2024 Conference Breakout SessionsDates and times for all sessions listed will be assigned in the near future, sessions are listed in alphabetical order.Session Title: At the Crossroads of Collaboration: Recreation-based Approach to Promoting Student Well-being Presenter(s): Tiffany O'Meara - University of California, San Diego Tessa Opperman - University of California, San Diego Erin Bartelma - University of California, San Diego Alyssa Hufana - CSU Long Beach Abstract: Recent studies suggest an increase of mental health concerns and demands amongst US college students, with the impact of the pandemic exacerbating these issues. Calls to build community and increase access to mental health services necessitate a shift in traditional models of mental health programming to increase a sense of belonging on campus. At UC San Diego, we met at the crossroads of our strengths between Counseling and Psychological Services and Recreation to design innovative outreach programs through our Tritons Flourish initiative. This umbrella of outreach programming aims to improve student well-being through combining recreation activities with mental health discussions. Based on research from the field of positive psychology, our collaborative offerings emphasize social connectedness and mindfulness, all while integrating the benefits of spending time in nature and outdoor recreation such as camping, rock climbing and high-ropes course experiences. In this session, we will present our collaborative program as a model for promoting novel methods for enhancing mental well-being on college campuses. Join us to hear more about the profound positive impact students have shared about their experiences as well as how we are planning to expand programming to serve various communities across campus. Learning Objectives:
Session Title: Celebrate Good Times: Finding Joy & Triumph in Building a Multicultural Mental Health Program to Dismantle Oppressive Systems and Structures to Support BIPOC Mental Health. Presenter(s): Jessica Mitchell-Corsino - BGSU Counseling Center Phylicia Currence - UNC Charlotte Abstract: We've seen the stats and we know what's up! BIPOC students are less likely to seek mental health supports on campuses and are often lacking community at predominately white institutions (PWI's). The BGSU Counseling Center & UNC Charlotte Counseling Center welcomes you to explore the ways in which they are supporting BIPOC mental health through their multicultural mental health programs. Learning Objectives:
Session Title: Centering Social Justice, Belonging, and Inclusion for Sexual Minorities of Color in Predominant White Heterosexual Institutions Presenter(s): Abstract: Sexual minorities of color (i.e., LGBQ+ of color) are a multifarious group with unique strengths and cultural experiences. At the same time, they often have many hurdles they must overcome because of how college/university institutions are systematically structured. Current structures like academic curriculum, residential life, and the general campus climate tend to thwart student sexual minorities of color sense of belonging and inclusion. Mainly because college institutions don't center student sexual minorities of color needs. Thus, this presentation will 1) center social justice practices to deconstruct structures that thwart students' sense of belonging and inclusion, 2) outline factors that promote exclusion and inhibit students' sense of belonging along with emphasizing practices that can promote sense of belonging, and 3) provide tools and directions to create campus culture change at predominant white heterosexual institutions. Attendees will be provided with a cultural context of who are student sexual minorities of color, as well as common concerns they experience. Attendees will also learn how to capitalize on students' strengths to cultivate a presence of security/safety, acceptance, and support where students can be authentic and flourish. Implications for outreach will consists of clinical individual and meso-level efforts and advocacy efforts. Learning Objectives:
Session Title: Centering Student Voices in the Classroom: A Co-Created Mental Health Course for Students, by Students + UCCs Presenter(s): Bayo Collins - Abstract: Many college counseling centers aim to support the mental health and holistic well being of students, given the multilayered nature of students' distress. However, students face many barriers in their efforts to receive support, which may include mental health stigma, mistrust, and limited time and resources. In this session, we will discuss how UCCs can co-create a mental health course for students, by students, and with the support of staff and faculty. Considering the academic distress, interpersonal concerns, and other issues students experience, it may be beneficial for students to cultivate strategies to manage distress symptoms. Mental health courses can provide students the opportunity to tend to their mental well-being in community with their peers, while still receiving credit for doing so. The presenter will share their experience of building relationships with undergraduate students and fostering cross-departmental alliances in order to co-create a discussion-based, experiential course designed to help students learn/apply knowledge of holistic health through psychoeducation, contemplative practices, and group discussion. Learning Objectives:
