On Campus Resources

Cuesta College and UFW Foundation are partnering to provide free immigration legal services to ALL students, faculty, and staff. 
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Appointments available every 3rd Tuesday, 1st and 4th Wednesday and 2nd Friday of the Month.

Services Include: General Consultations, DACA, U-Visas, Special Immigrant Juvenile Visas, Family Petitions, Naturalization (Citizenship), Family Petitions, FBI and background checks, and MORE. 

Make an appointment for a free consultation and learn about your eligibility options!

If you are having problems making appointments, you may call UFW Foundation at (805) 246- 3867 or email Estella Vazquez.

*Due to COVID-19, all appointments and services remain virtual via Zoom and phone, until further notice. If you cannot secure a confidential space to speak with the UFW Foundation, please email Estella Vazquez for assistance.

Emergency Funding
Cuesta has emergency funding available to help undocumented and mixed status students. Funding can be utilized to cover emergency costs due to tuition, food, housing, health care, DACA Fees (including mental health care) or child care.

Email Estella today for more information about emergency funds at evazquez@cuesta.edu


DACA Financial Assistance
UFW Foundation is now offering DACA renewal assistance funds. Make an appointment today!

If you have a problem scheduling an appointment here or need immediate assistance, please call UFW to make an appointment or talk: 1-877-881-8281.


Free Internet- Affordable Connectivity Program
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) program that replaces the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (EBB Program) to help low-income households pay for internet service and connected devices.

If your household is eligible, you can receive:
Up to a $30/month discount on your internet service
Up to a $75/month discount if your household is on qualifying Tribal lands
A one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, tablet, or desktop computer (with a co-payment of more than $10 but less than $50)
Only one monthly service discount and one device discount is allowed per household. To receive the connected device discount, consumers need to enroll in the ACP with a participating provider that offers connected devices (Note: not all internet company offer device discounts.) The internet company will provide the discount to the consumer.

For more info visit: https://acpbenefit.org/ 

Academic Counselors are now available to help you with your academic goals. Our counselors are here to help you succeed at Cuesta! There is help available in-person, via zoom and over the phone.

Academic Counselor are here to help with: 

• Comprehensive Student Education Plan (CSEP)
• Career exploration & plan to transfer to a 4-year college

Make an appointment today to recieve help with your academic goals!

*Appointments are available in-person, via phone and zoom.

Have questions about your Financial Aid? Get help today!

• California Dream Act Application (CADAA)
• California College Promise Grant (CCPG) (previously BOGW)
• Cuesta Promise Scholarships
• Immigrant's Rising Scholarship List
• MALDEF Scholarship Resource
• AB540/ AB2000/ SB68 (in-state tuition eligibility)
• and much more... 

* Appointments are available in-person, over phone and zoom. 
Visit Financial Aid's Website to make an appointment! 

Visit Financial Aid for more information!

Basic Needs at Cuesta College: 

We support with all the essential resources needed to not only survive, but thrive here at Cuesta College. Whether you are a student, staff, or faculty, our mission is to support you as we work together towards justice and belonging for all. 

Food Resources at Cuesta College

The Cougar Food Pantry is available to help students. There is a variety of food available including: can tuna, oatmeal, granola bars, can beans, soups, cup noodles, peanut butter, quinoa, spaghetti etc. Student ID is required to receive food pantry resources.

Hours of Operation: 
SLO Campus: Room 5305 (Student Center) Monday -Thursday 10am - 2pm
NC Campus:  N1005, Campus Center 1st Floor Tuesday - Thursday 10am - 2pm

Cougar Food Pantry Emergency Food Grant Request         
The Cougar Food Pantry is able to provide students with emergency food purchasing abilities, regardless of where they live. The purpose is to be able to provide students with e-card access to a local grocery store or home delivery service.   

Food Bank Distributions at Cuesta College
Cuesta College hosts monthly distributions for the SLO Food Bank. We are hosting distributions during spring 2022!

SLO Campus
3-5:00pm, Parking Lot #3
San Luis Obispo Campus Map

NC Campus
3-5:00pm, Parking Lot #11
North County Campus Map

Free parking is available at both distribution sites. 

Please check SLO County Food Bank for updates on food resource availability in your neighborhood or call 805-238-4664.

Housing Resources
Do you need assistance obtaining suitable housing in the San Luis Obispo county area? Although the college does not provide housing for students, we hope to assist Cuesta College students by making housing options available.

For questions about food or housing, email Basic Needs at basicneeds@cuesta.edu.

