FAQ
- How long are meetings? How often do you meet?
-
Most initial meetings are 30-60 minutes long; after that, they are usually 15-30 minutes. Students find it helpful to put it all out on the table in terms of current challenges. We want to support you in that and find the best way to assist. Many students have just 1-3 in-person meetings and then find that brief check-ins via email or phone are helpful.
-
- Are meetings mandatory?
- Most meetings with students are not mandatory. We are here to provide support, discuss and strategize around next steps together. However, we recognize that sometimes people aren’t in a clear mindset or able to make the healthiest choices for themselves, and we might ask you to meet sooner than you desire. Further, there are situations in which we will direct students to have a meeting with a staffer, and holds on a student account can occur if the individual does not comply. To be the most effective, students must be actively engaged in the process and treat it as a priority.
- Who is eligible for case management?
-
In general, most SJSU students are eligible. Individual programs within Case Management might have eligibility limits (to use the Spartan Food Pantry, receiving emergency support, etc.), but any currently enrolled student or those returning back to enrollment are eligible to meet with a case manager. There are no additional fees to meet.
-
- Is this confidential? Will my parents know?
-
Our program abides by the Federal Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA); due to this, we are a private, but not a confidential resource. Case managers do not disclose information to parents, roommates, faculty, advisors, or other individuals without your consent, except in emergency situations to keep yourself or others safe. We’ll discuss this with you in a meeting so you're 100% clear.
-
- Could you talk to my parents? (Some of this is difficult for me to share with them.)
-
In session, we’d typically address techniques to open up communications between you and people who are important in your life or could be a good support network. We are open to you signing a release of information/waiver so we can have more open communication with others if you feel that would be helpful.
-
- I’m already meeting with other professionals; should I meet with a case manager too?
- It depends on whom you’re meeting with. If you are seeing a counselor/therapist (on or off campus), psychiatrist, advisor, mentor, peer educator, victim survivor/advocate, or respondent consultant, it might be helpful for you to share that with us. Each role is separate, and we aren’t looking to burden you with more meetings, but each professional has a different scope and objectives in meeting with you. Most often they will be complementary services. We’ll let you know if it wouldn’t be prudent to meet with us too.
- What is post-hospitalization support?
- When SJSU students find themselves in a situation where they’ve needed to be hospitalized, returning to campus might not be so easy. Our procedure is to meet with all students in that situation to help them figure out what next steps might be, from discussing re-integration to the classroom, housing situation, group projects, to what ongoing mental or physical health support they might need. We can help coordinate items related to students interested in taking time off of school to focus on themselves.
- Are you part of SJSU Cares?
- Case managers are part of the Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT), Critical Incident Management Team (CIMT) and the SJSU Cares / Economic Crisis Response Team (ECRT). Not all case managers are part of all of the groups depending the the CM focus.