New sexual health resources available Health Center offers safe virtual services through Family Pact

BY ZOE RAMIREZ

M any Pierce students worried about their sexual health may gain more peace of mind through a new program that addresses several needs virtually.

Family Pact is state funded and allows access to sexual health services at no cost.

If a household income qualifies for the program, the student has access to birth control, condoms, STD testing and other sexual protection necessities.

Beth Benne, the director of the Student Health Center (SHC), said in a Zoom interview that Family Pact also provides something that many students find important.

“Let’s say you are 18 and are sexually active,” Benne said. “If you want to go on birth control because you don’t want a pregnancy but you’re concerned about your parents, you would qualify for Family Pact because you need confidentiality.”

Benne explained that the signup process is simple. After completing an application and answering a few questions, the office managers at the SHC can learn within minutes whether or not students qualify for the program.

From there, they would be referred to a nurse practitioner to discuss concerns or possible needs. Because of the restrictions made on campus, the SHC has been able to adjust to the changes and offer the program virtually.

Nurse practitioners are currently able to meet with students through Zoom calls, where they can order or request birth control, condoms and various types of STD or STI testing.

Although the program has become helpful to many at Pierce, Benne hopes to assist more students who are unaware of it.

“It’s huge,” Benne said. “It’s our population. Young people are sexually active and they run the risk of pregnancy and STIs.”

Kira Shteyman, a nurse practitioner at Pierce, said in a Zoom interview that this program

Jennifer Moses, an associate professor of psychology and statistics, voiced her concerns over the original building plan in an interview.

“I was going to be moved into the new building, so I made myself aware of the issues going around it,” Moses said. “It was important to me and on behalf of my students that we had a workable plan moving forward. One that was healthy and safe, and functional for all the affected disciplines that were going into those buildings.”

BY ZOE RAMIREZ

Despite school closure, Pierce’s Brahma Pantry still strives to provide services to students who may need help during the pandemic.

e Brahma Pantry provides services designed to help students succeed by addressing their physical, emotional and mental needs.

Crystal Kiekel, the faculty chair for the Student Success committee, said in a Zoom interview that a student’s ability to do well in school has many factors.

“Our ability to be successful in schools is a ected by many things,” Kiekel said. “Students need to feel safe and secure. So the Brahma Pantry quickly expanded beyond simply delivering food, to being connections to these many services.”

D’arcy Corwin, who operates the Brahma Pantry, said in a Zoom interview that the program continues to be a helpful resource despite it being online.

“We really want to address students with food, housing support, health and wellness and nancial support resources,” Corwin said. “We really want to support them with any resources during this time, as we know life can be very stressful as a student.”

Corwin said that many students may need the pantry’s resources, but restrictions on campus have made it more di cult for her to engage with students.

“When I was on campus, I saw so many students, just because that was the nature of the community we have,” Corwin said. “Now I feel like I’m not able to connect with everyone like I used to. But there is still a high need.”

Corwin said it’s important for students to reach out if they need help. She said education is critical and wants to ensure that there are no roadblocks to derail a student from achievements.

“If you don’t have a full stomach, and you can’t concentrate, or you're worried about how you’re going to pay rent, those are all really stressful things,” Corwin said. “I want students to know that they have a space where they can talk through all of those challenges.”

Michelle Reyes Leal, an intern who works with Corwin at the pantry, said in a Zoom interview that students come from a variety of socialeconomic backgrounds. She said that the pantry helps level out the playing eld so that students don't have any barriers holding them down.

“If you need job training, or if you need healthcare for lower-income families, the pantry can help you with that,” Leal said. “I feel like that helps equal out everything. You may have school, you may have families, and the pantry can help lessen out your stress.”

Leal also said the pandemic has brought many con icts among Pierce students.

“A lot of what we are working through is cash assistance,” Leal said. “Many people are laid o , so that’s a big resource that many people have been needing. A lot of people just don’t have jobs.”

Students can schedule one-on-one virtual appointments at the Brahma Pantry website for more information pchestnut.roundupnews@gmail.com zramirez.roundupnews@gmail.com is important to have especially on a college campus with a majority of young students.

“It’s safe, confidential, convenient and we are always right there and you can always stop by,” Shteyman said.

In addition to the program’s perks, Shteyman also said that a qualification from Family Pact can allow students to access other clinics. This can be useful considering that practitioners are currently unavailable to meet with students in person.

“Clinics, or even planned parenthood,” Shteyman said.

“That insurance or plan can help you access other services that we would usually provide.”

Shteyman’s overall goal is to inform students at Pierce that this service is available and that it’s important to take precaution to prevent unwanted pregnancies.

“I always tell my patients, please be proactive,” Shteyman said. “If you are sexually active, please get birth control, so you can concentrate on school and other aspects of your life.”

Deborah Sargent, another nurse practitioner at the SHC, also wants to remind students that her referrals to other clinics can provide services for free because of the Family Pact.

“I have really good clinics that I have a hookup with,” Sargent said.

“I have had nothing but excellent reports, so I usually send my students there.”

Although nurses at the SHC do make referrals for students to receive abortions, Sargent said she aims to promote safety and prevent unwanted pregnancy in a cost-effective way.

“We don’t want people having abortions all the time,” Sargent said. “We want them to get protected first. It’s so imperative to me to have Family Pact so we have a place to send students.”

For more information on how to sign up for Family Pact, visit the Pierce College Student Health Center website.