• Immigrants Rising’s Mental Health Connector provides undocumented young people with psychological support, allowing you to access your strengths and resiliency in order to achieve your personal goals and healing.
• Community Counseling Center provides short-term, low-cost, professional counseling for individuals, couples and families who would not otherwise be able to afford it. Most clients have no insurance and a low to moderate income.
• Transitions Mental Health has numerous services for community members. Check out their monthly calendars to see what is happening at their wellness centers: Wellness Calendars.
• RISE serves both victims of intimate partner violence and sexual assault/abuse and their loved ones. RISE provides comprehensive programs, services and resources to the community.
• Check more Mental Health resources here.
  
  

Join a club or start your own club! Become a leader and make a difference!

Black Student Union
To educate, unite and inspire black students with awareness; to strive for academic excellence and empower black students to build the future while we motivate and learn.
For more information, contact student life at studentlife@cuesta.edu or call (805) 546- 3289.

Cuesta Pride 
To unite, support, foster, facilitate and create awareness for the LGBTQ+ community of Cuesta College.
Ritchie Bermudez, Co- Advisor |claudansid_bermudez@cuesta.edu

Dreamers United
To promote & celebrate diversity & ensure undocumented student success
Nolberto Marroquin, Co- Advisor | nolberto_marroquin@cuesta.edu 

Latino Leadership Network
To increase the participation of Latinos in leadership roles & higher education
Dee Limon - Advisor | dlimon@cuesta.edu | (805) 592-9987 

MEChA
To advance educational attainment of Chicano/a, Latinx students and promote leadership & social change
Mario Espinoza- Kulick, Co- Advisor | mario_espinozakulick@cuesta.edu 
Maggie Muñoz, Co- Advisor | magdalena_munoz@cuesta.edu
Alicia Paniagua, Co-Advisor | alicia_paniagua@cuesta.edu 

Cuesta has a variety of activities and clubs to help you get involved! For more questions please contact Student Life & Leadership at studentlife@cuesta.edu. 

Below you will find a list of individuals who work closely with the Monarch Dream Center to ensure that undocumented students at Cuesta College have the support they need to succeed. 

Counseling (Academic Advising)
Assists you in creating a Comprehensive Student Education Plan (CSEP) which serves as a guide while you explore your major, career and future goals such as advancing in your current and future career and/ or desire to transfer to a four-year college. 
Glenda Moscoso - Academic Counselor | gmoscoso@cuesta.edu | (805) 592- 9333

Academic Success Coaches
Provide academic support and assistance in navigating campus resources.
Jannet Rios Leon-  Bilingual Academic Success Coach; Dream Center Liaison| jannet_riosleon@cuesta.edu| Office: (805) 592-9032 | Cell: (805) 440-8721 

Basic Needs Center
Provide essential resources and support that impact your overall well- being such as food resources, housing, mental wellness, health care, financial resources and emergency needs. 
Dr. Anthony Gutierrez- Basic Needs Coordinator| agutierr@cuesta.edu | basicneeds@cuesta.edu 

EOPS/CARE & CalWORKs
Provide comprehensive support, services, resources to EOPS/CARE & CalWORKs students 
April McGee- CaFE Centers Technician | amcgee@cuesta.edu|(805) 592-9987 
Diane "Dee" Limon- Specialist | dlimon@cuesta.edu| (805) 592-9493


Career Connections 
Provide support in the job search process and assist with resumes, cover letters and job interviews
Shamarah Giannetto- Employee Services Coordinator| shamarah_giannetto@cuesta.edu| (805) 592-9758

Continuing Education: ESL, GED, Emeritus, NCTE
Prepares students for transition to post-secondary education, the workforce, and promotes lifelong learning through noncredit courses
Gladis Villalpando- Bilingual Academic Success Coach, Continuing Education| gladis_villalpando@cuesta.edu | (805) 592- 9577 

Disabled Student Programs & Services (DSPS) 
Provides support and guidance to those who seek extra academic support due to their learning disability
Jamie Bettencourt- Academic Success Coach; DSPS Liaison| jeremy_bettencourt@cuesta.edu | (805) 440- 9405 

Financial Aid
Offers support in understanding your options in paying for classes such as the CA Dream Act, FAFSA, the Cuesta Promise and scholarships.
Martha Davis- Financial Aid Specialist| madavis@cuesta.edu| 805- 592-9449

Student Health Services
Offers free and confidential physical and mental health services
Andrea Echeverri- Health Program Specialist (Spanish- English speaker)| andrea_echeverribeta@cuesta.edu |SLO (805) 546-3171

Student Life and Leadership 
ASCC- Student Government| The Cultural Center| Student Clubs and Organizations 
Gene DePuy - Student Life & Leadership Activities Assistant| gene_depuy@cuesta.edu

Student Success Centers (Free Tutoring)
Academic assistance through free drop-in tutoring, writing center, & workshops and coaching
Siboney Guardado- Assistant Director of Student Success Centers| SLO (805) 592-9574| siboney_guardado@cuesta.edu

For support navigating the following resources, call or email Estella at (805) 546-3109  evazquez@cuesta.edu.

