Happy Holidays! Be well!

The Connection CenterTechnology Center, 3rd Floor, Rm. 8372

Joe Falco, LMFT, Coordinatorlifehaps@sunyrockland.edu Rockland Community College145 College Road Suffern, NY 10901845-574-4414

Program DesignWe rely on Interns and Volunteers to maintain a low-overhead cost for the College:

Spring 2018: CoordinatorProfessional CounselorGraduate Level Mental Health Counseling Interns (4)PSY InternFederal Work Study Student WorkersRSVP Volunteers (3)

92% of students who visit the Connection Center find our services helpful. 92% of students who visit the Connection Center would refer others to the Center when Life Happens.

How do students/families find out about the Connection Center?Accessibilities Chat & Chew, Adjunct Start-up, ClubFest, College Open House, Elevator Speeches,

Evening Star, Health & Wellness Fair, Honors Orientation, International Orientation, SOAR, Student Athlete Wellness Workshop, Student Services Information Fair (PASS) Program, Syllabi, Table Talks with President

Baston, Volunteer Fair, Welcome Week, Wellness Lunch & Learn, Wind-up, Website, Instagram, Twitter,Facebook, RCC-TV, & lifehaps@sunyrockland.edu

Program Design Fall 2017

Elevator Speeches 416

Problem Solving When Life Happens Workshops 147

Individual Counseling 100+

Discussion Groups; De-stress When Life Happens & LGBT+ 37

SNAP Assistance; Partnership with Catholic Charities

“It’s in the Bag”; Partnership with People to People 20/week

Monthly Nutrition Workshops; Partnership with Cornell Cooperative Extension-Eat Smart NY

Staff on-campus Food Cupboard up to 50/week Average in Spring 2018 from 30-35

Fundraise, Process, Distribute, and Perform Intakes for Student Food Voucher Program 59 intakes Spring 2018; food insecure students request, on average, 2-3 meals/week

Program Design (continued) Clothes Racks-Main Campus & Haverstraw Center 2 Bus Passes/Tickets Maintain close connection with students awarded President Student

Support Funds Perform outreach to students with $0 Expected Family Contribution.

Proactive instead of reactive. Begin helping students during the onboarding process.

Community Partners 30+

By the Numbers More than 70% of students who visited the Connection

Center completed ½ or more of their attempted credits (Sep 2016-May 2017).

Late Withdrawals decreased by 23.5% on average, due to non-academic, life happens reasons (Sep 2016-May 2017).

Giveaways & Programming Table tags, stress balls, table tents, table

skirt, wall decal, bi-fold business cards,table skirts, fidget spinners, posters, Community Program Booklets, created and blanketed

Chris Herren Community Event in October-400 attendees

Digitally Distracted: Parenting in the Age of Technology

Youth Mental Health First Aid Workshops

Reversing the Stigma

Testimonials“The [De-stress] group meeting was such an awesome experience. Such nice people and good vibes. The two counselors holding the meeting were great. At first I was nervous and quiet. Then I warmed-up and talked a good amount. I think going to this was really good for me. I can see that I am not alone. We all have our struggles and cope differently. A lot of us are the same. Really great group so, so happy I went. Thank you for telling me about this. I will be going again next Tuesday for sure.”

Testimonials

“Joe, I don't have the words to express my appreciation for you…serving students in crisis at RCC. I want also to say thanks to the staff of respite [Loeb House, Inc.] who treated me well with respect and consideration. I will have them, you…in my heart forever.”

“We often attribute the downs in our life to stress from classes and social/financial issues around us. Sometimes we need to take a moment, to control the blur that college life is. I also recommend checking out the Connection Center at RCC, the De-stress group discussions may be just what you need to give you that moment to see the big picture.”