Health & Wellness Resources

Basic Needs Best Practices

Survey participants described best practices from their college or other CCCs for supporting students’ basic needs.

Basic Needs Center Toolkit

Basic needs insecurity directly impacts a student’s ability to succeed in college. Basic needs services are part of the non-academic supports that contribute to the third pillar of the colleges’ Guided Pathways, Help students stay on their path (Chancellor’s Office, … read more

Basic Needs Summary Report

In Fall 2017, the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) conducted a survey of the CCC system to learn what supports are available to help with students’ basic needs, such as food and housing. Survey respondents provided information about campus … read more

Breaking Down Barriers: Guidelines for California Community College Homeless Liaisons

This primer is designed to guide Homeless Youth Liaisons in their work. It also provides a starting point for faculty and staff to support students in California’s community colleges who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Information includes … read more

California Community Colleges Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Guidebook – Includes SNAP Application and Staple Food Guidelines

College student hunger is a pressing concern. Many CCC students are eligible for federal and state benefits programs, such as CalFresh, that can help them afford food and other necessities. Colleges can help by becoming EBT retailers, so that students … read more

Campus Basic Needs Webpages

This resource was developed based on the Fall 2017 California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) Basic Needs Survey. This spreadsheet includes survey respondents’ links to pages on their campus website where students can access food, housing, and essentials such as … read more

Foster Youth Success Initiative (FYSI) Liaisons Directory

Each of the CCCs has at least one FYSI Liaison to support students transitioning from foster care. This CCCCO webpage provides a listing of all FYSI Liaisons.

Homeless Youth Liaisons Directory

Survey participants gave the names and contact information of their campus Homeless Youth Liaison(s), whose role is to help students experiencing homelessness access financial aid and other resources.

Infographic: Supporting CC Students in Meeting Basic Needs

Many CCC campuses are engaging in innovative and collaborative efforts to support students experiencing food or housing insecurity. This infographic provides a brief overview of basic needs challenges that CCC students face. It also lists a wide array of strategies … read more

Meeting Basic Needs to Support Students’ Mental Health and Success

This fact sheet explains how unmet basic needs are detrimental to students’ mental health and academic success. It describes the extent of the problem in the CCCs and provides innovative strategies that campuses can implement.

Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Apps

Although typically seen as a time of celebration, for many the holiday season is a period of increased stress and anxiety. These stressors may be worse for some this year, as we navigate an unprecedented holiday season in the middle … read more

Mental Health Services Campus Directory

Are you looking for mental health services and counseling at your CCC? Are you hoping to find out what services are offered across the CCC system? This spreadsheet lists the mental health services webpage for each CCC. Updated May 2018.

Student Wellness Ambassador Social Media Guide

This quick guide is a social media roadmap for Student Wellness Ambassadors as well as other students who do mental health and wellness outreach for their college or student club. It offers key considerations for planning, posting, and evaluating social … read more

Supporting Students with an Undocumented Legal Status

This quick guide provides Student Ambassadors some strategies on engaging with students who may be undocumented on your campus to promote events on your campus, provide information to share on student mental health, and connect students on your campus with … read more

Video: Basic Needs – Helping Students Enroll in CalFresh

#RealCollege During the Pandemic

The COVID19 pandemic struck American higher education in March 2020. Campuses closed, students lost jobs, and emergency resources fell far short of their needs. This new report examines the impact on the security of students’ basic needs, as well as … read more

11 Tips for Maximizing Support for College Students with Experience in Foster Care and Homelessness

With vaccines available, and many campuses opening their doors for summer and the fall, planning for the next school year is complicated. Young people may need our help to make the best decisions possible. This resource by SchoolHouse Connection and … read more

2018–19 Student Expenses and Resources Survey: Initial Insights An Initial Look at the Obstacles Students Face Affording Higher Education

The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC), along with its partners the College Futures Foundation and Mathematica, has reinstated the triennial Student Expenses and Resources Survey (SEARS) in 2018-19, that sampled 150,000 California college students from all segments of higher education … read more

2022 Implementation Fact Sheet: Investment in Youth Homelessness

The 2022-23 California state budget includes funding for two mainstream homelessness programs with specified funding to address homelessness among youth: The Homekey Program and the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) Program. Information about these investments is included in budget … read more

A Step by Step Approach: Launching a Program for Food & Housing Insecure College Students

Written by John C.S. Kepner, advisor to the College Student Basic Needs Program and Trustee Board Member of Gwynedd Mercy University (GMercyU) in suburban Philadelphia. In this blog, John describes his journey of putting together a coalition of community-based organizations … read more