Strategic Plan

Overview

Thank you for visiting our strategic plan page for JED (VCU). As we work to ensure that we are addressing mental health needs at VCU, we will continuously update our strategic plan below. You will find our below action items marked as (complete, in progress, not started or ongoing). If you have questions or would like to know how we are addressing certain areas of mental health please email us at jed@vcu.edu and we will post your question (anonymously) to our FAQ's page with our response.

STRATEGIC PLANNING

Date Started: 11/12/18

Strategic planning allows schools to anticipate and evaluate clinical and programming needs, examine how they deploy both personnel and financial resources to address challenges, coordinate efforts across campus, and evaluate programming effectiveness.

Objective 1: Ensure that emotional well-being is a campus wide responsibility

 

Action Plan:

Implement campus wide educational campaigns that promote shared responsibility for student emotional well-being.

  • We are convening a summer 2018 data workgroup to review all of our existing data sources on VCU students’ mental health and wellbeing. Information from this and the Healthy Minds Survey that was administered in April 2018 will be used to craft an educational campaign that will be implemented during the 18-19 academic year. W will partner with VCU social media to implement the campaign. (In Progress)
  • (2/27/19) 
    • 4 Stall Seat Journals have been created which will go into 1400 stalls around the VCU community.
    • We also created banners and posters for our social marketing campaign in the Cary St Gym.
    • VCU Social media will start our JED campaign through all social media platforms in march.
    • Our JED Podcast for Mental Health will be coming out on March 20th, 2019 and March 27th, 2019. 

Ensure the campus community is aware of the JED Campus strategic plan and the work of the task force.

  • Launch the JED website. (Complete)

Identify Resources.

  • Review Final JED Action Plan; Consult with Leads for input; Develop budget projection for implementation. (Complete)

Develop and implement an assessment plan to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions or services implemented through the JED Campus Action Planning process.

  • Work with the Director of Assessment for the Division of Student Affairs to assess the overall JED plan.
  • JED is now a heavy focus within DSA, as it is one of our goals. So we are drafting an entire assessment plan.
    • The VCU Division of student affairs goal is: 1. Enable the university community to pursue a life of wellness to promote healthy behaviors.
    • 1.i. Students will demonstrate the skills necessary to engage in wellness opportunities of their choosing.
    • 1.ii. Students will exhibit positive and healthy behaviors in relation to one or more of the following: body image, coping skills, eating behaviors, emotional wellness, relationships, sexual health, stress management, and substance abuse.(In Progress)

Develop and implement an Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Strategic Plan.

  • The Wellness Resource Center is in the process of creating a strategic plan for alcohol and other drugs. (In progress)

Research the first year experience. (In Progress)

DEVELOP AND SUPPORT LIFE SKILLS

Date Started: 11/12/18

Supporting life skills education is valuable in teaching healthy ways to cope with the stress of college life. Some of the life skills that are important to a student's well-being include managing friendships and relationships, problem-solving, decision making, identifying and managing emotions, healthy living, and finding the purpose, meaning and identity.

Objective 1: Teach students the skills necessary to cope with the stresses of college life, make wise lifestyle choices, and be academically successful.

Action Plan:

Offer or enhance programming and/or groups on (drop down: e.g. communication skills, identifying and regulating emotions/promoting resilience, managing finances, conflict resolution, bystander training programs, relationship skills, sexual harassment/relationship violence, stalking bullying, and/or hazing) (In Progress)

  •  Work to condense all programming so it is not duplicated amongst departments and create a more cohesive approach to messaging.
    • At the same time, identify where it is helpful to have various access points for students
  • Put a call out to campus partners to determine what is already happening (Google sheet has been drafted for collection)
    • 10/1/18 emailed campus partners to see what programs are currently happening (Complete)

The Wellness Resource Center has assembled a team to create a Wellness Strategic Plan. This plan will outline offering or enhancing programming. (sleep, exercise, nutrition, etc.) (In Progress)

  • The Wellness Council is in the process of creating a strategic plan for wellness for VCU faculty, staff and students. 
    • The Wellness Council submitted a proposal to the Sr. Vice President of student affairs, calling for the President to task the Council with creating a strategic plan for wellness for all VCU campuses. 2/22/2019. This letter will then go to the Provost for review before it goes to the President of VCU. (In Progress)

