Meeting Basic Needs & Supporting Student Wellness

Presenters:

Lia Lara, Basic Needs Coordinator, Student Activities and Advocacy

Sadika Sulaiman Hara, Director, Student Activities & Advocacy

Heather Bettini, Assistant Vice President of Programs, Community Action Marin

Luis Ramirez, Transitional Aged Youth Peer Support Outreach Specialist, Community Action Marin

Meghan Kehoe, Children-Youth-and Community Prevention Division Director, Center for Domestic Peace

Ada Lai, Community Partnership Coordinator, CalFresh

Thelina Gapinski, Program Coordinator, Indian Valley Organic Farm

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Defining Basic Needs

• For students to complete an education successfully is heavily relied on the students access to housing, food, mental health and financial wellness. The goal is to create and connect resources for those students who struggle fulfilling their basic needs so that it does not impact their ability to successfully complete their education.

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Adopted from the CCC Chancellor's Office

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Workshop Objectives

• Learn about support services on campus and in the community which enable students to meet basic needs and respond to personal/financial challenges.

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• Understand how students can benefit from financial coaching, housing support, food resources, technology resources, and personal/wellness support and advising.

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• Share strategies to connect students to services that can support their personal and academic success.

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Overview of College of Marin Support Services

• Economic Justice, Housing Justice, Children & Family Services, Resources & Referrals: Heather Bettini & Luis Ramirez

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• CalFresh/SF-Marin Food Bank: Ada Lai

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• Mental Health and Access Support/COM CARE/Syllabus/Technology Access: Sadika Sulaiman Hara

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• IVC Organic Farm and Garden/Food Access/Housing: Lia Lara

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• Center for Domestic Peace: Meghan Kehoe

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The Link Between Housing Instability, Food Insecurity, Health, and Mental Health

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• Co-occurrence with food insecurity and depression, suicidal ideation, and substance use challenges among young adults (Pryor et.al., 2016).
• Increasing concern of adverse mental health outcomes among individuals who experience food insecurity (Jones, 2019).
• Students facing housing insecurity may have lower GPAs, poorer health, and higher rates of depression and anxiety than those who do not face these issues (Real College Survey, 2021).
• Possible preventative intervention to improve mental health outcomes among young adult college students is addressing food insecurity (Oh et al., 2022).

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Implications for Students in Academic Spaces

• Less energy
• Inability to concentrate
• Irritability
• Disengagement
• Increased sense of anxiety, depression and feelings of overwhelm
• Feelings of isolation and hopelessness
• Manifestation of physical health challenges due to increased life stressors

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• Missing class, assignment deadlines, late arrival or leaving early
• Decrease in response to instructor communications
• Not having required textbooks or course materials/supplies
• Lower GPA
• Withdrawal from courses, drop out, or skipping semesters

Academic Environment

Impact

Equity in Mental Health

Trauma Informed Practices

Practices you can apply in your classroom and workplace:

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1. Physical, Emotional, Social, and Academic Safety
1. Create and atmosphere that is respectful of the need for safety and acceptance for both the individual and group interactions, including feeling safe to make mistakes.

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• Trustworthiness and Transparency
• Make expectations clear, ensuring consistency in practice, and address matters privately should they arise. Publicly addressing a matter can lead to shame and disengagement.

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• Support and Connection
• Connect students to appropriate peer and professional resources early to help them succeed academically, personally, and professionally.

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• Empowerment, Voice, and Choice
• Evaluate your teaching approach - ask yourself, does my approach, including materials, teaching delivery, and exercises empower students to feel safe and brave to make choices and develop confidence?

Supporting the Well-Being of Students

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• Integrate opportunities for discussion and learning around student well-being and basic needs supports.

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• Work in consultation with Psychological Services and Student Accessibility Services. These services support the well-being of students through therapy, consultation, access services, and reasonable accommodations.

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• Embed language in your syllabus around supporting the well-being and accessibility needs of students (i.e., Basic Needs Syllabus; Accessibility Statement)

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• Invite us to your class! Have support services flyers readily available at the entrance of your classroom if in person

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• Attend COM mental health programs. Encourage student participation (provide extra credit?)

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• Build community with us!

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CONTACT US:

Psychological Services - call 415-485-9350, arosassanchez@marin.edu or afriasbravo@marin.edu

Student Accessibility Services - call 415-485-9406 or email sas@marin.edu

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Community Action Marin’s (CAM) Student Supports

Community Action Marin works to build a more equitable Marin County on Vimeo

Application Process

COVID-19 and Domestic Violence

Marin and Domestic Violence

Types of Abuse: PEEVSSSS

Strangulation

Digital Abuse

Reasons to contact C4DP

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Contact Information

Meghan Kehoe

Division Manager

415-526-2535

mkehoe@c4dp.org

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24/7 HOTLINE: 415-924-6616

English/Spanish

COM Provides Technology!

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Where can a student borrow technology?

Student’s can borrow a laptop or hotspot through the COM Library lending program.

