VICTORIA COLLEGE COUNSELING CENTER (VCCC) GLS CAMPUS GRANT 2024-2027 - THE VICTORIA COLLEGE COUNSELING CENTER (VCCC) GLS CAMPUS GRANT PROJECT WILL SUPPORT THE MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE NEEDS OF THE VICTORIA COLLEGE STUDENT POPULATION BY IMPLEMENTING A STRATEGIC PLAN BASED ON THE "JED CAMPUS" PROGRAM. THE VCCC WILL SERVE AN ESTIMATED 190 STUDENTS PER YEAR AND 570 STUDENTS BY THE END OF THE PROJECT PERIOD FROM CALHOUN, DEWITT, GONZALES, JACKSON, LAVACA, REFUGIO, AND VICTORIA COUNTIES. VC ENROLLS A TOTAL OF AROUND 7,000 STUDENTS PER YEAR FROM THIS AREA, WHICH HAS A POPULATION OF JUST UNDER 200,000 PEOPLE. ALL COUNTIES IN THE SERVICE AREA ARE FEDERALLY-DESIGNATED MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AREAS. MORE THAN 42% OF AREA RESIDENTS ARE HISPANIC/LATINX. 61% OF VC'S FIRST-TIME STUDENTS ARE FIRST-GENERATION, A DEMOGRAPHIC THAT SUFFERS FROM MUCH GREATER MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. 42% OF VC STUDENTS ARE LOW-INCOME, AND 82% INDICATE THEY COULD NOT RECEIVE COUNSELING IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE VCCC'S FREE SERVICES. 73.5% HAVE REPORTED THAT THEY'VE CONSIDERED DROPPING A CLASS DUE TO MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. 49.75% HAVE VOICED ISSUES WITH SUICIDAL IDEATION, DEPRESSION, AND OTHER MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE ISSUES. ONLY 3.3% OF UNDERGRADUATES CURRENTLY USE THE VCCC'S SERVICES, DESPITE NATIONAL STATISTICS INDICATING 57% OF STUDENTS NEED COUNSELING. ONLY 23% OF VC'S COUNSELED STUDENTS ARE MALE, DESPITE MALES COMPRISING 34% OF THE STUDENT BODY. IN ORDER TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS' MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS, THIS PROJECT HAS TWO GOALS: *GOAL 1: INCREASE AWARENESS, ACCESS, AND USAGE OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AT VC FOR UNDERSERVED STUDENTS WITH BARRIERS. OBJECTIVES: • BY DECEMBER 31, 2024, A NEW EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE CURRICULUM WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN 100% OF COURSE SECTIONS OF THE FIRST-YEAR EXPERIENCE COURSE REQUIRED FOR NEW STUDENTS. • BY MAY 31, 2025, 100% OF MALE STUDENTS WHO HAVE OPTED TO RECEIVE VC COMMUNICATIONS WILL RECEIVE A TARGETED MARKETING CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE VCCC SERVICES. • BY MAY 31, 2026, VCCC WILL HAVE INCREASED STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH WORKSHOP/SEMINAR TOPICS COVERED BY ADDING 6 TOPICS, INCREASING THE TOPICS COVERED BY 100%. *GOAL 2: INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF THE VCCC TO MAKE RELEVANT AND POSITIVE SUSTAINABLE IMPACTS ON STUDENTS' ACADEMIC GOALS AFFECTED BY MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. OBJECTIVES: • BY JULY 31, 2026, VCCC WILL IMPLEMENT IMPLICIT BIAS & TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE TRAINING AND 15% OF VC EMPLOYEES WILL HAVE PARTICIPATED. • BY MAY 31, 2027, VCCC WILL HAVE CONDUCTED CROSS-DEPARTMENTAL TRAINING WITH 50% (1) MORE DEPARTMENTS THAT SUPPORT STUDENTS. • BY SEPTEMBER 30, 2027, QUESTION, PERSUADE, AND REFER (QPR) SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINING WILL BE MANDATORY AND COMPLETED BY 85% OF VC'S BENEFITS-ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES. *PROPOSED ACTIVITIES, STRATEGIES, AND INTERVENTIONS INCLUDE (1) CREATING A NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS; (2) SEEKING INPUT FROM RELEVANT STAKEHOLDERS FOR IMPLEMENTATION; (3) SCREENINGS, ASSESSMENTS, COUNSELING, AND REFERRAL SERVICES; (4) EVIDENCE-BASED TRAINING FOR FACULTY, STAFF, AND STUDENTS; (5) PROMOTING OF CRISIS SERVICES AND THE 988 LIFELINE; (6) STUDENT OUTREACH ABOUT RESOURCES AND SERVICES; (7) INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS PROMOTING AWARENESS AND RESILIENCY; (8) EDUCATIONAL STUDENT SEMINARS ALIGNED WITH CAMPUS INITIATIVES; (9) REDUCTION OF ACCESS TO LETHAL MEANS BY STUDENTS WITH SUICIDE RISK; (10) ASSESSMENT OF STUDENT HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER NEEDS; (11) PLANS FOR PREVENTION AND TREATMENT; AND (12) SERVICES WILL BE EVIDENCE-BASED, RECOVERY-ORIENTED, TRAUMA-INFORMED, AND EQUITY-BASED.