When Tania Chambers was growing up, she often found herself helping her parents navigate new systems, serving as an interpreter, advocate and problem-solver. “From a young age, I helped my family assimilate into our new environment, filling in gaps wherever I was needed as a first-generation Mexican American.” said Chambers, now a Master of Social Work (MSW) student at Cal State San Marcos. “I became their translator, doctor, lawyer and social worker. These experiences shaped why I want to do this work.” She carried that sense of purpose into every role she has served – including preschool teacher, nanny and YMCA educator – and she saw firsthand how communication gaps between parents and schools can affect a child’s success.  “That made me want to be part of the solution,” she said. “I want to help families and children feel supported.” Now in graduate school – something that once felt out of reach as the first in her family to attend college – Chambers recently took part in an innovative Interprofessional Education (IPE) event hosted by the CSU Shiley Haynes Institute for Palliative Care, which is part of a larger palliative care initiative funded by the Hearst Foundations. Palliative care brings together a team of health professionals to provide holistic treatment for individuals with serious illnesses. IPE focuses on training students to work together in this collaborative model. Designed by CSUSM faculty from multiple disciplines, CSUSM’s IPE program places students from nursing, kinesiology, speech-language pathology and social work together to analyze a case study and develop a comprehensive plan of care. The goal is to help students think collaboratively while gaining an authentic understanding of what teamwork looks like in real clinical settings. “Graduate school can feel siloed since we focus on our own programs,” Chambers said. “This event brings students from multiple disciplines together under one roof to learn from each other and realize how much stronger we are when we collaborate.” In this year’s exercise, Chambers’ team worked on a family-centered case study involving a medically complex 8-year-old boy living with his grandparents.  “These cases remind us that families don’t exist in isolation,” she said. “When a child is struggling, it’s not just on the grandparents or the teacher. There’s a whole network of people who can help. Our job is to strengthen that network.” “Students will be expected to collaborate with other professions when they enter practice,” said Katie Robinson, assistant professor of nursing. “But as with every other practice competency, we have to teach them why, show them how and guide them through practicing it themselves. And now that we've worked out such an effective IPE model, it's exciting to think about expanding across the campus – and beyond.” Since spring 2023, the institute has hosted five immersive IPE days, with participation now reaching 150–200 students across the College of Education, Health and Human Services. “Alumni from previous events have shared how this event helped shape their transition into the workforce,” said Lorene Ibbestson, a social work lecturer. “It gave them confidence in their professional abilities and a deeper appreciation for how collaboration across disciplines can create meaningful change.” Now, thanks to a generous $200,000 grant from the Hearst Foundations, CSUSM’s IPE program will continue to grow, with plans to: launch a new IPE event in spring 2026 focused on health policy, including students from psychology, sociology and political science; build a similar IPE model at Fresno State and ultimately other CSU campuses; explore cross-campus collaborations with UC San Diego medical students and Clinical Pastoral Education programs. For students like Chambers, these simulated experiences are invaluable in helping them prepare for meaningful careers.   For CSUSM, the Hearst Foundations’ generous support not only strengthens IPE but also moves the university closer to its “Blueprint for the Future” campaign goal to raise $200 million in philanthropy and research funding. Media Contact Brian Hiro, Communications Specialist bhiro@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7306

The federal government shutdown might soon be ending – a vote in Congress could be held in the coming days – but it’s unclear how long it will take the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to return to normal operations. Cal State San Marcos students who receive benefits through CalFresh, California’s version of SNAP, could experience delays in receiving those funds and potential decreases to the amount in November. According to a recent article from the California State University Chancellor’s Office, an estimated total of more than 85,000 students may be impacted by the CalFresh delays. In light of this disruption to students’ basic needs, CSUSM is doing all it can to offer assistance to help fill the gap and keep students on the path to success. “At CSUSM, we understand that when students experience unexpected disruptions, like the recent delays in CalFresh benefits, their ability to remain focused on their academics is impacted,” said Viridiana Diaz, CSUSM's vice president for Student Affairs. "I’m proud that our campus community is responding with care and action through expanded food pantry hours, emergency funding and community food distributions. No student should ever have to worry about where their next meal will come from. Our commitment to the holistic well-being of our students remains a priority." Here is a list of resouces that are available during this time:   Emergency Food Distribution Associated Students, Inc., is teaming up with Feeding San Diego to host an emergency drive-through food distribution for the campus as well as the local community. The event will take place Saturday from 10 a.m.