CUNY CARES Advocacy GUide

CUNY CHAMPIONS FOR CHANGE: A GUIDE TO STUDENT ADVOCACY ADVOCATING TO OVERCOME HEALTH AND SOCIAL POLICY OBSTACLES TO ACADEMIC SUCCESS AT CUNY

PREPARED BY: HEALTHY CUNY

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION............................................................. 3 WHO ARE WE?............................................................... 4 UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUES........................ 5 HOUSING...................................................................................................................................................... 5 MEDICAID................................................................................................................................................... 5 FOOD INSECURITY.............................................................................................................................. 6 MEDICATION ABORTION............................................................................................................... 6

EXAMINING OUR OPTIONS................................. 7 WHY YOUR VOICE MATTERS............................ 8 HOW TO ADVOCATE EFFECTIVELY............10 RESOURCES AND TOOLS......................................11 GET INVOLVED TODAY..........................................12 CONCLUSION..................................................................14 REFERENCES....................................................................15

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INTRODUCTION Since its founding in 1847, CUNY has helped young people in New York City escape from poverty, learn new skills, and contribute to our own and the city’s social and economic well-being.

For the last decade, CUNY has been the national university system that moves more low-income Black, Latino, and immigrant students into the middle class than any other institution of higher education. But today, as the pandemic continues to disrupt the city’s economy and health and as the city, state, and nation face new social and economic threats, CUNY students face new obstacles that can undermine our academic and life success as well as our health.

In this Guide, we highlight four current policy hurdles that make it more difficult for CUNY students to stay in school and graduate: City and state housing policies that put CUNY students at risk of eviction and homelessness; A federal requirement that requires all Medicaid recipients to reenroll, putting many at risk of losing their health coverage; Repeal of rules that made it easier for college students to enroll in SNAP, the food stamp program, during the pandemic; A yet-to-be-implemented New York State mandate to ensure that CUNY and SUNY students have access to medication abortion We provide a brief overview of these four policy obstacles to academic success and then talk about short-term and long-term solutions for each. We’ll then provide some practical guidance on how CUNY students, faculty, and staff can become effective advocates for changing these and other policies that can undermine academic success.

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WHO ARE WE? We are four CUNY students completing Master's degrees in Public Health at the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy.

In this guide, we bring our knowledge and experience as CUNY students, public health professionals, and residents of New York City to the task of suggesting how CUNY can encourage policies that support student success.

Alexandra Ullrich is a public health professional working in public health grants and contracts in NYC, primarily focused on HIV prevention and LGBTQIA+ health.

Laura Moya Adames is a public health professional working in health education to advance the mission of sexual and reproductive health justice in systemically marginalized communities in NYC. Marc Miller is a public health professional specializing in program evaluation, communicable disease prevention, and health education strategies to support the development of healthier communities.

Sarah Asjad is a public health advocate trained in community health, working in program development, community engagement, and research to address health inequities in urban communities.

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UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUES HOUSING INSECURITY

In 2022, almost 40 percent of CUNY students faced some form of housing instability – housing problems that put them at risk of missed rent payments, eviction, or homelessness.¹ A 2019 CUNY survey, completed before the COVID-19 pandemic, found that 55 percent of CUNY undergraduate students across all NYC campuses reported housing insecurity within the last year.² The end of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) came with the removal of additional protections like the eviction moratorium and access to free and affordable housing in the form of housing vouchers.³ Housing assistance exists at CUNY but is underutilized, and campus websites do not always directly link to housing resources.

Housing assistance eligibility requirements can be restrictive, either disqualifying students for help or discouraging them from applying.⁴ʼ⁵ The stress of not having a stable place to live or losing access to housing puts CUNY students at risk of mental and physical health problems, food insecurity, and problems maintaining good academic status.⁶ʼ⁷

MEDICAID

Thousands of CUNY students covered by Medicaid are now being notified of their need to reapply for coverage.