Session Title: Crossing over into the classroom: Meeting student needs through instructors' communities Presenter(s): Rachel Gilmore - University of South Florida Abstract: The Center for Collegiate Mental Health (CCMH) data suggests that students are feeling lonely and unsupported in their learning environments and it's affecting their success in college in and out of the classroom. The University of South Florida Counseling Center and Center for Teaching Learning (CITL) have been working to identify opportunities to intentionally improve the classroom environment for warmth, security, and fostering self-efficacy and connection. Getting more reach with this campus partner, CITL has over 300 faculty members who were surveyed about areas members feel particularly challenged and invited to a series of three mental-health focused workshops. Sessions were designed to address their reported challenges and cover strategies for advocating for, and continuing to provide, outreach services to classroom instructors to facilitate more mental health awareness and peer-to-peer communication and feelings of belonging. Instructors are provided with a QR coded Qualtrics version of Dr. Gary Glass' Confidence Survey to give at the onset of the semester as well as the end of the semester, which they will take themselves, to assess and evaluate whether students and instructors' confidence grows over the span of the semester (with a control group including those who do not attend the workshop series.) Learning Objectives:
Session Title: Crossroads of Peer Education: An Intersectional Family Business Approach to Sustainable University Outreach Presenter(s): Emily Connell - University of Miami Abstract: This presentation will highlight the consistent success of the University of Miami Counseling Center's "family business" model for peer education program development. Advisors of COPE (Counseling Outreach Peer Education) utilize an intersectional leadership approach that emphasizes the well-being and connectivity of our peer educators, fosters a productive learning environment, and maximizes the programming impact made in the UM community. A peer educator must possess abilities to connect with all students, organize meaningful engagement, provide digestible education, and serve as a role model to fellow students. Many challenges that peer education groups face involve issues surrounding internal group functioning such as member retention, lack of morale, group (and individual) identity exploration, and holding members accountable to meet increasing outreach demands. Similar to professional staff, student volunteers serving the campus community may compromise their well-being to meet the outreach demand. The thirteen plus year evolution of COPE's organizational structure will be shared including lessons learned and major accomplishments celebrated. Facilitators will review practical strategies to create a supportive learning environment and provide guidance and opportunities for developing your peer education family business model. Learning Objectives:
Session Title: Cultivating community away from home: Supporting Native American students' mind, body, and spirit Presenter(s): Wahieñhawi Hall - Cornell University Abstract: Native Americans who attend college often find themselves in environments that are missing key components of community causing difficulty with adjustment, retraumatization, and culture shock, which ultimately leads to low retention rates. Join two female Native American therapists in a deep dive into the ways they currently support Native American students, and learn strategies you can use in your outreach programming to build Native community and improve retention of Native students on your campus. The presenters will begin with a review of identity within the Native American community and highlight the importance of these considerations in your work with Native students. Next, the presenters will describe effective mental health interventions (Gone & Alcántara, 2007) used to counter experiences of marginalization and create experiences of mattering (Schlossberg, 1989). Finally, interactive learning will occur to support non-Native mental health providers in learning strategies to decolonize their outreach efforts and use their privilege and positioning within the university to increase inclusivity and belonging for Native American students. Learning Objectives:
Session Title: Cultural Responsive Strategies for Support: Fostering Inclusivity, Community Engagement, and Mental Wellbeing for International Students Presenter(s): Tianyi Xie - University of Iowa Shinong Ji - Cornell University Tongyu Zhou - Purdue University Abstract: In the post-COVID landscape of higher education, international students in the U.S. are facing unprecedented mental health challenges. Recent research highlighted heightened rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidal tendencies among international students, coupled with low rates of help-seeking and service utilization due to stigmas and a lack of mental health awareness or institutional knowledge (Alavi et al., 2014; CCMH, 2023; Keum et al., 2022; Lipson et al., 2018; Maeshima & Parent, 2022; Yeung et al., 2022). The diverse composition of the international student body and the increasingly volatile geopolitical events underscores a necessity to create culturally responsive strategies (Kawamoto et al., 2018). Our workshop presents a collaboration across four college counseling centers, each with its own unique features. Through the utilization of a comparative narrative approach, we aim to analyze the distinct university infrastructures and outreach initiatives implemented at each institution, as well as to spotlight effective strategies to engage and educate key stakeholders on campus to address the unique mental health needs of international student groups (Wei et al., 2012; Poyrazli, 2015). We hope to offer empirical insights and practical recommendations to foster more inclusive, understanding, and culturally competent support systems for international students in the U.S. Learning Objectives:
