“Stack the Deck!”

1. “Stack the Deck!” How we can help “Stack the Deck” for our Family and Non-Traditional Housing Residents

2. Introductions Nathan Marney Resident Director – SFH New Mexico State University nmarney@nmsu.edu 575-646-5369 @nmarney

3. About this Presentation • Obstacles facing Student Family Housing residents • Useful Strategies/Theories • Identifying resources within and outside of the University • Implementing strategies

4. Background Information - NMSU • Land-grant institution of higher learning • About 18,000 students (80% Undergraduate) • 47.3% Hispanic • Dona Ana Community College • Undergraduate $3,020 .40 - $9,534 .00 • Dona Ana County (25% below poverty line – 2011 US Census)

5. SFH at NMSU • Four family housing Communities • Tom Fort Village • Sutherland Village • Cole Village • Cervantes Village

6. SFH at NMSU • There are about 600 units total • Currently there are just around 500 occupied • Counting dependents there are over 800 residents!

7. What is Family Housing • At NMSU… there must be a registered student in the household as part of a family unit • married couples • married couples with children • single parents with dependent children • domestic partners • domestic partners with child(ren) • other considerations

8. NMSU SFH 2012 Survey • How long have they lived in SFH? • 39% less than 1 year • 34% 1-2 years • 19% 3-5 years • 6% 6-8 years • Who lives in a household? • 66% live with significant other • 61% live with child(ren) under age 18

9. Why is family housing important? • For a lot of the same reasons residential living is important! • Why live in SFH? (2012 NMSU Survey) • Convenience (79%) • Affordability (72%) • Resources (45%) • Sense of Community (30%)

10. Obstacles Facing these Students • Facing a lot of the same issues that the rest of our residents across campus face • Financial • Wellness • Academic • Legal • Community

11. Financial Obstacles • Tuition/books • Day care • Health care • Food • Rent • Clothes • Supplies

12. Wellness Obstacles • Child(ren) behavioral issues • Domestic Violence • Abuse and Neglect • Mental Health • Alcohol Dependency • Chemical Dependency • Lack of Resources

13. Academic Obstacles • Lack of time • Limited space to study • Child care • Finances

14. Legal Obstacles • Custody battles • Divorce/Separations • Domestic violence • Child abuse • Alcohol, drugs, and other citations

15. Community Obstacles • Multi-cultural differences • Facility issues • Neighbor disputes • Issues with Pets

16. Identifying the Obstacles and Needs • Observed barriers • What do our residents want and need? (2012 NMSU Survey) • Programs geared toward children/families & adults only • Increased CA Interaction (53% said they never see their CA) • Increased enforcement of policies • Education on resources

17. Key Strategies • Systems Theory • Community Development • Using a Social Work Framework • Strengths Perspective • Biopsychosocial-spiritual Perspective • Resource Coordinating • Reflective Engagement Model • Intentional Conversations utilizing Motivational Interviewing techniques

18. Community Development • Systems Theory • Systems theory is a way of elaborating increasingly complex systems across a continuum that encompasses the person-in-environment (Anderson, Carter & Lowe, 1999)

19. Utilizing a Social Work Framework • Strengths Perspective • enhancing personal strengths and resources (NASW Social Work Practice, 2005) • Biopsychosocial-spiritual Perspective • Utilizing a holistic approach

20. Resource Coordinating • Identifying key partners (on and off campus) • Who? • What? • Where? • When? • How?

21. University Resources • Campus Health Center • Counseling Center • Family Resource Center • Social Work Services • Student Employment Service • Student Health, Wellness, and Recreation • Student Success • Wellness, Alcohol, and Violence Education

22. Community Resources (NMSU) • Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Las Cruces, Inc. • Catholic Charities Diocese of Las Cruces • Las Cruces Public Schools • Mesilla Valley Education Enhancement Center • Southwest Counseling Center, Inc. • Families & Youth, Inc. • La Pinon • WIC • SNAP

23. Reflective Engagement Model • Focus is on intentional 1:1 conversations between student staff and residents • No more traditional programming • Utilize Motivational Interviewing techniques • Motivating for change • (Intrinsic) Goal Setting • Rolling with resistance

24. ImplementationdObstacles Strategies • Observed problems • Community Identified Issues • Intentional Programming • Don’t know their CA • Policy Enforcement • Resource Information • Systems Theory • Utilizing Social Work Concepts • Implementing a Reflective Engagement Model

25. Reflective Engagement • CAs meet with each of their residents at least twice a semester and log their interactions • In resident conversations CAs utilize MI training and social work perspectives along with specific topics ranging from academic goal setting to winter break plans • CAs no longer put on programs, but still help advertise and work to get residents to become involved

26. Resource Coordinating • SFH Resource Coordinator • Works closely with university and community partners in order to gain knowledge and share resource information to residents • Regularly meets with residents • Keeps and updates SFH Resource Guide • SFH Programming Coordinator • Works closely with the FRC, child care center, and any other individual and/or department that could help promote positive, fun, and creative programming

27. Systems Theory • Micro • Reflective Engagement Model • Social Work Perspectives • Messo • Resource Coordinator/Programming Coordinator • Macro • Town Hall Meetings

28. Potential Challenges • Reliability of resources • Red tape and politics • Time management of student staff • Facilities • Resident resistance • Student staff resistance

29. Questions?