Administrative processing errors, missed reapplication notifications, and other bureaucratic obstacles—commonly referred to as Medicaid “churn”—mean that thousands of CUNY students are at risk of temporary or long term loss of their Medicaid coverage amidst this administrative churn.

For college students, Medicaid churn and loss of coverage can make it more difficult for them to get or afford the care they need to prevent, treat or manage serious illnesses or disease.

Loss of insurance or failure to get needed medical care can disrupt academic progress, increase stress and anxiety, or force students to work more to pay for health care. These changes undermine students’ overall wellbeing and jeopardize their ability to stay in school and graduate.

A 2019 report by the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy found that 7.9% of CUNY undergraduates lacked health insurance during the previous 12-month period, and 14.7% did not have a regular healthcare provider. Many more reported problems with health insurance such as high deductibles, copays or disruptions in coverage.⁸

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UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUES FOOD INSECURITY

In 2022, 40% of CUNY students reported having low or very low food security—an estimated 110,000 students⁹ As the pre-pandemic work and training requirements for SNAP enrollment return, more than 3 million U.S. college students are at risk of losing their SNAP benefits in 2024¹⁰ With college students facing losing SNAP benefits, new challenges will emerge, exacerbating existing social and economic disparities. The consequences of this loss of assistance include: Increased Food Insecurity Health Deterioration Economic Hardships Lower Graduation Rates Food-insecure students who have to constantly worry about how to pay for their next meal are more likely to experience academic setbacks. The work requirement discourages education in favor of work and leads to a continued cycle of poverty for CUNY students

MEDICATION ABORTION

In response to the June 2022 Dobbs case stripping Americans of the right to abortion care, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul mandated CUNY and SUNY to make medication abortion services available to their students by August 1st, 2023.

CUNY however faces significant challenges in implementing the mandate, lacking the needed infrastructure and systems, and with diverse perspectives on abortion as a healthcare right.

Evidence shows that student parents navigate additional burdens like financial strain, childcare challenges, exacerbated housing instability, and increased healthcare needs, as well as mental health concerns.¹¹ These factors further complicate their academic journeys.

According to the 2022 CUNY Student Experience Survey, over 1 in 10 students have children that they financially support.

Currently, only 5% of CUNY student parents utilize the university’s childcare services.¹² Advocating for access to medication abortion aligns with the broader goal of ensuring comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services, and fostering academic and life success by supporting students in effectively managing our reproductive health needs.

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EXAMINING OUR OPTIONS In this guide, we suggest some of the actions CUNY students, faculty, and staff can take to begin to implement the short-range goals and set the stage for working toward the longer-range goals.

PROBLEM

SHORT-TERM SOLUTION

LONG-TERM SOLUTION

Access to Affordable Housing

Help CUNY students access public support services like housing vouchers Expand advertisement of housing services all over CUNY campuses Collaborate with NYC organizations focused on alleviating student housing instability

Utilize CUNY’s influence to work with government and influence policy change that would provide more accessible and affordable housing for students

Limit Medicaid Disenrollments

Restore pandemic era waiver of Medicaid re-enrollment Facilitate streamlined student reenrollment process

Make retention and expansion of Medicaid enrollment for CUNY students an administrative priority at all CUNY campuses Establish universal free health care in New York State

Hunger and Food Insecurity

Make it easier for college students to enroll, or re-enroll in SNAP and restore pandemic expansions of SNAP Expand advertisement of SNAP enrollment and eligibility across all campuses and online

Ensure that all eligible CUNY students are enrolled in SNAP and are food-secure through collaborations on various levels to influence policy change

Access to Medication Abortion and Comprehensive Sexual and Reproductive Health Services as mandated by NY State Governor

Implement fully the Governor’s mandate to ensure all CUNY students have access to free medication abortion services Provide resources needed for full implementation

Ensure that all CUNY students have access on campus or in the community to a full range of sexual and reproductive health services

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WHY YOUR VOICE MATTERS CUNY – students and faculty alike – has a long and proud history of social activism and engagement. As the largest urban university system in the United States, CUNY is committed to serving the needs of its diverse student body, which includes a significant number of low-income students and students from marginalized communities. In recent years, CUNY has increasingly focused on advocating for policies that address the root causes of poverty and inequality, such as housing insecurity, food insecurity, lack of access to healthcare, and reproductive rights.