Session Title: Dungeons & Dragons & Therapy Presenter(s): Heather Walders - University of South Florida Abstract: There is increasing research to support utilizing a process group that integrates Table-Top Role-Playing Games (TTRPGs) to promote growth of individual, social, and cognitive skill proficiency. The intended goal of this type of group is to utilize a table-top roleplaying game, Critical Core, which based on Dungeons and Dragons (D&D), as a therapeutic modality for individuals. Critical Core is a table-top role-playing game (TTRPG), meaning that players create and take on fictional characters that implement their actions in a fantasy world (Blackmon, 1994). The group combines Critical Core game play with identity growth. This group is intended for members that are wanting to develop and expand their identity. This may include new exploration of identity related to gender, age, sexual orientation, culture, and etc., as well as building upon aspects of identity that already exist, but are not fully developed. Participants utilize their characters and team building to explore identity growth and development. The tool Critical Core is used to facilitate the gaming world. Critical Core is a D&D modeled therapeutic intervention developed by Game to Grow. Learning Objectives:
Session Title: Ideas, strategies and tips on how to implement a successful campus wide mental health awareness event: learn about University of Houston - Clear Lake success with Jordan Porco Foundation's Fresh Check Day. Presenter(s): Abstract: Suicide and mental health issues are concerns for young adults and college age students. CDC states that suicide is the leading cause of death for teens and young adults (2022). Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) also reported that 1 in 3 (30.6%) young adults between the ages of 18-24 experienced a mental, behavioral or emotional health issues in the past year (2021). Due to these concerns, University of Houston – Clear Lake (UHCL) selected the Jordan Porco Foundation's signature program Fresh Check Day to implement on our campus. The goals of Fresh Check Day are to increase awareness of mental health resources, reduce stigma and misconceptions around mental health that deter individuals from seeking help, empower peers to help friends who may be exhibiting signs of mental health concern and increase willingness to ask for help (Jordan Porco Foundation, 2024). This session will focus on recruitment strategies and logistical tips for the counseling center to form meaningful collaborations with campus partners, student groups and community agencies in order to create a successful outreach event. An impactful Fresh Check Day will promote a welcoming, inclusive community and connect students to resources in a fun, nonjudgmental and energetic environment. Learning Objectives:
Session Title: Leading Campus Culture Change Following Loss: The Link between Prevention, Outreach, and Collaboration Presenter(s): Rebecca Brown - North Carolina State University Abstract: This presentation offers a comprehensive overview of collaborative and innovative initiatives shaping our campus culture to support student well-being. A data-driven needs assessment guides the adoption of best practices for effective prevention. Our commitment to fostering a culture of care involves building meaningful relationships with campus partners and students following loss. We share innovative strategies seamlessly linking prevention efforts, outreach, and tailored interventions to impact campus culture. Pertinent statistics from the ACHA Spring 2022 report highlight the pressing need for creative interventions, especially following 14 student deaths, including 7 by suicide at NC State University in 2022-2023. Recognizing connectedness as a protective factor, we emphasize creating a caring culture through resource provision and innovative outreach, addressing unique mental health challenges. This presentation underscores our pivotal role in supporting students' mental health within a collaborative university environment to mitigate the impact of loss. By strategically integrating these efforts, we aim to underscore our role in addressing the unique challenges faced by students, particularly in the realm of mental health and well-being. The importance of fostering a supportive and collaborative environment within the university community is highlighted as a means to navigate and alleviate the impact of loss on our students. Learning Objectives:
