MSUM Opens New Community Outreach Center $135,000 Bremer Grant Supports Community Counseling
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SU Moorhead’s Counseling and Student Affairs (CNSA) program has received a $135,000 grant from the Otto Bremer Foundation for a new Community Outreach Center (COC). It’s the first of its kind in Fargo-Moorhead, and MSUM is the only university in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system to offer a completely free counseling clinic for the uninsured and underinsured. “This community does a good job of meeting people’s basic needs, but mental health care needs are often neglected,” said center coordinator Ben Erie. “We hope to help people transition into more productive lives.” Wilder Foundation research identifies 763 homeless individuals, including 158 minors in Fargo-Moorhead. An additional 16 percent of the population (or 575 Moorhead families) live below the poverty line. Other healthcare issues are covered through various services in the community, but no mental health counseling programs target the homeless population.
Center Scope The COC will provide free mental health and growth counseling to the homeless and lower income adults and children. It will also provide services for children attending Moorhead Public Schools. “By the time individuals are homeless, they have generally experienced a multitude of problems. We will help them to see how these experiences are affecting their life, their relationships and their employment, and what strategies can be used to mitigate them,” Erie said. The Center will also accept referrals from MSUM’s Hendrix Health Center for students seeking self-improvement and personal growth.
Community Partners CNSA Professor Lisa Karch will work with Moorhead Public School District in identifying at-risk students and providing needed counseling services. “A lot of children will be counseled through art and play therapy, and we will work with the whole family,” Karch said. Clinic staff also will work closely with Churches United, Homeless Health and other local providers.
> Community Outreach Center staff, L to R: Ben Erie, Lisa Karch and Brian Smith.
Clinic Facts Location:
Lommen Hall 113, MSUM campus
Facility:
4 counseling rooms, 2 group rooms, 1 play therapy room
Hours:
3 to 8 p.m., Monday-Thursday
Cost: Free Contact:
218.477.2011; counseling@mnstate.edu; web.mnstate.edu/cnsa
Staff:
Clinic Coordinator, Internship/Practicum Supervisor 15-20 intern and practicum students
Hands-on Learning Karch and Erie will provide direct counseling services in addition to their administrative duties. Fifteen to 20 masters-level counseling students will participate in practicum or internship hours. “They will get a unique experience counseling adults, children, college students and the homeless,” Erie said. “I don’t know of a site in this area that will give students this much variety and exposure to diverse populations.” “As a teaching school, our first priority is CNSA student interns. All student sessions will be video recorded and reviewed. This intense reflection and feedback loop will graduate more competent and effective professionals who are ready to work the first day on the job,” Karch said. Last year the program graduated 18 students, all currently working in the counseling field. > KRISTI MONSON
Alumnews Spring 2012
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