can I support you?”

Bystander Intervention Basics

Together we can prevent violence and harm by being active bystanders who care for one another. Being an active bystander means that you TAKE ACTION when you see a situation that could be potentially harmful. Every step counts no matter how small you think it is.

Here are the steps to safely intervening to help others:

• Recognize the Situation: Recognition is key. This requires prior awareness of social identities and microaggressions, what consent does and doesn’t look like, when someone has had too much to drink, signs that someone is experiencing a decline in their mental health, and other important information we go over in each of our workshops.
• Decide to Take Action: Most likely, other witnesses may not have the tools to intervene or are worried to do so. Taking action takes a lot of courage and can empower others to help! Ask yourself: if not me, then who?
• Intervene Effectively and Follow up Appropriately: Choose one of the CARE intervention tools that work best for the situation and keep in mind that your safety is your top priority. If possible, check-in with the affected people after and share resources and options with them.

Meet the Staff

Bears that CARE is a program of the Office of the Dean of Students in the Division of Student Affairs. In addition to working closely with partners across campus, BTC has a dedicated team of peer educators. Get to know more about the staff by reading their bios below.

Student Staff Coordinator: Zaina Ghouri (she/her)

4th year Cognitive Science and Molecular and Cell Biology major

Zaina wanted to join BTC because she wanted to give back to the community and to help contribute to creating a safer and more welcoming environment on campus!

Outside of BTC Zaina loves trying new foods, collecting cute stationary and listening to music 🙂

Communications Coordinator: Aditee Bhasu Piya (she/her)

4th year Haas School of Business major

Aditee joined BTC because she noticed how often conversations around consent, boundaries, and support are overlooked in the spaces she's in. She wanted to be part of a group that not only raises awareness but also gives people the tools to take action and care for one another. She believes that we all have the ability to contribute to a culture of respect and care, and that being an active bystander can look different for each of us.

Communications Coordinator: Xinyi Xue (she/her)

2nd year Integrative Biology major

Xinyi joined Bears That CARE because she wanted to be part of something that actually makes a difference. She believes meaningful change starts with open conversations and a shared commitment to building a safer community. For Xinyi, communication isn’t just about spreading awareness but also about connecting people and inspiring them to take action confidently. 

Content Coordinator: Sam Padilla (she/her)

3rd year Environmental Science and Society & Environment major

Samantha joined BTC because she believes that creating a safe and supportive campus community starts with everyday actions. As a first-generation, low-income student, she’s seen how conversations about consent, boundaries, and emotional well-being can be overlooked or difficult to have. Through BTC, she hopes to help others feel empowered to speak up, offer support, and take care of one another.

Content Coordinator: Anais Shergill (she/her)

4th year Political Science and Sociology major

Anais joined Bears That Care to become more actively involved with fostering public/community safety among the student collective at Cal. Her primary area of research and external work focuses on analyzing strategies for managing civil safety and conflict matters on local, state, and international scales.

Outreach Coordinator: Ella Pham Rosenblatt (she/they)

3rd year Public Health major

Ella is a third-year Public Health major with a concentration in Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health (MCAH). Growing up in an all-AFAB (Assigned Female At Birth) household with her single immigrant mother and two sisters, Ella’s background deeply informs her commitment to care, empathy, and advocacy. Through their lived experiences navigating trauma and recovery, Ella has developed a passion for community-centered healing grounded in principles of harm reduction and reproductive justice. As a Bears That Care peer educator, they strive to create affirming spaces of support where students feel seen, heard, and valued. Outside of their work and academics, Ella enjoys reading, creating art, and nurturing relationships that bring joy and connection.

Outreach Coordinator: Zaina Ghouri (she/her)

3rd year Cognitive Science and Molecular and Cell Biology major

Zaina wanted to join BTC because she wanted to give back to the community and to help contribute to creating a safer and more welcoming environment on campus!

Outside of BTC Zaina loves trying new foods, collecting cute stationary and listening to music 🙂

Workshop Coordinator: Sarangoo Otgonbaatar (she/her)

4th year Genetics and Plant Biology major

 

Workshop Coordinator: Celeste Pallares (she/her)

3rd year Global Studies and Economics major

Celeste joined Bears that Care to help create spaces on campus for students to feel seen, heard, and supported when navigating different obstacles— big or small. She looks forward to building a safer and more welcoming environment at UC Berkeley one conversation at a time. In her spare time, Celeste loves to be in nature, try new foods, and craft!