Advocacy from the CUNY community is based on the belief that education is the key to social progress and that by providing students with the tools they need to succeed, CUNY can help to create a more just and equitable society.

Through collective action, students, faculty, staff, and alumni can make their voices heard and advocate for policies that address the root causes of poverty and inequality.

A few examples of college communities that have successfully advocated for positive change on these issues include: The University of California, Berkeley

1. State University of New York

1. One of the most successful of these programs is the Berkeley Student Housing Initiative (BSHI). BSHI is a partnership between the university, the city of Berkeley, and private developers to create new affordable housing units for students through leasing developed apartment buildings and renting them to students.

2. Medication Abortions are offered at the university’s student health center for pregnancies up to 10 weeks.

1. SUNY Chancellor launched a SNAP autoenrollment program in 2021, extending access to students impacted by COVID-19 and enrolled in SUNY's free Online Training Center, Educational Opportunity Centers, and Advanced Technology Training and Information Networking labs.

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CUNY students also have a long history of mobilizing to bring about major changes in law, policy, and public attitudes. Examples include: In 1966, after years of protests and demonstrations, CUNY students won open admissions, which guaranteed admission to all New York City high school graduates regardless of their grades or test scores.

In 1982, CUNY students successfully lobbied for the creation of the SEEK program, which provides academic and financial support to lowincome students.

In 2012, CUNY students won a lawsuit that forced the university to provide more financial aid to students.

In 2017, CUNY students played a key role in mobilizing support for the Dream Act, legislation that would protect undocumented immigrants from deportation and provide them with a path to citizenship. While the Dream Act has not yet been passed, CUNY students' advocacy helped to keep the issue in the spotlight and build support for a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.

In 2017, after years of organizing and advocacy, CUNY students won free tuition for all full-time student residents of New York City whose families earn less than $125,000 per year.

In 2019, CUNY students successfully advocated for a freeze on tuition increases for the 2019-2020 academic year.

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HOW TO ADVOCATE EFFECTIVELY 1. RESEARCH TO UNDERSTAND Before diving into advocacy, we must understand the unique dynamics of each issue. A quick way to become familiar with each issue is to review the policy briefs linked here.

3. TELL A GOOD STORY Sharing personal stories is a powerful tool for advocacy, as it puts a human face to the issue.

Collect and share testimonials from affected students (always with their consent), to highlight the realworld impact of limited housing, inadequate nutrition, lack of healthcare, and barriers to reproductive health services.

2. BUILD ALLIANCES Connecting with others who share similar goals will amplify our voice.

Attend community meetings, engage with online forums, and leverage social media to connect with likeminded individuals and organizations.

4. IT’S ALL ABOUT STRATEGY Collaborate with legal experts, policymakers, and advocacy groups to develop a strategic advocacy plan that includes specific policy recommendations.

6. ENGAGE LEGISLATORS AND POLICY MAKERS Develop a message supported by data and testimonials. Schedule meetings with elected officials, attend legislative sessions, participate in public hearings, and collaborate with experienced lobbyists or advocacy groups. The Office of Government Affairs at CUNY is a good place to start.

5. THINK MARATHON, NOT SPRINT Advocacy is an ongoing process that requires us to be adaptable.

Stay informed about legislative changes, evolving challenges, new research, and emerging best practices from other partners. With change, we adapt our strategy to seize opportunity.

7. GET COMMUNITY BUY-IN There are various strategies that can help get the community on board with our goals. Find some suggestions suggested by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Reproductive Equity Now Foundation as part of their Toolkit to Medication Abortion for Public Colleges and Universities.