Session Title: Meet Me at the Crossroads: Developing and Implementing Outreach Events for BIPOC LGBTQIA+ Students Presenter(s): Robbie Luten - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Carlton Cummings - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Abstract: This workshop briefly introduces the need for outreach events that focus on facilitating connection, community, and mental health among students who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) as well as historically marginalized gender and sexual minorities (LGBTQIA+). Outreach initiatives that are focused on identities historically focus on one identity at once rather than the intersection of multiple identities. For BIPOC LGBTQIA+ students, this contributes to a gap in facilitating much needed connection based on the unique needs derived from the social challenges of having multiple marginalized identities. In this workshop, participants will discuss the benefits of outreach programming specifically for BIPOC LGBTQIA+ students and the social and systemic barriers that prevent the development of a sense of community. This workshop also plans to discuss the barriers and challenges to developing and implementing outreach for historically underrepresented and marginalized communities. The final aspect of this workshop will focus on the process of implementing outreach programming for students who live in the BIPOC LGBTQIA+ intersectionality. Learning Objectives:
Session Title: Navigating Political Polarization as Outreachers: Strategies, Challenges, and Inclusive Practices Presenter(s): Megan Fernandes - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Rebecca Schlesinger - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Abstract: Universities and colleges have a longstanding history of being at the helm for political activism and dialogue surrounding local, national, and global political events. While these can offer unique opportunities for perspective-taking and student learning, they can also bring personal and community distress with conflict and derision. As fellow outreachers embedded in communities, we share this presentation to explore the interventions and considerations for ourselves, our units, our trainees, and our students as we navigate outreach work in the wake of political events. In this presentation, we propose to validate the need for outreachers to hold space for our own internal stressors and balance the desire to support our students and campus community. Participants will also have an opportunity to identify strengths and barriers on their home campus community. Utilizing evidence-based resources, we will discuss how to navigate conflict, support students at various levels, and make space for situations that are not open to change. Learning Objectives:
Session Title: Out Here Grindin': How To Maximize State Grant Funds to Create Innovative Programming for Your Students Presenter(s): Jessica Mitchell-Corsino - Bowling Green State University Abstract: Have you ever wondered what to do with grant money that maximizes the funds and creates excellent mental health programming for your students? The BGSU Counseling Center will discuss how they utilized state funds to create a myriad of programming for their students including the Ascend Program (IOP), Collective Community Multicultural Mental Health Program, Psychological Testing, Equine Therapy, expansion of Outreach Groups to physical and mental health groups, Online Gaming groups plus more! Learning Objectives:
Session Title: Spill the Tea: Using Narrative and Qualitative Measures to Assess Outreach to Marginalized Communities Presenter(s): Peter Oduwole - The Ohio State University Ven Palmieri - The Ohio State University Destiny Randall - The Ohio State University Abstract: This presentation will address how outreachers can draw on principles of storytelling to provide outreach for students with marginalized identities and to advocate for outreach programming that targets smaller groups of marginalized students. Presenters will challenge the historically numbers-driven standards of success in outreach by presenting qualitative analysis as a more relevant and inclusive alternative for targeted outreach with smaller populations of marginalized students. Using qualitative data analysis strategies, presenters will address how outreachers can measure the effectiveness outreach programs that use storytelling as an intervention, as well as address how to use qualitative data to advocate for continued tailored outreach to marginalized populations. The presenters will also review the impacts of targeted outreach from student voices, with real-world examples from the presenters' experience working with students of color, students with disabilities, and LGBTQ students. Learning Objectives:
