Welcome to Noma Cares Central, your comprehensive support center at Sonoma State University, dedicated to assisting students in times of crisis and acute need. NCC offers a range of services tailored to address a variety of student concerns with the utmost care and confidentiality. Whether you're facing elevated personal challenges or urgent emergencies, our team is here to help through - the Basic Needs Initiative, which ensures access to resources related to financial or housing insecurity; the Care Team, providing coordinated support for multifaceted issues; Confidential Advocacy, offering a safe space for sensitive matters; Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), delivering mental health support; and the Career Closet, helping students present their best selves in professional settings. At NCC, we are committed to fostering a supportive environment where every student feels heard, valued, and equipped to overcome their challenges in order to thrive in their educational journey toward academic success.
Basic Needs
Critical to student success at Sonoma State University, the Basic Needs Initiative Program provides students who may be experiencing:
- food insecurity
- housing insecurity or are homeless
- an emergency and/or a crisis
with resources and services that remove barriers and empower students to persist and thrive in their educational journey toward academic success.
CalFresh
CalFresh is a nutrition program that provides eligible households and individuals with a monthly allowance for groceries. Eligible students may be able to receive food expenses of $150 or more.
Care Team
Charged by the Vice President for Student Affairs, the Care Team's purpose is to ease or mitigate the complex and compounding obstacles our students face which adversely impact academic success and progress during their enrollment at Sonoma State. The Care Team devises an individual plan, combining on and off campus resources, to support each student in the Care Team queue who is experiencing hardship.
Confidential Advocate
Confidential Advocacy is SSU's primary confidential resource for addressing sexual assault, intimate partner violence, domestic violence, stalking, sexual exploitation, and harassment.
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
Our purpose is to support student mental health and wellbeing. We offer short-term individual and group counseling, workshops, crisis intervention services, consultation, referral, training, and outreach to accomplish this. All currently enrolled students who pay the mental health fee (a mandatory campus fee paid at registration) are eligible for our services. There are no additional charges for our services.
Career Closet - Hosted by the Career Center
The Career Closet is a resource on campus that provides professional attire to all SSU students seeking employment. This is especially helpful for students who are transitioning into the workforce or trying to upgrade their wardrobes for job interviews or professional events. The Career Closet provides access to a variety of clothing items, including suits, dresses, shoes, and accessories, allowing every SSU student to present themselves in a professional and confident manner.
The Career Closet is located in Zin 100 in the Noma Cares Central Office, which is across from the Zinfandel mail room. There is a sign-in sheet that allows you to take three items per semester located at the front desk.
The ultimate goal of the Career Closet is to empower students in putting their best foot forward as they embark on their job search and career goals.