Breadcrumb
Health Education
About us
Health Education provides a multifaceted approach to health promotion and communication. The philosophy of Humboldt's health education program is one that centers the connections between health, our identities, and the physical place in which we live. Because of this we need to take into account the vast diversity of our student body and the ways in which intersecting oppression, place based learning, and systems of power and privilege relate to that way we communicate and receive information on health & wellbeing. It is through this process that we create a sustainable and adaptable health education program that is built on empowerment, liberatory education, agency, and the capacity to both recognize and meet the needs of a diverse array of people and communities. Central to this concept is the empowerment of students’ voices and needs. We seek to rectify the damage of outdated health education efforts that relied on fear, shame, and guilt to influence behaviors.
Health and wellbeing are crucial to the success of college students; students will struggle to be successful in their academic careers or moving forward if they don't have their basic needs met. Health education in colleges and universities has the potential to assist students who are systemically disadvantaged in a university setting. By shifting away from a model that is rooted in systemic oppression to one that is dedicated to fostering radical wellness and critical hope we can carve out spaces for student success until a time comes where when are able to re-envision the entire system.
The programmatic offerings of the Health Education program include:
Peer Health Education Program
The Peer Health Educators (PHEs), funded through the Student Health Center. The PHEs are student staff members that are trained in peer-to-peer health education, including knowledge in sexual health, alcohol and other drugs, mental health & wellness, and physical wellness (body image, colds & flu, & healthy relationships to food). The students are taught to critically examine their experiences as students in our community and to apply those experiences in to interactive health promotion outreach. They plan large scale programming, small scale workshops, classroom presentations, and training for other student employees and leaders across campus. In the PHE office students can get free safer sex supplies and meet with a PHE.
The PHE Office is located in RWC 127.
For more information contact peerhealth@humboldt.edu or call 707.826.5233. Nat Treacy oversees this program.
https://www.instagram.com/phehumboldt
https://www.facebook.com/hsupeereducation/
Clinical Peer Health Education Program
The Clinical Peer Health Educators (CPHEs) operate from the Student Health & Counseling building within our medical division. They provide asymptomatic Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) testing as well as providing education about sexual health. Mira Friedman oversees this program with input and consultation from our medical providers.
OhSnap! Campus Food Programs
OhSNAP! works to address food insecurity among Cal Poly Humboldt students by creating a welcoming space for students to access food and resources without judgment. Food insecurity affects individuals in different ways — experiences with hunger, lack of food access, and financial stresses are deeply personal hardships. Through campus partnerships and one-on-one student peer support, OhSNAP! works to reduce barriers to food access on the Cal Poly Humboldt campus.
Students may visit the pantry once per week for food and basic needs. Some examples of our pantry items include pasta, beans, canned tuna and chicken, tofu, quick meals (ready-made rice, ramen, mac & cheese, etc.), fresh produce, and more. When available, basic needs supplies we provide include body soap, tooth paste, tooth brushes, laundry detergent, dish soap, and more! We also have snacks inside the pantry, students may grab up to three snacks every day we are open (Monday-Thursday). Coffee and tea are available in the RWC’s drop-in lounge, which students may access during our open hours. We are located in room 122 of the Recreation and Wellness Center — every day we are open you will find a sign outside of the building pointing you in the right direction!
If you have any questions or want to know more about us, please email us at ohsnap@humboldt.edu or reach out to our coordinator, Julio Martinez, at jcm854@humboldt.edu
Looking for additional mental and physical health resources? Check out our Basic Needs website!
For more information contact ohsnap@humboldt.edu or call 707.826.4556
https://www.humboldt.edu/ohsnap
https://www.instagram.com/humboldtohsnap
https://www.facebook.com/HumboldtOhSnap/
Check-It - Bystander Intervention
The CHECK IT program is Cal Poly Humboldt’s health education program’s answer to creating a campus culture that doesn’t tolerate sexualized violence, dating violence, or stalking. CHECK IT is Cal Poly Humboldt’s student led multifaceted bystander education program that teaches community accountability. CHECK IT represents a successful collaboration between faculty, staff, students, community members, and organizations; it is an extension of the work done in the Sexual Assault Prevention Committee (SAPC) and works out of the Recreation and Wellness Center. The language and imagery of CHECK IT was created by students for students and is a phenomenal example of the process of co-learning in action. CHECK IT is a verb and a movement. CHECK IT as a movement is student led and aims to empower the community to take action when incidences of sexualized violence, dating violence, or stalking occur. It also aims to create a campus community that is supportive to both people who are known to us and those who aren’t. It respects the choices and experiences of those who have survived violence. To CHECK IT means to intervene when harm is about to occur.
The CHECK IT movement actively works to create a more consent centered culture where students look out for one another, support survivors, and make clear to those who choose to commit acts of harm that it is unacceptable in our communities. We provide general and tailored skill building workshops, organize educational and social events, offer free consent and check it themed party and event merchandise, and resources centering on sexualized violence, consent, and healthy relationships.
For more information contact checkit@humboldt.edu or call 707.826.5235. Nat Treacy oversees this program.
https://www.facebook.com/CHECKITHSU
https://www.instagram.com/checkithumboldt
Additional Campus Violence Prevention Efforts
Chelsey Castiglione spearheads the coordination of a campus-wide plan, and corresponding activities, to prevent stalking, sex trafficking, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons, intimate partner violence, and sexual assault. She works closely with SAPC, CHECK IT, Title IX, the Womyn's Resource Center, and various units and individuals across campus. Violence Prevention programming offers fun engaging workshops relevant to various communities for students, classes, and groups. Come join a Healthy Relationship Library Skill Shops available to all students, staff, and faculty. If you want to lead a training, be a part of a violence prevention topic, or have ideas for a training, please set a time to chat with this link.
Pregnancy Options Counseling
Students are welcome to make an appointment to discuss Pregnancy Options with Nat Treacy, Health Educator and Certified Pregnancy Options Counselor, at nt40@humboldt.edu or 707.826.5242.