A spring 2020 update on programs and services for students
Advocates Program: Through our Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention and Services, we have hired five new 24-hour on-call advocates to assist survivors of sexual assault. These specialists are trained to respond to survivors’ needs, accompany them to sexual assault service centers, and guide them through the process of seeking care, including counseling, medical, forensic examinations, accommodation services in conjunction with the campus Title IX office, and appropriate follow-up care. Students may now access these services through the 213-740-9355 (WELL) line.
In addition to these positions, the office recently received a grant from the California Office of Emergency Services to create an LGBTQIA+ advocate position specifically serving the sexual assault prevention and care needs of this community. The grant—with partnering organization, YWCA of Greater Los Angeles—also provides for training and dedicated time from a DPS officer to better serve the needs of this community; this program is part of a larger consortium group that will meet regularly to infuse best practices of care into existing frameworks of health care delivery.
Extended hours for mental health care: Counseling and Mental Health services (on the 3rd floor) have expanded their UPC clinical service hours, adding evening appointment hours Monday-Thursday and Saturday hours (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.) This will create more convenient access for USC students on the undergraduate-serving campus.
Telehealth service for mental health is a covered benefit for students on the USC Student Health Insurance Plan (provided through Aetna.) The service, Inpathy, is available with a referral from Counseling and Mental Health Services and provides secure videochat sessions with a provider. http://bit.ly/onlinecounselingSHIP
Expanded flu outreach: With the increased level of influenza in Los Angeles County, USC Student Health has expanded community outreach on the UPC campus, through weekly Farmer’s Market outreach (Wednesdays, McCarthy Quad at UPC), outreaches in USC Village, and offerings of group immunizations “house calls” to student groups, residence halls, and dining facilities. This year, flu immunizations have nearly doubled from the previous year, from 35% to 77% of our student population, but we are always looking to increase flu immunization coverage of our students; we welcome inquiries to vaccinate students on-premise, contact studenthealth@usc.edu.
Virtual Dermatology service: Students who are referred to a dermatologist from a primary care visit now have faster and more convenient access to seeing a dermatology specialist through this new telehealth offering.
Physical therapy services: In a new partnership with the USC Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, physical therapy appointments are now available to students directly in the medical practices in USC Student Health (in patient care centers on floors 1 and 2) on the UPC campus. Students may access the appointment schedule directly through the student health patient portal, MySHR, available through studenthealth.usc.edu.
Opioid education and outreach: USC Student Health, in conjunction with the USC School of Pharmacy, is available to provide education and outreach to any student audiences who would like information on opioid prevalence and overdose prevention (through the emergency reversal drug, naloxone, brand name Narcan) in the U.S. Contact studenthealth@usc.edu to arrange for a prevention specialist to make an on-site presentation.
Datawalks of AAU Survey: Over the next few weeks, communities at USC will be invited to review and ask questions about the USC-specific data from the recent AAU Survey on Sexual Assault and Sexual Misconduct. For an updated schedule of datawalks, or to invite teams to present data to a school community, please contact hpstrategy@usc.edu. Feedback from communities will be shared with the AAU Task Force as they prepare to release a report and recommendations later this spring.
As always, we welcome your partnership in promoting a healthy campus and supporting the well-being of all USC students. Please feel free to reach out to me on these or other health and well-being concerns.