Implement campaigns to educate the campus community about the links between physical and emotional health and academic success. (In Progress)

  • Work with students to create student messaging (Communications, Marketing, Retail Management programs)
    • Importance of student voice
    • Associate Director of the WRC is putting a group of students together to be our think tank for mental health programs. (Complete)
    • Mental Health Social Media Campaign end of Nov/Dec (Complete)
  • Identify key locations for outreach efforts and information (Complete)
  • Take advantage of current offerings to present (i.e. Faculty Learn at Lunch, HR workshop offerings, etc) (In Progress)

PROMOTE SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS

Date Started: 11/12/18

Research has shown that loneliness and isolation are significant risk factors for mental health problems and/or suicidal behavior. Therefore, supportive social relationships and feeling connected to campus, family and friends are protective factors that can help lower risk.

Objective 1: Teach students the skills necessary to cope with the stresses of college life, make wise lifestyle choices, and be academically successful.  

Action Plan:

Develop peer mentoring programming.

  • The Well launched a Peer Health Educator program  (9/10) (Complete)
  • The Well is in the process of working with Residential Life to have Peer Health Educators for different residential communities (In Progress) 

Develop proactive Action Steps to help identify disconnected/isolated students: Students of color, Commuter students, Transfer students, Non-traditionally aged or returning students. (In Progress)

  • The Well is in the process of putting up signage in all parking garages on the Monroe Park Campus and MCV Campus. (Completion by end of March)
  • We are starting a wellness advisory group for graduate students (In Progress)

Develop or enhance programs and activities to promote inclusion of disconnected/isolated students on campus. (In Progress)

  • The Well is in the process of putting up signage in all parking garages on the Monroe Park Campus and MCV Campus. (Completion by end of March)
  • We are starting a wellness advisory group for graduate students (In Progress)

IDENTIFY STUDENTS AT RISK

Date Started: 11/12/18

It is important to take action to identify students at risk for mental health problems and/or suicidal behavior, and also to promote emotional health awareness among those who interact with students the most - "gatekeepers" such as residence hall staff, academic advisors, faculty and even fellow students - as it is vital for these people to be able to recognize and refer a student who might be in distress.

Objective 1: Ensure incoming students with mental health and substance abuse histories are supported in their transition to college.

Objective 2: Provide robust screening opportunities at diverse touchpoints in the student experience.

Objective 3: Train campus community members to identify, reach out to, and refer students who may be struggling.

 

Action Plan:

Educate families of incoming students regarding mental health and substance use resources and services on campus. (Complete)

  • Provide information at Parent Orientation

    • The Wellness Resource Center had a open house for the F 18 Family Weekend. (Complete)
    • We will add a section for parents on our JED website that will include a list of resources. (Complete)

  • Undergraduate Students (Complete)

  • Provide information at New Student Orientation

  • Wellness Fair

  • The Division of Student Affairs has 35 mins with students at orientation and attend the Rams Resource Fair 

Graduate and Professional Students:  Identify which programs/services are available to graduate and professional students and where there are gaps. (In Progress)

  • Identify orientation programs all graduate students in the various programs to provide resources and supports 
  • Include links to resources/websites from each graduate programs’ webpage

  • Keep up-to-date list of resources

  • Ask Admissions if there is a protocol in reviewing applications where students are disclosing history of mental health issues and treatment history; what do they do about providing information about campus resources to incoming students with this history

Direct message new incoming students who self-identify with mental health and/or substance use history about services and resources on campus prior to arrival. (In Progress)

Request all new incoming students to submit a comprehensive medical history form including mental health and substance use history. (Complete)

Develop proactive Action Steps to help identify disconnected/isolated students. (Complete)

  • Offer Safe Xone Training and Green Zone Training 

Implement screening/wellness days focused on substance use and common mental health issues on a regular basis. (Complete)

  • Suggest more variety of staff outside of clinical staff to participate
  • Aim for screening at least annually, goal is regularly
  • marketing the various screening days

Undergraduate Students

  • Campaign for screening days-involve students such as SGA,PHEs (Peer Health Educators)
  • Advertise 1-2 weeks prior to screening days

Graduate Students

  • Provide outreach programs/tabling where Graduate students are
  • Advertise 1-2 weeks prior to screening days

