1. Craig Gilkey, LMHC and Kate Wolfe-Lyga, LMHC, ACS
Development and Assessment of a Residence Life Mental Health Counselor Position on a College Campus
Craig Gilkey, LMHC and Kate Wolfe-Lyga, LMHC, ACS

2. SUNY Oswego Campus Map
Appr. 400 acres on main campus

3. Objectives
Attendees will explore methods of engaging and implementing an embedded counselor program on their campus.
Attendees will consider program evaluation methods and client outcome measures, based off of shared experiences of this campus’ program.
Attendees will identify challenges, such as ethical issues, in navigating a shared program and position with another department.
Ask questions on the fly.

4. Creation/Development/Background
Why?
Similar to national trends (CCMH 2018), we experienced significant increase in utilization.
Kate - Learned about this at AUCCCD, Res Life AVP shared what he learned about at ACUHO.

5. Key Stakeholders VP of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management
Residence Life and Housing
Counseling Services
Students
Kate - Considerations for location - res life more popular recently, but academic departments, athletics and other students services or schools are other options.

6. Funding Model .
Kate – they have the money…! Still issue with fringe

7. Job Description Clinical/ Consultation Training Outreach
Minimal individual service
Group services
Let’s Talk
Training
Professional Staff
Student Staff
Outreach
RLH events
Counseling outreach (wellness fair)
Administrative
Staff Meetings, case consult, supervision, etc...
Craig and Kate – collaborative negotiation for development because of Craig’s experience with both departments. Appreciation of constraints and opportunities.

8. Position Components
Craig

9. Evaluation & Assessment Summary
Individual Clinical Effectiveness
Pre/Post session, Burns’ Brief Mood Survey
Burns’ Evaluation of Therapy Session
Residence Life Pro. Staff Perceived Effectiveness
Google Form Questionnaire During Pilot
Focus Group
Utilization Tracking
Let’s Talk
Crisis/Walk-In at Counseling Center
Kate and Craig – bring BMS handouts. Kate – division assessment process

10. Individual Clinical Effectiveness
Pre/Post session, Burns’ Brief Mood Survey
Burns’ Evaluation of Therapy Session
Craig

11. Residence Life Professional Staff Perceptions
Questionnaire – google form
Focus Group Themes
Significant Increase of Accessibility
Supportive of Residence Life Staff and Students in a Unique Way
Offered Helpful Ongoing Programs and Trainings
Atmosphere of Mental Health Support in Residence Halls
Effective Consulting for Student and Professional Staff
Much Needed Liaison
Bigger Presence of Counseling Referral Sources
Could Improve by Having More Counselors
Kate - December 2017, after one semester of 20 hour/ week position – questionnaire to RHDs, CDS and AHDs. Focus group run by a counselor and Assoc. Director of career services – RHDs and AHDs, October 2018.

12. Training Outreach Evaluation
What did you like best?
What did you like least?
What would you like more of?
Craig

13. Correlational Data in the CSC
19% decrease in crisis over last year
Let’s Talk appointment increase of 270%
Let’s Talk total hours increase of 76%
Let’s Talk utilization increase of 54%
Kate

14. Challenges Ethics Logistics Reporting and Supervision Multiple roles
AHDs
Student Staff utilization
Informed consent
Consultation vs. Intervention
Let’s Talk
Logistics
Access to physical space
Work schedule & Work life balance
Communication (e.g., Let’s Talk services)
Safety
Reporting and Supervision
Kate and Craig

15. Reporting & Supervision Responsibilities
Res Life
Time and Attendance
Staff Meeting
Admin Policies
Counseling
Clinical supervision
Case Consultation
Staff Meeting
Policies and Procedures
Evaluation
Craig

16. Embedded Counselor Implementation Tips
Ask each Hall Director to the residents with embedded counselor information
Attend res. life student staff (e.g., RAs) meetings early in fall semester
Build relationships
Support new student staff and professional staff onboarding
Maintain visibility (wear ID lanyard)
Reach out to stakeholders to inform and collaborate
Use assessments (e.g., Brief Mood Survey, Program Evaluations)
Have consult hours for staff later in the day/evening
Act as a liaison between counseling center and residence life during staff meetings
Provide index cards of all services at front desk of residence halls
Craig

17. Future Plans CSQ-8 GPAs Workshop Assessments
Residence Student Staff Perceptions
Tracking RSS and RHD Utilization
MOU
Unique Challenges - (access, new AVP)
Kate and Craig. Doc student review what was out there for satisfaction – this has already been a validated instrument. GPA review in the works with IRB. Tracking RSS – any services. MOU – need to do!!!!! Access – halls all being locked down.

18. References
Boone, M.S., Edwards, G.R., Haltom, M., Hill, J.S., Liang, Y.S., Mier, S.R., Yau, T.Y. (2011). Let’s talk: Getting out of the counseling center to serve hard-to-reach students. Jounral of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 39(4),
Center for Collegiate Mental Health, (2018, January), 2017 Annual Report, (Publication No. STA )
Orchowski, L. M., Castelino, P., Ng, H. M., Cosio, D., & Heaton, J. A. (2011). The design and implementation of a counselor-in-residence program. Journal of College Student Psychotherapy, 25(3), 241–258.