Session 3 – Rethinking Connection: What Students Actually Respond To
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Series Summary
Join us for a timely and thought-provoking series exploring how community colleges can evolve their mental health and wellness strategies in an increasingly digital world. These sessions will examine the role of technology, social media, and culturally responsive practices in shaping the next generation of student mental health support.
Through real-world examples and actionable tools, participants will walk away with practical ways to reach students where they are—while staying grounded in connection, trust, and equity.
Session Description
As mental health needs among California community college students continue to rise, campuses are rethinking not just what services they offer but how they invite students into care. With nearly all students online yet still reporting increasing mental health needs, a critical gap has emerged. Communication strategies feel increasingly digital, but students are still looking for connection that feels human. In this training session, we’ll explore how diverse students actually want to be reached, examining preferences like texting over calling, group chats over emails, and peer referrals over flyers. We’ll highlight culturally grounded communication models that can help reframe outreach as a shared act of belonging, not just a service referral. And we’ll spotlight where connection is already happening in student clubs, affinity spaces, and classrooms. Together, we’ll map simple, scalable ways to center relationship-driven support even in a tech-saturated world.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe at least two culturally grounded models that can inform inclusive, relationship-based outreach strategies.
- Recognize the risks of defaulting to digital-only communication and propose ways to reintegrate connection through peer, classroom, or affinity group settings.
- Design or adapt one scalable, culturally responsive mental health communication strategy for your own campus role.
Meet the Presenter
Dr. Ritchie Rubio, PhD
Dr. Ritchie Rubio, PhD, is a clinical and research psychologist, systems leader, and equity advocate with over 25 years of experience in public health, education, and mental health systems across the Philippines, United States, and New Zealand. He currently serves as Director of Practice Improvement and Analytics for the Children, Youth, and Families System of Care at the San Francisco Department of Public Health. His work focuses on advancing trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices through implementation science, evaluation, and workforce development. Clinically, he specializes in supporting immigrant and multicultural children, youth, and families using an integrative approach that includes psychodynamic, family systems, expressive arts, and cognitive-behavioral therapies. He teaches as an adjunct professor at the Wright Institute, University of San Francisco, and Pepperdine University. Dr. Rubio also trains providers nationwide and internationally on trauma-informed telehealth and culturally grounded care. His publications and presentations address racial and ethnic disparities, culturally adapted care, and trauma healing practices. He has been recognized by the American Psychological Association with the 2023 Practice Award, 2024 Leadership in Education Award, and 2024 Teaching Excellence Award. A former Ford Foundation Fellow, he completed his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with a Child and Family emphasis at the California School of Professional Psychology. Originally from the Philippines, he immigrated to the U.S. at age 25 to pursue his doctoral studies.