Student Outreach and Support

The Johns Hopkins University Crisis Assessment Risk Evaluation (CARE) Team provides care and access to resources to promote a safe and secure environment and to maintain the safety, health, and wellbeing of the campus community through a proactive, objective, supportive and collaborative approach. The CARE team intervenes to address and respond to student needs, attempting to avoid disruption to the integrity of the learning environment.

Members of the university community should inform the CARE Team/Student Outreach and Support of any student exhibiting behavior(s) that are concerning, a significant disruption, and/or pose a substantial risk of harm by submitting a referral to Student Outreach and Support. All referrals will be handled in a private manner, with information released only on a need-to-know basis.

In addition to implementing the following protocol for referrals of concerning or disruptive behaviors, the university may also refer such behavior for investigation of violations of the Student Conduct Code or Office of Institutional Equity policy.

The CARE Team is dedicated to the prevention, identification, assessment, intervention, management of and coordinated response to student situations and behaviors that pose a significant disruption to the student’s living and/or learning environment and/or a substantial risk of harm to individuals and/or the safety, health and wellbeing of the campus community.

The CARE Team members consist of the Dean of Student Life, Student Outreach and Support, Counseling Center, Student Health and Wellness Center, Residential Life, Student Conduct, and Student Disability Services. When needed, we call upon our campus partners in the Office of Institutional Equity, Legal Counsel, Fraternity and Sorority Life, Graduate School, Krieger School of Arts & Sciences, Whiting School of Engineering, Athletics, Student Community Liaison, and Religious and Spiritual Life.

Contact Us

For general questions and inquiries:
[email protected]

Elizabeth Winberry
Sr. Director of Student Outreach and Support
410-516-7857
[email protected]

Chat with a Case Manager is open to all Homewood undergraduates, regardless of whether the student is already connected with a case manager. The chat provides an opportunity to speak with a case manager about an urgent question, or for a student to evaluate whether or not they need to work with a case manager to address their concern.

This chat is not for students who may be experiencing a crisis; in that case, students should still contact the Behavioral Health Crisis Support Team (410-516-9355) for support in a crisis situation.

• Chat with a Case Manager for Student-Athletes
  For student-athletes seeking support
  Maura Knestout, SOS Case Manager
  Wednesdays from 3–4 p.m.
  Thursdays 11 a.m.–12 p.m.
  Ralph S. O’Connor Center for Recreation and Well-Being
• Chat with a Case Manager After-Hours
  For after-hours case management inquiries and information about SOS services
  With Susan Kodzwa, SOS Case Manager
  Wednesdays from 5:30–7 p.m. over Zoom

SOS Drop-In Hours are available for students new to SOS, students reconnecting after a break, or whose previous Case Manager is no longer in SOS. Hosted by Eileen Clinton, SOS Triage Specialist. For the most updated weekly hours, please visit @jhu.sos on Instagram.

• In-Person Drop-In Hours
  Mondays 1–3 p.m.
  Tuesdays 10:30 a.m.–12 p.m.
  AMR II Ground Level Annex (by the Blue Jay statue)
• Virtual Drop-In Hours
  Wednesdays 2–4 p.m.
  Fridays 10:30 a.m.–12 p.m.
  Over Zoom

The emergency fund is designed to help Homewood undergraduate students facing financial difficulty due to emergency situations or one-time hardships. The funds are awarded to help alleviate short-term financial need and are managed by Student Outreach and Support in collaboration with Student Financial Aid and Scholarships.

Eligibility

• Applicant is currently enrolled as an undergraduate at Homewood
• Applicant must demonstrate financial hardship resulting from an emergency, accident, or other unplanned event
• Applicant has not already received monies from the emergency fund this academic year
• Applicant has exhausted all possible other financial resources, including student loans, Medicaid, personal financial accounts, etc. A case manager in Student Outreach and Support can help a student navigate other financial resources if needed
• Emergency funds are capped at $1,000

Students interested in accessing the Emergency Fund must fill out the application and a case manager will follow up with the student to meet and talk about the need.

Things not covered by the emergency fund:

• Tuition and Fees
• Legal Fines/Expenses
• Parking Tickets/Fines
• Health Insurance
• Study Abroad costs
• Animal needs
• Gift cards

Johns Hopkins University Homewood campus has an official policy on missed class time and assignments due to illness and other absences. The Student Health and Wellness Center, Counseling Center, and Student Outreach and Support do not provide documentation for students who miss individual classes for reasons outside of our policy:

1. If Student Outreach and Support is notified of a student’s hospitalization, an email will be sent to faculty
2. If a student has to leave campus because of an emergency, Student Outreach and Support will notify faculty

If a student is seen at the SHWC for a serious or extended illness that causes a student to miss a number of classes over several days or major academic assignments, such as midterms and major presentations, the SHWC may provide verification of the visit to the student and also alert Student Outreach and Support. Verification will not be provided retroactively.