Implement standardized screenings by health service clinicians at all primary care visits for substance use/misuse and common mental health problems. (Complete)

  • A initial screening at intake is conducted 

Develop, expand, or strengthen gatekeeper-training program for relevant campus faculty and staff in identifying, reaching out to, and referring students who may be struggling. (In Progress)

  • Look into selecting a suicide prevention training for VCU
    • Campus Connect
  • Train new staff and faculty with HR support (In Progress)
  • Expand training to VCU staff especially those with student contact (Complete)

Train students to identify, reach out to, and refer their friends/peers who may be struggling with mental health or substance issues. (Complete)

  • Expand trainings to student leaders and students in general about resources in identifying and referring other students struggling with mental health and substance issues
  • Develop trainings for signs of mental health awareness, increasing help seeking, destigmatization and the utilization of mental health services.  

INCREASE HELP SEEKING BEHAVIOR

Date Started: 11/12/18

Many students who need help may be reluctant or unsure of how to seek it out. Obstacles to help-seeking include lack of awareness of mental health services, skepticism about the effectiveness of treatment, prejudices associated with mental illness, and uncertainty about costs or insurance coverage. Campuses should engage in a variety of activities designed to increase the likelihood that a student in need will seek help.

Objective 1: Promote help-seeking behavior through destigmatization efforts and increased access to resource information.

 

Action Plan:

Ensure that counseling and health center websites are easily accessible for students. (Complete)

  • 2 clicks away from the home page ensure that all websites point back to UCS and HS resources and that all pages across campus for mental health have the same resources if they are promoting mental health resources through departments. - For offices that do not have this information on their page, it may be important to at least point back to UCS and HS.
  • Create a comprehensive mental health page.
  • Resources on and off-campus
    • National Resources
    • Mental Health Apps (Lantern)

Graduate and Professional Students:  Identify which programs/services are available to graduate and professional students and where there are gaps. (Complete)

  • Identify orientation programs all graduate students in the various programs to provide resources and supports
  • Include links to resources/websites from each graduate programs’ webpage

  • Keep an up-to-date list of resources

  • Ask Admissions if there is a protocol in reviewing applications where students are disclosing the history of mental health issues and treatment history; what do they do about providing information about campus resources to incoming students with this history

Develop proactive Action Steps to help identify disconnected/isolated students. (Complete)

  • Offer Safe Xone Training and Green Zone Training 

Cross-reference/link counseling center, health services and health education websites. (Complete)

Implement screening/wellness days focused on substance use and common mental health issues on a regular basis. (Complete)

  • Suggest more variety of staff outside of clinical staff to participate
  • Aim for screening at least annually, the goal is regularly
  • marketing the various screening days

Undergraduate Students. (Complete)

  • Campaign for screening days-involve students such as SGA, PHEs (Peer Health Educators)
  • Advertise 1-2 weeks prior to screening days

Graduate Students. (Complete)

  • Provide outreach programs/tabling where Graduate students are
  • Advertise 1-2 weeks prior to screening days

Implement standardized screenings by health service clinicians at all primary care visits for substance use/misuse and common mental health problems. (Complete)

  • An initial screening at intake is conducted 

Develop, expand, or strengthen the gatekeeper-training program for relevant campus faculty and staff in identifying, reaching out to, and referring students who may be struggling. (Complete)

  • Look into selecting a suicide prevention training for VCU
  • Train new staff and faculty with HR support
  • Expand training to VCU staff especially those with student contact

Train students to identify, reach out to, and refer their friends/peers who may be struggling with mental health or substance issues.  (Complete)

  • Expand training to student leaders and students in general about resources in identifying and referring other students struggling with mental health and substance issues
  • Develop trainings for signs of mental health awareness, increasing help-seeking, destigmatization and the utilization of mental health services. 

PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES

Date Started: 11/12/18

It is essential to offer accessible, consistent and high-quality mental health services to students. To make mental health and substance abuse care more comprehensive, it should include strong and flexible services, adequate staffing levels and staff diversity reflective of the student population, flexibility in treatment approaches, and clinic hours that are reflective of student schedules. Since most college clinics are free, the length of treatment is often limited. Therefore, it is important that campus mental health services can assist students in finding off-campus resources that can provide long-term care if needed.

