Health Education and Promotion uses a health equity lens to foster environments, institutional practices and a campus culture that promote student well-being and academic success. This impact report highlights come of our key initiatives and achievements for 2023-24.
Improving Access and Health Equity
To further our commitment to improving access and health equity, we’ve identified key focus areas that are essential for driving meaningful change:
- Expanded HEP Narcan initiative, increasing access and training at 7 student community centers
- Embedded an online suicide prevention training into orientation
- Developed the “Academics and Mental Health” web page
- Partnered with Student Affairs Assessment to analyze data for the UC Davis Campus Climate Survey on Sexual Violence
- Developed a permanent Reflection Walking Loop
- Launched a Nature Prescription program within SHCS
- Developed a Guide to Size Inclusive Spaces at UC Davis
- Partnered with Student Affairs identity-based centers to hire 6 student wellness liaisons focused on health equity initiatives
- Launched the UC Davis Mental Health Training
- Made helmets available at SHCS Acute Care and Health 34 to increase access at point of care
Changing the Campus Culture
To foster a more inclusive and supportive environment, we’re focusing on initiatives that shift the campus culture towards greater awareness and engagement:
- Expanded Helmet Hair Don’t Care initiative to include all modes of transportation
- Pitched a well-being assessment plan for student-athletes to Athletics leadership
- Hosted Sexcess Week and had over 200+ participants
- Identified and debunked sources of emergency contraception misinformation that was circulating around campus
- Developed and launched the Swipe Safely campaign about online dating safety
- Launched the first-annual substance free Health Jam Basketball Tournament
- Relaunched our well-being newsletter: Well, Well, Well
- Reached 500+ graduate students through Thriving in Graduate School
Investing in Student Well-Being
Prioritizing the well-being of our students is key to their success, and we’re taking action through targeted investments in their mental and physical health:
- 44,343 safer sex products distributed
- 1,455 free bike helmets distributed
- 798 Narcan and Fentanyl testing strips distributed
- 25 paid student staff
- 18 student volunteers
- 1,768 volunteer hours
- Supervised 3 Master in Public Health student practicums
Leveraging External Funding Opportunities
To ensure sustainable progress, we’re actively seeking and leveraging external funding opportunities that can enhance our initiatives and expand our reach:
- Received $15,000 to fund helmet distribution from the Be Smart about Safety Grant
- Secured funding from Athletics to send a HEP staff member and student-athletes to a training institute on well-being and substance use within athletics
Meeting Students Where they Are
Understanding the unique needs of our diverse student body, we’re adopting strategies that meet students where they are and provide support tailored to their needs:
- On Campus
- 56 presentations reaching 1,902 students
- 14 Teaching Kitchen classes reaching 265 students
- 62 events reaching 4,273 students
- Reached 1/3 of the athlete population on mental health topics
- Online
- Total Instagram Followers: 12,812 with 912 new followers across 4 accounts
- 447 conversations through Crisis Text Line
- 27,000 Safe Party website users
- 21,000 Aggie Mental Health website users
- 1,762 bike education trainings completed
Contributing to the Field of College Health
Our commitment extends beyond the campus as we contribute to advancing the field of college health through research, partnerships and advocacy:
- Presented to providers and professionals at the state-wide Centering Equity in Adolescent Sexual & Reproductive Health Meeting
- Presented on UC Davis’ Journey to Create a Size Inclusive Campus at the ACHA conference and established national weight stigma collective with 66 members
- Presented at National Nature Rx Symposium and represented UC Davis Nature Rx on ABC 10 news
What Students Are Saying
- "I came in with high expectations and this position has exceeded them. HEP has provided volunteers with several opportunities to expand our knowledge and the entire HEP staff is great."
- "I feel like this position is complimenting my education and preparing me for life outside university."
- "HEP focuses on harm reduction, which is not something that I grew up with in a culturally conservative household. It required me to shift my thinking in order to not automatically condemn certain behaviors."