Davis Care Center Expands Resources for Centenary Students

Centenary College expanded its counseling and student support services this academic year with the creation of the Davis Care Center. This center added basic-needs resources while continuing to provide counseling and health services. The new name and expanded resources reflect an effort to support students in more areas of college life, including food, hygiene, transportation, professional clothing and mental health.

Photo Credits: Centenary Marketing Department

The Davis Care Center replaced the college’s previous counseling services name, CARE, meaning counseling, assistance, resources and education. Erica Johnson, coordinator for counseling services and health information, said the new name represents the center’s goal of providing more resources while continuing its existing health and counseling services.

“Our official name change is the Davis Care Center, and CARE is an acronym for counseling, assistance, resources, and education,” Johnson said. “Our goal was to kind of encompass the health information piece in that, but also provide more resources than we have historically.”

One of the biggest changes involved the center’s basic-needs room, which was redesigned to serve as a resource hub for students. The room includes a food pantry, toiletries, hygiene products, dishware and cookware sets that students can check out and laundry supplies. The center also continues to offer counseling services, a relaxation room, a sensory room, over-the-counter medications and sexual health resources.

Johnson said that the goal is to give students access to several types of assistance in one place instead of requiring them to find different resources on their own.

The Davis Care Center also partnered with the YWCA to continue providing students with access to the college’s career closet. Items from the existing career closet were moved to the YWCA, where students can access professional clothing for classes, interviews and other professional events. Johnson said students can be referred to the career closet through either the Davis Care Center or the YWCA. The partnership also gives students access to a larger selection of clothing.

Transportation became another resource available through the Davis Care Center. Johnson said the center has a small Uber business account that can help students who need rides to medical appointments, food assistance and other resources. The center can also help students apply for a student emergency fund approved by Dean Mark Miller through a partnership with SGA.

While the center expanded its basic-needs resources, counseling remains an important part of its services. Jamie Wells, director of counseling and health information, said the number of students using counseling services has increased since she began working at Centenary.

“It’s been a significant change,” Wells said.

Wells said the counseling staff has also worked to reduce the stigma surrounding counseling and make students more comfortable seeking help.

“I think we have worked diligently to remove the stigma attached to coming to counseling,” Wells said. “And I think that barrier is gradually being raised, and students are more comfortable with coming to counseling.”

Students also have access to TimelyCare, a virtual service paid for by the college. The service allows students to receive counseling from their dorm rooms or another location without visiting the Davis Care Center in person. Wells said the service provides another option for students who may be uncomfortable with in-person counseling.

“We want it to be utilized,” Wells said. “So even if they’re not comfortable coming in-person, there’s another option that they can do from the comfort of their dorm room or wherever they prefer.”

Although counseling services are frequently used, Wells said she wants to see more students take advantage of the center’s other resources. Her goal for the academic year is to increase student use of the food pantry, dishware and cookware sets, relaxation room and meditation resources. She also encouraged students who have used the services to tell their friends and classmates about what is available.

Student awareness remains one of the main challenges for the Davis Care Center. Johnson said many students do not know where the center is located or what resources are available.

“So many students still don’t know where we are,” Johnson said. “That’s, I think, the biggest barrier.”

Johnson said students are often more interested in returning after seeing the resources for themselves, including massage chairs, sensory rooms, and over-the-counter medications.

The Davis Care Center also connects students with community resources when the center cannot directly provide what they need. Johnson said the goal is for students to receive several types of assistance during one visit, whether they need food, health resources, emergency assistance, or other community support.

For students who feel nervous about visiting counseling services, Wells said taking the first step can be difficult but important.

“I hope that they know we’ve been where they have been before, and we recognize it’s hard to take that first step, but it’s an important first step to take,” Wells said.

Johnson also encouraged students to learn about the resources available before they need them.

“Make it your business to familiarize yourself with what’s available because you don’t know if you don’t ask,” Johnson said.

The Davis Care Center’s expanded services give Centenary students access to counseling, basic-needs assistance, health resources, transportation assistance, and professional clothing through campus and community partnerships. As the center continues introducing its resources to students, Johnson and Wells encourage students to visit the center and become familiar with the services available to them.