Organization: Operation Jump Start (OJS)

Location: Long Beach, CA

Programming Summary

The College Success Program addresses the needs of first-generation college students one step further. Since 2010, this program was offered during a student’s first two years at a four-year college or university or during a student’s community college years until they transferred to a four-year college or university. Seeing that students continue to need support and guidance, Operation Jump Start (OJS) expanded the program in 2014 to steward students through their third year, and in 2016 the program expanded to steward their students through degree completion. 

The goals of the College Success Program are to increase the persistence rate of college students, improve transfer rates of community college students to four-year colleges or universities, and increase the number of college students that earn a degree within six years of beginning higher education.

Demographics

OJS is currently serving 321 students aged 12-23, all of whom are attending or have graduated from a school in the Long Beach Unified School District. The students enrolled in OJS are among Long Beach’s most vulnerable and are representative of the educational crisis facing the state of California.

Approximately 66% of OJS young people are Latino/a, mirroring the general demographics of Long Beach. The remaining are Southeast Asian and Black students (similarly representative of the City's population composition). All the students assisted by OJS come from low-income families that reside in the area's highest poverty and highest crime communities. 100% of OJS students qualify as low-income and more than 80% qualify as “very low income” according to federal income guidelines. Each of these students is among the first generation in their families to pursue a college education and many are the first in their families to complete high school.

Identifying Programmatic Needs

What were the main needs identified in your initial assessments?

One of their initial needs during the assessments was the impact the program's growth would have on mental health services. That meant OJS needed to expand their partnerships with higher education institutions. In the Fall of 2023, they partnered with graduate psychology students at Seattle Pacific University to offer a mental wellness series. OJS has expanded their partnership with four additional universities as previously mentioned. 

Implementation of Strategies and Activities

What were the key activities undertaken during the project?

• Mental health training for staff and interns: 100% of staff and intern volunteers were trained and certified as Mental Health First Aiders. With this training, staff and volunteers feel confident in navigating initial conversations around mental health concerns. It taught us how to recognize signs and symptoms of mental health issues and substance use problems in youth.
• Mental health workshops and webinars: The rollout of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, affected the timeline of some projects in their plan. This particular project was among those delayed. It was originally scheduled to launch in January but was pushed back to May. Surprisingly, this delay turned out to be beneficial as it coincided with Mental Health Awareness Month. The timing was advantageous as many high school seniors and college students were feeling overwhelmed by end-of-year school assignments, finals, college admissions, and FAFSA applications.
• Proposed events, such as Family Wellness Day, Summer Wellness series/webinars, and Junior and Senior Supper Clubs, were all executed on time and without issues.
• The Parent Academy and College Readiness Meetings also followed as planned. It was imperative to have parents on the same track as their students to make sure they understand the potential stress and emotional challenges that come with being a college student. They are now better equipped to support and help manage these emotions.
• A web page for mental health resources has been developed and is continuously being improved. It serves as a valuable starting point for accessing resources quickly. Students now have the ability to request a counselor through their web page.

Outcomes and Impact

What have been the major outcomes of the project for your organization?

OJS has established partnerships with universities, which has enabled us to secure Master of Social Work interns to support their students in the college success program. This is crucial as this is the stage at which their students are embarking on a higher education journey and need a lot of support.

How has this project impacted the support systems your organization has been able to create to support the mental health and wellness of students?

Parent Academy initially focused on college readiness topics such as learning about California's different college systems, choosing a college, FAFSA, and helping parents understand the unique challenges of first-generation students. However, after this project, parents showed a greater interest in how to support their children's social and emotional wellbeing. Adding more mental health topics to the curriculum will increase parental support in understanding their children better and provide more support during their teenage and young adult phases.

How has this project impacted the mental health and wellness of students?

The projects OJS conducted during this grant have significantly increased students' awareness of their mental health resources. As a result of their projects, all students reported a better understanding of mental health issues and available resources, ultimately increasing their persistence and graduation rates as first-generation college students. Through one-on-one counseling sessions, students have been provided with a safe and supportive environment to discuss personal issues. Additionally, their peer counseling and workshops, such as the Supper Club and mental health series, have enabled students to openly explore and acknowledge their mental health needs collectively. This collective exploration has effectively reduced the shame surrounding mental health struggles. As a result of this project, 100% of students reported an increased understanding of mental health issues and the available resources. OJS believes that addressing mental health requires a collective effort. OJS' Parent Academy has been instrumental in equipping parents with the skills necessary to support their students' mental health journeys as they navigate their academic goals. Ensuring that parents are aligned with their students in understanding the potential stress and emotional challenges associated with college life has been crucial.

The academy has also played a significant role in destigmatizing mental health, allowing parents to recognize and support mental health needs in both their children and themselves.