-noon in Lot N (next to Parking Structure 1). ASI is seeking students, employees and community members to volunteer to make the distribution happen – setup begins at 8 a.m. and cleanup starts at noon. You can register to volunteer at SignUpGenius.   ASI Cougar Pantry The ASI Cougar Pantry serves all CSUSM students to decrease food insecurity on campus. The pantry offers dry and canned goods, produce, milk, toiletries and diapers – free of charge. Location: University Commons 104 Hours: Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (extended hours from Nov. 12-19 and open until 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays)  Email: cougarpantry@csusm.edu Each currently enrolled CSUSM student can shop once per week for free groceries.   ASI Fresh Market Monday Biweekly food distribution of free fruits and vegetables for CSUSM students thanks to generous partner Feeding San Diego. Don't forget to bring your student ID and a reusable bag. Location: Cesar Chavez Plaza Hours: 11 a.m.-1 p.m., first and third Monday of the month Upcoming dates: Nov. 17, Dec. 1   ASI Cougar Pantry On-the-Go Additional snacks and produce are available in 10 locations across campus: ACE Scholars Services office (Administrative Building 3400) ASI office (University Student Union 3700) Clarke Field House COMPASS Center (Kellogg Library 1103) EOP/TRIO (Admin Building 4100) Kellogg Library (second floor) Social and Behavioral Sciences Building (first floor) STEM Success Center (Extended Learning Building, Room 251) Student Health & Counseling Services Building (lobby) Veterans Center   Swipe Out Hunger  The Swipe Out Hunger program provides up to 10 well-balanced, on-campus meals per semester to students experiencing food insecurity and/or an emergency. Eligible students can dine at Campus Way Cafe or Kalamata Mediterranean Hilltop Grille (limited lunch menu) in the USU.    ASI Student Emergency Fund  The ASI Student Emergency Fund provides $350 to currently enrolled CSUSM students who encounter an unexpected financial emergency or catastrophic event in which their basic needs and/or ability to function as a student are impacted.     San Diego Food Bank The San Diego Food Bank offers a wide variety of food and non-food related programs designed to help San Diegans in need.   Feeding San Diego Feeding San Diego offers food assistance at sites throughout San Diego County. Use the “Find Help" map to search for free food distributions near you by entering your zip code.     211 San Diego 211 San Diego offers real-time updates on food distribution schedules, eligibility and local resources. Visit the website or dial 2-1-1 for immediate support.   If you need help navigating available options, reach out to the Cougar Care Network at ccn@csusm.edu or visit www.csusm.edu/ccn. Media Contact Brian Hiro, Communications Specialist bhiro@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7306

When Tania Chambers was growing up, she often found herself helping her parents navigate new systems, serving as an interpreter, advocate and problem-solver. “From a young age, I helped my family assimilate into our new environment, filling in gaps wherever I was needed as a first-generation Mexican American.” said Chambers, now a Master of Social Work (MSW) student at Cal State San Marcos. “I became their translator, doctor, lawyer and social worker. These experiences shaped why I want to do this work.” She carried that sense of purpose into every role she has served – including preschool teacher, nanny and YMCA educator – and she saw firsthand how communication gaps between parents and schools can affect a child’s success.  “That made me want to be part of the solution,” she said. “I want to help families and children feel supported.” Now in graduate school – something that once felt out of reach as the first in her family to attend college – Chambers recently took part in an innovative Interprofessional Education (IPE) event hosted by the CSU Shiley Haynes Institute for Palliative Care, which is part of a larger palliative care initiative funded by the Hearst Foundations. Palliative care brings together a team of health professionals to provide holistic treatment for individuals with serious illnesses. IPE focuses on training students to work together in this collaborative model. Designed by CSUSM faculty from multiple disciplines, CSUSM’s IPE program places students from nursing, kinesiology, speech-language pathology and social work together to analyze a case study and develop a comprehensive plan of care. The goal is to help students think collaboratively while gaining an authentic understanding of what teamwork looks like in real clinical settings. “Graduate school can feel siloed since we focus on our own programs,” Chambers said. “This event brings students from multiple disciplines together under one roof to learn from each other and realize how much stronger we are when we collaborate.” In this year’s exercise, Chambers’ team worked on a family-centered case study involving a medically complex 8-year-old boy living with his grandparents.  “These cases remind us that families don’t exist in isolation,” she said. “When a child is struggling, it’s not just on the grandparents or the teacher. There’s a whole network of people who can help. Our job is to strengthen that network.” “Students will be expected to collaborate with other professions when they enter practice,” said Katie Robinson, assistant professor of nursing. “But as with every other practice competency, we have to teach them why, show them how and guide them through practicing it themselves. And now that we've worked out such an effective IPE model, it's exciting to think about expanding across the campus – and beyond.” Since spring 2023, the institute has hosted five immersive IPE days, with participation now reaching 150–200 students across the College of Education, Health and Human Services. “Alumni from previous events have shared how this event helped shape their transition into the workforce,” said Lorene Ibbestson, a social work lecturer. “It gave them confidence in their professional abilities and a deeper appreciation for how collaboration across disciplines can create meaningful change.” Now, thanks to a generous $200,000 grant from the Hearst Foundations, CSUSM’s IPE program will continue to grow, with plans to: launch a new IPE event in spring 2026 focused on health policy, including students from psychology, sociology and political science; build a similar IPE model at Fresno State and ultimately other CSU campuses; explore cross-campus collaborations with UC San Diego medical students and Clinical Pastoral Education programs. For students like Chambers, these simulated experiences are invaluable in helping them prepare for meaningful careers.   For CSUSM, the Hearst Foundations’ generous support not only strengthens IPE but also moves the university closer to its “Blueprint for the Future” campaign goal to raise $200 million in philanthropy and research funding. Media Contact Brian Hiro, Communications Specialist bhiro@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7306

The federal government shutdown might soon be ending – a vote in Congress could be held in the coming days – but it’s unclear how long it will take the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to return to normal operations. Cal State San Marcos students who receive benefits through CalFresh, California’s version of SNAP, could experience delays in receiving those funds and potential decreases to the amount in November. According to a recent article from the California State University Chancellor’s Office, an estimated total of more than 85,000 students may be impacted by the CalFresh delays. In light of this disruption to students’ basic needs, CSUSM is doing all it can to offer assistance to help fill the gap and keep students on the path to success. “At CSUSM, we understand that when students experience unexpected disruptions, like the recent delays in CalFresh benefits, their ability to remain focused on their academics is impacted,” said Viridiana Diaz, CSUSM's vice president for Student Affairs. "I’m proud that our campus community is responding with care and action through expanded food pantry hours, emergency funding and community food distributions. No student should ever have to worry about where their next meal will come from. Our commitment to the holistic well-being of our students remains a priority." Here is a list of resouces that are available during this time:   Emergency Food Distribution Associated Students, Inc., is teaming up with Feeding San Diego to host an emergency drive-through food distribution for the campus as well as the local community. The event will take place Saturday from 10 a.m.-noon in Lot N (next to Parking Structure 1). ASI is seeking students, employees and community members to volunteer to make the distribution happen – setup begins at 8 a.m. and cleanup starts at noon. You can register to volunteer at SignUpGenius.   ASI Cougar Pantry The ASI Cougar Pantry serves all CSUSM students to decrease food insecurity on campus. The pantry offers dry and canned goods, produce, milk, toiletries and diapers – free of charge. Location: University Commons 104 Hours: Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (extended hours from Nov. 12-19 and open until 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays)  Email: cougarpantry@csusm.edu Each currently enrolled CSUSM student can shop once per week for free groceries.   ASI Fresh Market Monday Biweekly food distribution of free fruits and vegetables for CSUSM students thanks to generous partner Feeding San Diego. Don't forget to bring your student ID and a reusable bag. Location: Cesar Chavez Plaza Hours: 11 a.m.-1 p.m., first and third Monday of the month Upcoming dates: Nov. 17, Dec. 1   ASI Cougar Pantry On-the-Go Additional snacks and produce are available in 10 locations across campus: ACE Scholars Services office (Administrative Building 3400) ASI office (University Student Union 3700) Clarke Field House COMPASS Center (Kellogg Library 1103) EOP/TRIO (Admin Building 4100) Kellogg Library (second floor) Social and Behavioral Sciences Building (first floor) STEM Success Center (Extended Learning Building, Room 251) Student Health & Counseling Services Building (lobby) Veterans Center   Swipe Out Hunger  The Swipe Out Hunger program provides up to 10 well-balanced, on-campus meals per semester to students experiencing food insecurity and/or an emergency. Eligible students can dine at Campus Way Cafe or Kalamata Mediterranean Hilltop Grille (limited lunch menu) in the USU.    ASI Student Emergency Fund  The ASI Student Emergency Fund provides $350 to currently enrolled CSUSM students who encounter an unexpected financial emergency or catastrophic event in which their basic needs and/or ability to function as a student are impacted.     San Diego Food Bank The San Diego Food Bank offers a wide variety of food and non-food related programs designed to help San Diegans in need.   Feeding San Diego Feeding San Diego offers food assistance at sites throughout San Diego County. Use the “Find Help" map to search for free food distributions near you by entering your zip code.     211 San Diego 211 San Diego offers real-time updates on food distribution schedules, eligibility and local resources. Visit the website or dial 2-1-1 for immediate support.   If you need help navigating available options, reach out to the Cougar Care Network at ccn@csusm.edu or visit www.csusm.edu/ccn. Media Contact Brian Hiro, Communications Specialist bhiro@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7306