In a time when health services are extremely expensive, Moorpark College understands that many of their students aren’t in a place financially where they can afford certain health programs.
As a solution, students pay a $26 health fee every semester which grants them access to the Student Health Center. Here, students can receive medical services, psychological counseling, immunizations and participate in wellness programs.
Located in the Administration Building, Room 111, visitors are greeted by pamphlets of information and resources, as well as bins of free supplies including COVID-19 tests, band-aids and much more. Students are then welcome to talk to case managers and make appointments to meet with RNs, nurse practitioners or physicians depending on their situation.
Moorpark College Student Health Center Coordinator Allison Barton heads the program and is committed to educating students on the several branches of care available to them.
“We do immunizations, TB testing and things like that too, so we have a wide variety of medical services that we provide,” Barton said. “Then we also have mental health services. We have a lot of providers now which is wonderful, and students that are actively enrolled in school have access to up to six free sessions of counseling per semester.”
Medical and counseling records within the Student Health Center are kept confidential, with legal constraints, and are separate from students’ academic records and parents.
“Not only do we not talk to parents, but we can’t really talk to parents,” Barton explained. “So that’s an important thing to be aware of. The other thing that students really like to know is that there’s no connection between their medical record and their school record.”
Students are also available to confidentially access sexual health resources, including birth control options and pregnancy tests through the Family Pact program. Family planning, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections are also available.
According to Barton, 95% of Moorpark College students qualify for Family Pact services due to eligibility being based on the student’s income and not their parents.
Briauna Person, a third-year psychology major at Moorpark College, spoke about her experience utilizing some of the Family Pact services provided at the Student Health Center.
“It’s absolutely amazing, especially with the Family Pact program,” Person shared. “I get my birth control free from it, and they helped me with mental health with getting on antidepressants; also free with the program. As well, they helped me set up appointments with the counselors they have.”
Person further stressed the positive impact of having these resources available for college students.
“Mental and sexual health is so important, especially with school and young adults and it’s easily accessible here with no judgment,” Person explained. “It’s honestly going to be the thing I miss most about the campus when I transfer.”
The Student Health Center also makes it a priority to partake in campus events to promote their services to students.
On the first day of the spring Club Rush and Student Services Fair on Feb. 14, Jasmine Betka, a health educator of the Student Health Center, taught the importance of sexual health at the “Safer Sex Event” alongside ASMC.
Attendees were able to assemble their own safer sex kits, which were small tin boxes that students were able to fill with various contraceptives and small pamphlets that included more information about the Student Health Center.
Betka spoke about the importance of bringing this event to Moorpark College for Valentine’s Day.
“I think it’s important to build the safer sex kits because it allows people to get what they need for safer sex, has information on wellness in general, healthy relationships and more,” Betka said.
For those seeking mental health counseling, all students can receive up to six counseling sessions per semester with licensed psychologists. These sessions are 45 minutes in duration, completely confidential and free.
“It is a short-term counseling style, so if a student feels like they need more sessions, the center is able to help them find a long-term solution,” Barton said.
If a student needs higher-level mental health care, case managers immediately start working to connect them with local, affordable resources.
“We start looking at if they have insurance, if they don’t have insurance, what could they do? Where could they go? And then we sort of act as the bridge,” Barton said.
Unfortunately, due to the center closing early, at 5 p.m. or 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 12 p.m. Friday, many students attending night classes aren’t able to access these services they pay the fee for.
Some ways the center is trying to accommodate these students are with telehealth care via phone or Zoom calls for individuals only able to pop in for a few minutes during the day.
Barton also discussed a future ASMC collaboration in motion to further help provide resources for those who aren’t on campus during the day.
“They provided the funding for these free vending machines all over campus where people can just twist the little knob and get whatever they need, like Advil or Tylenol or Band-Aid or whatever.”
Moorpark College students are encouraged to check out the Student Health Center in the Administration Building, Room 111. Students can also make an appointment online on their website, or call (805) 378-1413.
“I always say, you know you paid your 26 bucks, go get your money’s worth,” Barton said.