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Lending Form: http://library.marin.edu/blog/borrowing-technology-devices

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Questions?

Call (415) 485-9656 or email LibraryCirc@marin.edu

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COM Care and Basic Needs

• Where to start?

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How can COM Care help with basic needs?

• Personal/academic concerns
• Food access/housing access/community resources
• Mental health support services

NEW Basic Needs Coordinator!

Office of Student Activities and Advocacy

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Lia Lara

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llaradomingue5002@marinedu

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Syllabus

Basic Needs Statement:

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Any student who has difficulty affording groceries, regularly accessing sufficient food to eat, has technology needs, wellness and mental health needs, is experiencing unsafe circumstances, and believes this may affect their performance in the course is encouraged to reach out to me. You may also submit a COM Care Report through the MyCOM portal for additional resources/services from the COM CARE Team.

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COM Care Statement:

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College of Marin has a Care Team to support students and intervene with issues of concern that arise in the classroom. If there is a concern, you may be contacted by the Care Team member. The Care Team is made up of Student Services staff and faculty. To submit a COM Care report, sign into your MyCOM Portal.

Food Access

Basic Needs Hub, SS 254 - “The Hub”

COM’s Food Pantries

Students must provide M00# to grab one hot meal and three snacks; soup bowls (veg options), juices, fruit bar, nut bars, chips, etc.

Extras from the food distribution will be offered at KTD campus at “The Hub;” fruit, pastries, and protein items.

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KTD

Basic Needs Hub, SS 254 (AKA The Hub)

Monday through Friday, 9:30am to 3:30pm

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IVC

BD 27, RM 120

Mondays/Wednesdays

1:30pm to 5:00pm

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visit: ss.marin.edu/food

Food Distribution

Wednesdays, starting September 3rd, AC 255 overhang

10:30 to 1:00pm (until supplies last)

Students:

Provide M00#

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Bring a reusable bag

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Attend at the stated hours

Stay in line - no cutting

One time use - don't go twice

Follow quantity signs - don't take more

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Follow the operation mandatory instructions:

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Community Members:

Provide first and last name legibly

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Bring reusable bag

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Attend at the stated hours

Grocery Items to expect:

Fruit, vegetables, packaged goods, and protein items (meats, eggs, etc)

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SF.Marin Food Locator�Please note that food locations are subject to change so we encourage you to check here for the most up to date information.

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211.org�Call 211 from your phone for the nearest food and shelter availability in your area.

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Food Locator

Food Access: When To Refer A Student

Signs to look out for:

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• Students struggling with housing
• Time demanding major
• paycheck to paycheck with children

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Submit a COM Care report stating the concerns and crisis for further intervention.

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We will meet with the student to evaluate the crisis/situation.

Assess options, including a possible food voucher.

We will take in consideration of academic standing for resources.

Resources are a short term solution while student navigates a long term plan.

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For more information email : OrganicFarm@marin.edu

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Housing Support

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Homeless and Housing Insecurity Pilot Program (HHIP)

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Housing Partners

Community Action Marin

• Case manager support
• Section 8
• Government assistance
• CARE team
• Transition Age Youth (TAY) team
• Shelter support
• Family
• Single
• Job search preparement / support
• Budget Planning

Homeless Prevention Resources

• Short term emergency shelter
• Eviction support
• At risk assistance

Followed by

• Confirm academic plan
• Good academic standing
• County support plan
• Check in appointments

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Student responsibility to maintain from the plan and follow up.

Accepting referrals through COM Care

Eligibility

Homeless

Unsheltered, living in a vehicle, living in a place not meant for human habitation

At Risk

Losing their living situation with no safe alternative.

• Enrolled students only - must show satisfactory progress and stay committed to their plan.

Not Eligible: apartment search, no emergency.

What are the steps?

• Submit COM Care
• Student sets appointment with Lia
• Begin housing intake form
• Connect with CAM’s outreach team- Enter CAM’s system
• Based on CAMs assessment - Enter process for temporary housing (emergency shelter, motel)
• Motel voucher wait time of 24 business hours, 3-4 days
• ONLY for extenuating circumstances.

IMPORTANT NOTE: College of Marin’s first time launching this kind of housing program. We are learning and developing as we go. This will not be instant, county support wait time is between 4-6 weeks.

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Resources

The following articles and pages provide resources and ideas to help you succeed:

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• Food Insecurity and Mental Health Status: A Global Analysis of 149 Countries

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• The Impact of Food Insecurity on Women's Mental Health

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• Meeting Basic Needs to Support Students' Mental Health and Success

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• California Community Colleges Basic Needs Survey Report

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• Struggling to Survive-Striving to Succeed: Food and Housing Insecurities in

the Community College

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• California Community Colleges #RealCollege Survey

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How to connect with key partners:�

• Community Action Marin�
• Center for Domestic Peace

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• SF/Marin Food Bank and/or CalFresh

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Questions?

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Thank you!

llaradomingue5002@marin.edu

Office line: 628-234-7401