In March 2010, the California Community
Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) received a $75,000 grant from
the Zellerbach Family Foundation (ZFF) to support the development,
pilot testing, and implementation of a training program for faculty
and staff about the mental health needs of student Veterans. The
major objectives of the training were to increase awareness about
the signs and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),
traumatic brain injury (TBI), and depression so that faculty and
staff could better understand how these conditions might impact
student success in the classroom and on campus. The training was
piloted at three Bay Area colleges and was also provided at two
statewide workshops or conferences.
In addition to the training program, resources were developed
for faculty and staff use after the training. These materials
include campus and community referral resources, additional reading
about PTSD and TBI, and a quick reference guide to recognizing the
major signs and symptoms of PTSD, TBI, and depression. These
resources, as well as the curriculum that was used in the training,
are available to all California community colleges.