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RESOURCES AND TOOLS CREATING A PLAN

LAUNCHING PETITIONS To get a digital petition started free of charge, visit the Change website. Because the website allows for petitions to be made shareable by anyone, it’s easy to create a snowball effect and amplify our message quickly.

WRITING TO LEGISLATORS Writing to our legislators can be somewhat intimidating. The Harking Institute at Drake University prepared this template to make the process more accessible.

CAMPAIGNING ON SOCIAL MEDIA Social media campaigns are an effective way to get your message out there. For free templates visit Canva.

Bonus tip: type “advocacy” on the search bar.

GETTING INSPIRED

EMPOWERING YOUR PEERS Educate and empower. The stated mission of CUNY Student Health Services is “to make quality health care and health education available to all of its students in order to contribute to their academic success and personal growth”. Working with this department may be an effective way to empower students to make informed decisions about Medicaid retention. Alternatively, reach out to Health and Wellness Services on your campus.

For advocacy tips, readings, and overall inspiration on medication abortion, visit the site of the Reproductive Justice Collective at Columbia and New York City.

The Activist Handbook is your one-stop-shop for everything grassroots organizing.

Whether you are starting from scratch or potentiating your movement, you will find resources here on campaigning, communications, strategy planning, protesting, etc.

NETWORKING Remember to always work smarter, not harder. Take your time to identify already-existing organizations doing the work. This could provide opportunities to form coalitions. Visit the Action Network to learn how.

FINDING YOUR ALLIES Contact partner agencies to support your efforts. CUNY’s partner in these efforts is the Office of Citywide Health Insurance Access (OCHIA), which seeks to expand access to health insurance coverage for NYC residents. Their office may provide additional information and inspiration to advocate for and empower CUNY students about Medicaid retention.

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GET INVOLVED TODAY FOLLOW-UP STEPS FOR THE NEXT YEAR

STRATGIES FOR MOVING TOWARDS LONG-TERM GOALS

Access to affordable housing

1. Conduct outreach to students within CUNY campuses with the highest levels of housing instability 2. Connect with NYC organizations already conducting housing access groundwork and make a plan to work collaboratively to reduce the burden on each organization and reach the maximum number of students 3. Coordinate with CUNY leadership to contact local politicians to address policy issues that can be sustained, such as prioritizing college students when awarding housing vouchers as well as using existing funds or applying for funds to provide free housing to students with low socioeconomic status 4. Ensure existing CUNY housing access infrastructure, like websites and advertisements, are up-to-date and conspicuously placed so that students know these services exist and know where to access them

1. Establish CUNY housing coalition to keep a registry of unhoused/housing unstable students and continue follow up with those who have sought housing services at CUNY 2. Establish formal partnerships with at least 2 organizations aimed at improving housing outcomes for students and work with them continuously to either reach more students in need or be able to hand off students to these organizations to receive further supportive services 3. Ensure CUNY housing access information is updated at least every three months; in addition to advertising CUNY housing services, other city-provided services like housing vouchers and cash assistance should be advertised as well

1. Proactively ensure students accepted to CUNY, especially full-time students, have plans for or have stable housing before beginning classes. Push for a city-wide housing database that multiple organizations can access so that students are not lost to care 2. Establish positions at CUNY specifically designated for outreach, partnership affairs, and coordination to ensure effective partnerships and sustained collaboration 3. Establish positions at CUNY to help enroll students in housing with an emphasis on city-provided services; plan to expand CUNYprovided housing and funding to provide free/affordable housing to CUNY students

Hunger and Food Insecurity

1. Educate student organizations about hunger and SNAP enrollment and encourage them to organize their awareness campaigns.

2. Host a panel discussion and invite experts on food insecurity, SNAP benefits, and student advocacy to educate students and inspire them to take action 3. Reach out to CUNY Urban Food Policy Institute and learn about their advocacy work and impact.

