Exemplary Program Award Submission
1. Describe the indicators of overall program success
The WELL is revolutionizing California Community College health and wellness practices by being the first California Community College “free standing” wellness center offering holistic health and wellness workshops, skill building groups, group counseling, and events to their Student Health & Wellness Services Program. The WELL in 22 months has created and implemented a progressive wellness program that has become a beacon of support, healing, and innovation for the diverse SBCC student community. The WELL has had an interactive virtual presence, www.thewellsbcc.com since its inception in January 2019 and its virtual educational model proved imperative with the onset of Covid-19. The WELL seamlessly transitioned its in person program fully to its virtual platform in order to ensure students equitable access to health and wellness education through remote learning. The WELL has achieved 5,958 unique student users utilizing its website to gain resources and services from January to October 2020. The WELL has successfully offered 16 digital health and wellness workshops, group counseling, and skill building groups with a total of 72 sessions through Zoom in 2020. The WELL saw across our various workshop and skill building groups a 2x increase in attendance since fully transitioning to a virtual environment.
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2. Describe the identified need for the program and the innovative solution that was implemented
With the increase in mental health challenges among college students during Covid-19, The WELL took the innovative step to convert its in person program into an interactive virtual environment and expanded programming to include a digital library of health and wellness resources that could be accessed 24/7.
The WELL created a Staying-In Self Care Kit for students to gain new wellness tools, self care methods, stress management techniques, and creativity boosters which to date has helped 2,083 students. The WELL created a Digital Health & Wellness Series which provides a range of educational videos facilitated by SBCC staff, community health and wellness professionals, creatives, and educators. The series empowers students to take care of their health during times of high stress and anxiety and retain continuity in their wellness journey during the pandemic. Videos include: Vaquero Well -How To Stay Healthy, Hopeful, & Safe During Covid-19, Plant Remedies for Self Care & Relaxation, Lyrical Healing, and Keep Well, By Eating Well which has helped to date 1,186 students. An Alternative Activity Guide for students to find nourishing ideas for their time off of school and the Student Stories for Wellness & Resiliency Blog helped 870 students.
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3. Explain how the program collaborates with other programs on campus or within the community
The WELL has successfully partnered with 24 SBCC departments and programs and 10 community service providers to create impactful digital programming for students. In response to the murder of George Floyd in summer 2020, The WELL partnered with SBCC’s Office of Equity, Diversity, & Cultural Competency and its two equity programs to offer virtual support groups for students to build community, gain emotional support and healing, discuss intersectional activism, and gain multicultural coping strategies.
The WELL partnered with SBCC’s Disability Services & Programs for Students and the non-profit Art with Impact to provide a 90 minute virtual workshop called Movies for Mental Health. The workshop used the power of film to reduce stigma around mental health differences and create a supportive virtual environment for students to discuss mental wellness and gain support resources. A student survey reported, 97% of participants felt the workshop created awareness of mental health issues and 91% of attendees said the workshop helped them confront and address stigma related to mental illness.
The WELL is also part of the YouthWell Coalition which brings over 40 SB local schools, mental health agencies, and medical providers together to work on leveraging mental health partnerships and prioritizing early intervention and prevention.
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4. Describe how the program supports the principles of your college’s mission statement
The WELL was created to ensure the diverse SBCC student community feels heard, respected, and encouraged to gain the vital knowledge, tools, and support to move toward optimal health and wellness. The WELL’s virtual educational environment supports the SBCC’s mission statement in that it “provides students a diverse learning environment that inspires curiosity and discovery.” The WELL focuses on empowering students to take control of their health and be inquisitive and proactive in developing wellness tools for interpersonal growth and healing. A program survey captured, The WELL’s “a good place to come together with others who are interested in mental health in a stigma-free environment.” The WELL’s digital model has helped remove the barriers to gaining access to mental health and wellness services for the SBCC student community. Dr. Daniel Silverman states, “Health creates capacity. Students whose health status is positive and flourishing have greater ability to learn.”
SBCC’s mission statement also states it “strives to build a socially conscious community where knowledge and respect empower individuals to transform our world.” One of the WELL’s Four Founding Principles, Longevity, encourages advocacy and support efforts for social and cultural change around health and wellness and encourages students to be lifelong learners.
5. Explain how this program can be a model for other community colleges addressing such issues as costs and replication
With more than 2.1 million students on 116 campuses, the California Community Colleges is the largest system of higher education in the United States and could become a leader in college preventative health and wellness with the implementation of The WELL’s virtual health and wellness education model. The WELL has created a comprehensive blueprint for community colleges to incorporate into their own health and wellness offerings.
It is The WELL’s goal to share its innovative health and wellness online platform, workshop and support group curriculum, digital marketing tools and materials (i.e. social media communications, email templates, videos, and flyers) with interested California community colleges. Each Community College could adapt the curriculum and resources to meet the needs of their specific student populations and continuously enhance the shared central WELL digital library with new content.
The WELL would partner with the Health Services Association of California Community Colleges and the Foundation of CCC’s to make The WELL model available to all colleges. The WELL is scheduled to present its digital wellness program at HSACCC’s annual meeting in February 2021. With securing strong partnerships and having a virtual model there would be little to no cost to replicate.
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