Objective 1: Ensure leave policies and protocols best support students in distress.

Objective 2: Establish systems, protocols and processes that best coordinate necessary care for students.

Objective 3: Expedite, increase, and ensure access to all necessary clinical care services, including after-hours care.

Objective 4: Ensure substance abuse policies and protocols best support students

 

Action Plan:

Develop/refine a written medical leave of absence policy that is consistent with JED Campus recommendations. (Complete)

  • The Universities Biennial Report will be completed December 2018

Develop/refine a written return from leave protocol that is consistent with JED Campus recommendations. (Complete)

Develop/refine a written return from leave protocol that is consistent with JED campus recommendations.  (Complete)

Ensure that all leave policies are transparent and easily accessible to the campus community. (Complete)

Establish a central office to administer all leaves. (Complete)

Establish a system for coordination of care for shared patients between relevant campus service providers. (Complete)

  • University Counseling Services and Student Health Services 

Train primary health care providers on campus to assess, treat, and refer if needed for basic mental health and substance abuse concerns.  (Complete)

Collect data on student utilization and incidents on campus related to mental health/substance abuse.  (Complete)

Develop or refine MOUs with local services. (Complete)

Determine local resources & community providers. (Complete)

  • Identify local resources and community resources to assist with long-term care cases.
  • Establish and enhance relationships with local and community providers and services

Develop/refine a policy on alcohol and other drugs that is consistent with JED Campus recommendations. (Complete)

Develop/refine protocols for responding to alcohol and drug overdoses that are consistent with JED Campus recommendations. (Complete)

Publish all alcohol and other drug policies. (Complete)

Implement messaging campaigns designed to educate students about the risks and dangers of opiate misuse, including the effects with other substances. (In Progress)

  • Will start in April of 2019

Provide programs at orientation to educate new students about school policies regarding substance use. (Complete)

Implement strategically timed messaging campaigns to remind students about the risks and consequences of substance use/misuse. (Complete)

Develop/refine policies and protocols for prescription of opiates, tranquilizers (benzodiazepines and sleep medicines) and stimulants. (Complete)

Avail emergency Naloxone doses to those at risk for overdose (as permitted by local law). (Ongoing)

  • All VCU PD Officers are trained.
  • Training is offered through the Wellness Resource Center. 

FOLLOW CRISIS MANAGEMENT PROCEDURE

Date Started: 11/12/18

The campus should have access to a well-publicized 24/7 crisis phone and/or chat line either through campus resources or local/national services. There should be a process in place to share information (as legally appropriate) between local ERs and school health and/or counseling services.

Objective 1: Ensure an adequate and appropriate institutional response to student suicide, death, or other emergency.

Objective 2: Ensure that protocols are established for the reporting of, and follow-up for, emergency situations.

 

Action Plan:

Develop or refine postvention protocol to be consistent with the HEMHA (Higher Education Mental Health Alliance) guide. (Complete)

Ensure postvention protocol is easily accessible to relevant campus constituents. (Complete)

Convene annually to review/refine postvention response with relevant campus constituents. (Complete)

Promote information about how to report/get help for an emergency for both daytime and after-hours. (Complete)

  • Review emergency and crisis procedures to ensure they are comprehensive and up to date.  

    Implement changes as necessary

  • Ensure that all policies and procedures are accessible within 3 clicks of the VCU homepage.

Implement a case management system to help assure clinical follow up and continuity of care for student of concern. (Complete)

Develop/refine a family notification policy to be used in emergency situation. (Complete)

RESTRICT ACCESS TO POTENTIALLY LETHAL MEANS

Date Started: 11/12/18

It has been well established that if the means to self-harm are removed or limited in an environment, it can prevent suicide and even limit accidental deaths. This is called "means restriction. " Limiting students' access to weapons, poisonous chemicals and rooftops, windows or other high places are all means restriction activities. Each campus should do an environmental scan for potential access to lethal or dangerous means.

Objective 1: Proactively minimize environmental risks for suicide.

 

Action Plan:

Conduct an annual campus environmental scan to identify and mitigate access to lethal means.  (In Progress)

  • Paying special attention to cranes and building scaffolding that will be on campus.
  • Will be completed by the summer of 2019

Implement drug  collection/drug return programs for prescription medications on campus.  (Complete)

  • Bins are at Student Health Services