4. Partner with a local community organization or food bank to host a SNAP enrollment drive on campus.

5. Write a letter to the editor of the local newspaper or campus publication about the importance of SNAP benefits for CUNY students and urge readers to contact their elected officials to advocate for policies that expand SNAP enrollment.

1. Connect with student organizations and campus resource centers to understand their current advocacy efforts and explore collaboration and partnership.

2. organizations and social services agencies to expand SNAP outreach and efforts 3. Identify ways to secure funding to support SNAP outreach efforts, such as hiring additional support staff and developing educational materials.

4. Train and deploy student advocates to provide direct SNAP enrollment assistance 5. Track and evaluate the progress of SNAP enrollment initiatives and make necessary adjustments that further outreach and enrollment efforts.

1. Encourage the CUNY administration to include hunger and SNAP enrollment as key priorities in their strategic plan.

2. Build a strong coalition of partners, including student organizations, faculty allies, community organizations, and government agencies, to work towards a unified voice for food security.

3. Empower CUNY students to take ownership and lead initiatives, organize events, and advocate for their peers.

ISSUE

STEPS YOU CAN TAKE NOW

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GET INVOLVED TODAY CONT. Issue

Steps you can take now

Follow-up steps for the next year

Strategies for moving towards long term goals

Increase Medicaid retention and decrease Medicaid disenrollments

1. Understand the issue through reading this policy brief.

2. Share your understanding of this issue with classmates on social media and on campus.

3. Connect with CUNY Health and Wellness Services and assess their level of understanding of this issue at the administrative level.

4. Reach out to Health and Wellness Services on your CUNY campus to see what is being done on campus to raise awareness and limit disenrollments.

5. Contact CUNY Student Services and Healthy CUNY to lend support to advocacy efforts that raise awareness of how retention of Medicaid coverage increases student health and success.

1. Partner with CUNY student organizations through the Central Office of Student Affairs to organize efforts to increase Medicaid retention across the CUNY system.

2. Use the advocacy tips in this guide to help get important Medicaid retention facts to the wider CUNY student body.

3. Connect with student government through the CUNY Office of Special Programs and seek their partnership in helping raise awareness of the importance of Medicaid retention.

4. Enlist CUNY’s partner, the Office of Citywide Health Insurance Access (OCHIA), in efforts to increase retention of Medicaid services among CUNY students.

5. Explore how New York State of Health can partner with CUNY in achieving higher rates of Medicaid retention among students.

1. Educate and empower CUNY students to become advocates for Medicaid coverage on their local campus.

2. Through on-campus and offcampus partnerships, build a strong coalition that seeks to minimize Medicaid coverage loss across the CUNY system.

3. Encourage student government leaders to make Medicaid coverage and retention for eligible students a campus-wide priority.

4. Seek opportunities to build consensus about the ways retention of Medicaid coverage supports the success of CUNY students.

5. Celebrate the successes -your efforts will help improve the health and academic outcomes of thousands of CUNY students.

1. Educate yourself by reading the policy brief published on this issue 2. Reach out to CUNY for Abortion Rights and get involved in their work 3. Share this guide with other CUNY students 4. Ask your campus health center about the availability of medication abortion services on campus 5. Offer support to Healthy CUNY for ways in which you can help their work with partners inside and outside of CUNY towards medication abortion services.

1. Learn about community organizing for effective change through the Toolkit provided above.

2. Identify ways to advocate for the Office of Government Affairs at CUNY to petition the State Government for budget allocation for medication abortion services on campus.

3. Confirm that medication abortion services are being offered at your campus.

4. Petition for training sessions for all CUNY faculty and staff to recognize medication abortion services as a health right 5. Confirm that medication abortion services information is readily available to all students. Reach out to your school administrative staff if this is not the case.

1. Advocate for comprehensive SRH services across all CUNY campuses.

2. Join your campus student association to support this and other issues 3. Organize around implementing comprehensive SRH rights in CUNY (pick your favorite topic!)