Session Title: The Impact of the 2007 Virginia Tech Shooting and Early 21st Century Environmental Changes on Collegiate Mental Health: Where We Have Been, What We Learned, and How We Adapted Presenter(s): Emma Hare - Virginia Tech Abstract: The continued national focus on college students' mental health is understandable due to the increasing number of students with mental health concerns. In 2021, the Healthy Minds Network reported that 60% of students met the criteria for one or more mental health problems. This was a notable increase from 50% in 2013 (Lipson et al. 2022). In response to the events of the early part of the 21st century, college counseling centers have had to change the ways services are delivered. Events that have influenced the way services have been delivered include the stress trifecta of the pandemic, racial unrest, and politics. In addition to these are the increased demands for services and increasing diversity of the college student population. Some of the changes that have been implemented are administrative and collaborative in nature. Others have been new approaches of providing services to students and these include "Let's Talk" and the embedded counseling model, among others. This presentation will provide a chronology of events that have influenced services offered by college counseling centers and the ways in which Virginia Tech's Cook Counseling Center utilized outreach to adapt to these events and the impact of the 2007 campus shooting. Learning Objectives:
Session Title: The Power of Student Engagement: How Integrating Student Voices Can Help Shape Outreach Initiatives Presenter(s): Kallie Kobold - Baylor University Rebecca Schlesinger - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Abstract: As outreachers, our ongoing commitment revolves mindfully aligning our strategies with the evolving needs of diverse student populations. In the age of TikTok, socio-political events, and meme culture, maintaining both relevance and accessibility to students poses an ongoing challenge. Recognizing the growing desire of students to actively participate in prevention efforts, provide peer support, and acquire skills for navigating mental health challenges, we aim to explore innovative approaches that our centers use to capture and integrate student voices into our outreach initiatives. Building on the insights articulated by Schoen, Clougher, & Wiese (2020), we emphasize the integral value of not exclusively concentrating on students grappling with concerns but also fostering a collaborative engagement with their peers. This approach, as expounded in eating disorder prevention initiatives, underscores the potency of peer-to-peer programming, a theme we delve into during our discussion. Join us as we discuss considerations for incorporating students into programming design and implementation, producing outreach endeavors that are influenced by and developed for students across our three university campuses. Learning Objectives:
Session Title: The Role of Outreach after Michigan State University's Campus Shooting: Reflections and Recommendations Presenter(s): Sarah Fay-Koutz - Michigan State University's Counseling and Psychiatric Services Swapna Hingwe - Michigan State University's Counseling and Psychiatric Services Yvonne Connelly - Michigan State University's Counseling and Psychiatric Services Abstract: February 13, 2023 will forever mark the campus history of Michigan State University. The shooting took the lives of three students and critically wounded five others while thousands of MSU community members experienced posttraumatic symptoms to varying degrees. The need for mental health support across campus necessitated a swift and broad outreach response. MSU CAPS, and more specifically Outreach Committee members, staffed many of the requests. Mental health providers from other departments and off campus also provided outreach assistance. Crisis response occurred in multiple settings to varied audiences. In this session, members of the MSU CAPS Outreach Committee will define and review the outreach response to the campus shooting at MSU and share recommendations for other institutions of higher education. The cultural and systemic considerations for students and staff following a campus wide emergency will be explored, with special attention to staff well-being. The role of university messaging and perceived expectations of mental health providers will also be discussed. Learning Objectives:
Session Title: Utilizing Embedded Therapists to Build Relationships and Create Targeted Outreach Based on Each Program's Individualized Needs Presenter(s): Abstract: Research demonstrates the value of outreach as an important service offered by college counseling centers and how outreach allows opportunities to get in front of students who might not otherwise engage with the clinic. Research also shows the increase in recent years of embedding therapists in various departments and schools around campus at universities across the nation. These embedded roles provide an opportunity for the development of relationships, which lead to a deeper understanding of the specific population(s) being served and how to meet their needs with targeted outreach. The University of Colorado Boulder's (CU Boulder) Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS) started embedding providers in 2018, and in 2020, was granted funding to provide an Embedded Therapist for each of the ten academic centers on campus. Highlighting how the identified values that guide the Embedded Program at CU Boulder CAPS have led to interdepartmental collaborations, fostering of strong relationships, and a better understanding of the needs of each program will be discussed. Specific outreach services offered in the various schools will be shared. The discussion will include some of the roadblocks the Embedded Program has faced and how those challenges have been navigated. Learning Objectives:
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