October 11, 2021

Media Contact:
Dr. Chio Flores, vice president of student services, cflores@wvc.edu
Libby Siebens, community relations executive director, 509-682-6436 (Mon.-Thurs.)

WVC was selected to receive a Mental Health Counseling and Services (MHCS) grant this year as part of the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) grant pilot program.

WVC is one of four Washington colleges selected for the pilot program. The college will receive $250,000 over the next two years to expand student access to mental health counseling and services. The program is part of a bill passed by the Washington state Legislature during its 2021 session.

Through the pilot grant WVC will hire a full-time Faculty Counselor and half-time College Navigator. These positions will allow for an additional one to two days of counseling services on the WVC at Omak campus. The navigator will work to establish partnerships with community resources and support the counseling department with triaging and appointments.

“We understand that the need for mental health counseling for college students is more pressing than ever,” said Dr. Chio Flores, vice president of student services. “This grant will allow us to more effectively serve students who are struggling.”

Learn more about the grant on the SBCTC MHCS page. Learn more about WVC counseling services at wvc.edu/Counseling.

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Wenatchee Valley College enriches North Central Washington by serving educational and cultural needs of communities and residents throughout the service area. The college is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion for all students and employees and provides high-quality transfer, liberal arts, professional/technical, basic skills and continuing education for students of diverse ethnic and economic backgrounds. Visit our website, wvc.edu.

Wenatchee Valley College is committed to a policy of equal opportunity in employment and student enrollment. All programs are free from discrimination and harassment against any person because of race, creed, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a service animal by a person with a disability, age, parental status or families with children, marital status, religion, genetic information, honorably discharged veteran or military status or any other prohibited basis per RCW 49.60.030, 040 and other federal and state laws and regulations, or participation in the complaint process. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies and Title IX compliance for both the Wenatchee and Omak campuses:

• To report discrimination or harassment: Title IX Coordinator, Wenatchi Hall 2322M, (509) 682-6445, title9@wvc.edu.
• To request disability accommodations: Director of Student Access, Wenatchi Hall 2133, (509) 682-6854, TTY/TTD: dial 711, sas@wvc.edu.