4. Identify other organizations to form coalitions with around this work (remember, it is all interconnected) 5. Celebrate your victories: contribute by helping to document and disseminate progress on this issue.

Access to medication abortion and comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services as mandated by Governor

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CONCLUSION As we navigate complex policy hurdles and their impact on the CUNY community, the interconnected nature of these challenges becomes evident, emphasizing the need for comprehensive solutions.

This guide aims to provide inspiration and a roadmap for effective advocacy, inviting us to understand the issues, connect with peers, share stories, and engage with policymakers. However, inspiration is only a first step.

We encourage you not only to act on these critical issues but also to share this guide widely and multiply the strength of our collective voice. Together, we can drive change by advocating for policies that address root causes. Let this guide be a catalyst for informed action and a beacon of empowerment for all those committed to the well-being and success of CUNY students.

CUNY has no more valuable asset than the imagination, commitment and expertise of its community

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REFERENCES 1. CUNY CARES Bronx Pilot Baseline Assessment Report on Comprehensive Access to Resources for Essential Services. Healthy CUNY - CUNY Office of Transformation. July 6, 2023. Accessed December 3, 2023. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/58583536725e25dfee053319/t/64a6dad6f6d95d00ba410330/1 688656601426/CUNY+CARES+Baseline+Assessment+Report.7.6.23.pdf 2. Goldrick-Rab S, Coca V, Baker-Smith C, Looker E. City University of New York #RealCollege Survey. https://thebronxfreepress.com/wpcontent/uploads/2019/04/HOPE_realcollege_CUNY_report_final_webversion.pdf. March 2019.

Accessed October 12, 2023.

3. Retta M. End of Eviction Moratorium Leaves Students at Risk of Homelessness. Teen Vogue.

September 17, 2021. Accessed June 19, 2023. https://www.teenvogue.com/story/evictionmoratorium-students 4. Applying for Section 8 in New York. Section Eight Application. Accessed July 11, 2023. https://www.sectioneightapplication.com/apply/NY 5. Does my income qualify me for affordable housing? NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development. Accessed October 10, 2023. https://www.nyc.gov/assets/hpd/downloads/pdfs/services/affordable-housing-income-eligibility.pdf 6. Brenes GA. Anxiety, depression, and quality of life in primary care patients. Prim Care Companion J Clin Psychiatry. 2007;9(6):437-443. doi:10.4088/pcc.v09n0606 7. Stahre M, Van Eenwyck J, Siegel P, Njai R. Housing Insecurity and the Association With Health Outcomes and Unhealthy Behavior, Washington State, 2011. Prev Chronic Dis. 2015 Jul 9; 12. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd12.140511 8. Healthy CUNY Survey Group, Palmedo C, and Freudenberg N. Q and A on Lack of Access to Health Care as a Barrier to Academic Success at CUNY. CUNY School of Public Health, 2019. https://sph.cuny.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Report_04_Health-Care-Access_Final.pdf 9. “Food Security.” Healthy CUNY, www.healthycuny.org/foodsecurity#:~:text=Campus%20food%20pantries,to%20SNAP%20benefits%20for%20students Accessed 10 Oct. 2023.

10. Congress May Soon End SNAP Benefits for College Students. Here’s Why That Matters” Best Colleges. September 19, 2023. www.bestcolleges.com/news/analysis/congress-may-end-snapbenefits-for-college-students/ 11. Healthy CUNY Survey Group and Watnick D, Freudenberg N. Q and A on Sexual and Reproductive Health Concerns as Barriers to Academic Success at CUNY. CUNY School of Public Health, 2019.

12. 2022 Student Experience Survey Results. Insights.cuny.edu. 2023. Accessed October 22, 2023. https://insights.cuny.edu/#/site/CUNYGuest/views/2022CUNYUndergraduateStudentExperinceSurveyR esults/StudentExperienceSurveySES

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