Visit the Cuesta Health Centers for access to free, confidential, educational, mental and physical healthcare services for every enrolled student at Cuesta College.

• What health care and health services are provided for undocumented and international students?
  Cuesta Health Services when undocumented and international Cuesta students enroll in classes and pay the health fee they receive free and confidential physical health services and mental health therapy here at the Health Center.* The Health Services Program is guided by the California Code of Regulations (Title 5) 54702, Education Code Section 76401, Health Services policy 5200, and AP 5200. Though non-credit students do not pay the health fee, they may voluntarily pay the fee and access the services by visiting the cashier.
• Community Health Centers of the Central Coast offers primary care, dental and chiropractic care, optometry and behavioral health services and more for low cost or sliding scale fees.
• Noor Clinic provides free medical, eye, dental and specialty care for uninsured adults regardless of race, ethnicity, immigration, religion or socioeconomic status.
• Planned Parenthood provides reproductive health carefor low or no cost.
• The Center provides reproductive health carefor low or no cost. The Center is provides services at Cuesta Health Center every Thursday from 9am-2pm.
• STD Testing in Santa Maria you have options for getting STD tests in Santa Maria. Learn about convenient local testing for common STDs at a lab, clinic, or at home. And if you need financial help, find out about low-cost or free STD testing near you.
• MediCal an immigrant who meets all eligibility requirements, but is not in a satisfactory immigration status for full scope Medi-Cal is entitled to limited health services. These services include the MediCal breast and cervical cancer program, emergency hospital and long term care, kidney dialysis care, and pregnancy services.
• Tele-ER services are available with local doctors through Tenet Health by calling (805) 546-7990. Initial call is free of charge and they accept most insurance, including Medi-Cal.
  
  This is an excellent opportunity if you are unsure if you need emergency services. This option allows anyone to talk to a board-certified Emergency Room physician 24 hours a day, seven days a week from the comfort of your home. Many of their doctors can now "see" you online, and it’s easy to make an appointment. All you need is a smartphone, tablet or computer.
  
• Click here for more health resources

Immigrants Rising Support Groups

Registration for UNDOCUAPI SUPPORT GROUP
This group is a place for API individuals to come together to hear and be heard, sharing stories that express the uniqueness of each person’s experience and culture.

Through thought questions and prompts, we will build the strength of community that comes from recognizing common values, empathizing with familiar pressures, and finding comfort in a shared humanity.

Asian Americans Advancing Justice
To advance civil and human rights for Asian Americans and to build and promote a fair and equitable society for all.

Other resources available to YOU!

• Blog post on self-care tips for Asian Americans during COVID pandemic
• Headspace has some free resources for all and is free for providers with NPI numbers in 2020 
• Active online guide of free meditation resources
• Liberate Meditation (meditation app by and for POCs)
• Resources to support health providers’ mental health from UCSF
• Reminder of a critical examination of the use of mindfulness in western mental health 
• Psychology Today blog post: Radical healing in times of fear and uncertainty
• NAMI blog posts: Mental health coping strategies 

Responding to racism and xenophobia

• Understanding Racism and Its Related Stress Can Help People of Color Cope with Negative Effects by past AAPA President Dr. Karen Suyemoto and colleagues 
• Report and document incidents of hate crimes against AAPIs
• Surviving Racism Amidst COVID-19 - by Yin J. Li
• NYTimes article, How to respond to microaggressions - by Hahna Yoon 
• Guide to responding to microaggressions - by Dr. Kevin Nadal
• Disarming Racisim from A Psychological Perspective

Click here for more resources

Immigrants Rising Support Groups:

BLACK & UNDOCUMENTED SUPPORT GROUP
This group is created and offered to all Black and undocumented individuals seeking a brave space. In this space, we will be sharing our stories and unique experiences in a non-judgmental environment, feel validated, and be in community with other Black and undocumented people. 

UndocuBlack Network
A multigenerational network of currently and formerly undocumented Black people that fosters community, facilitates access to resources, and contributes to transforming the realities of our people, so we are thriving and living our fullest lives. 

Immigrants Rising Support Groups: 

UNDOCULGBTQ+ SUPPORT GROUP
This group is open to all individuals who identify as LGBTQ seeking a safe space. Being LGBTQ in a heteronormative society isn’t easy, and it can be more challenging when you are from a culture that is not accepting of your identity. 

Cuesta Health Centers: All of our therapists and nurses have received training in assisting the LGBTQIA+ populations. We are actively involved in continue training to make sure the services we provide are LGBTQIA + affirming.

A large portion of the clients we see are exploring the coming out process or needed a safe place to talk about their gender and/or sexual identity. We welcome these populations and have improved our intake forms to include preferred pronouns, Gender and Sexual identity.

Click here to learn more about our services at the Student Health Center

Click here for more resources