Student Outreach and Support is available for consultations around student issues (health, family emergencies, etc.) that impact class attendance. However, whether a student’s absence is excusable is the faculty member’s decision. Faculty may also wish to consult with the Director for Undergraduate Studies or Department Chair should they be unsure how to handle a student’s absence (or missed major assignment/exam) from a course.

Student Outreach and Support in partnership with Hopkins IT have a laptop loaner program for all Homewood undergrads who need short term use of a laptop.

Guidelines:

• Open to all Homewood undergrads
• Student may borrow a laptop for a maximum of two weeks
• Loaner laptops are to be used for academic purposes only
• Laptop must be returned in the same condition as on the pickup date

If interested, please fill out the SOS Laptop Loaner Application and you will be contacted by a representative from SOS or the Hopkins Tech Store. Once notified that a laptop loaner can be provided, the pick-up and drop-off is located in the Tech Store in Levering Hall, Monday – Friday, 9:30 a.m.–4 p.m.

All undergraduate students who are returning from a separation from the university are invited to the Welcome Back Blue Jay Celebration offered at the beginning of the fall and spring semester. The celebration is an opportunity to meet other students in addition to getting reacquainted with campus resources and involvement opportunities. The event includes information from these offices:

• Academic Services
• Student Disability Services
• Mental Health Services
• Integrated Learning & Life Design Lab
• Leadership, Engagement, and Experiential Development

Covered students may request a Voluntary Leave of Absence (LOA) for appropriately document reasons. These include medical reasons, military service, political campaign participation, other personal opportunities, internship, or personal or financial hardship.

Certain leave requests may require additional documentation and separate protections and processes may apply depending on the circumstances. They include:

• Medical Reasons: LOAs are requested for medical reasons must be supported by a licensed mental health or primary care (or specifically relevant speciality care) provider using the PDF Document: University’s required Provider Form. Pursuant to federal rules, for international Covered Students in F-1 status, medical LOAs must include documentation in support that is written specifically by a licensed medical doctor, licensed doctor of osteopathy, or licensed clinical psychologist. Provisional leave may be granted pending the submission of required documentation. Upon return from a medical LOA, the covered student must submit a Provider Form from a licensed healthcare provider that speaks to the management of the condition that precipitated the LOA such that the student is able to resume their studies and meet the academic requirements of their degree program.
• Military Service: LOA requests for military service require a letter of verification from the armed forces of the relevant country.
• Personal or Financial Hardship or other Personal Reasons: LOA requests for personal or financial hardship or other personal reasons generally require a signed statement from the student attesting to the specific nature of the hardship or articulating the need for the LOA.

General Food Resources

• Hopkins Food Pantry: The Hopkins Food Pantry was founded to help address food insecurity for all Hopkins affiliates, and operates in partnership with the Maryland Food Bank. Hopkins affiliates can apply online to gain access to the pantry.
• SNAP Supplemental Nutritional Access Program: SNAP is a county food benefits program formerly known as “food stamps.” This program is meant to provide ongoing access to nutritious food through monthly benefits. Benefits are deposited each month onto an EBT debit card. You can use these benefits to buy groceries as well as prepared food wherever EBT is accepted. Your eligibility will depend on several factors, including residency status, income, as well as part-time/full-time enrollment in school. The benefit amount awarded each month will depend on those same factors. To find more information, visit this link.
• The College SNAP Project is a SNAP benefits application for college students. There is an application process and there are no penalties for applying or re-applying. Call (866) 821-5552 to learn more or apply online. As this is a state-based resource, international students are not eligible.
• 211: 211 is a community resource hub available to Maryland residents. You can access resources for potential assistance with food, housing, utilities, legal information, and more through the website or by dialing “211.” On the “Food” section under “Resources” you can find information regarding food pantries, food distributions, food vouchers, and other food resources by inputting your zip code. This service is available throughout the country and resources change within each county.
• Maryland Food Bank: Access this link to find food pantries near you by inputting your address.
• Baltimore Free Foods Sites: Access this interactive map to find fee food pantries/distributions/resources in the Baltimore area. The legend provides additional access details.

Food Resources Near JHU

• The Franciscan Center: The Franciscan Center offers food pantry bags as well as prepared food plates.
• Saint Phillip & James: The Saint Phillip & James church has weekly pantry hours.
• The Church of the Redeemed of The Lord food pantry: Information regarding distributions and times can be found here.

Homewood undergrads can also reach out to Student Outreach and Support at 410-516-7857, or [email protected] to get connected with a case manager about food insecurity or other support resources they may be needing—in particular, those students who are home in a different state and need help navigating the resources available to them there.