Confidentiality          Care For Minors         Communication         Drug & Alcohol Use
First Aid Supplies         Immunizations          Medical Advice          Student Advocate          Student Life

Confidentiality

 Care For Minors

 Communication

 Drug & Alcohol Use

First Aid Supplies

Immunizations 

 Medical Advice

Student Advocate

  Student Life

Confidentiality

If your student has reached the age of 18, their medical information is confidential. Breaking this confidentiality and releasing information to parents without permission is against the law. Confidentiality is an important first step for young adults to begin taking responsibility for their own health care.

An Authorization to Release Medical Records form must be signed by the student in order for the Student Health Center to share medical information.

Communication

Effective communication is key:

• Take time to talk to your student about their personal challenges, fears and expectations.
• Model communication skills that you want your student to learn. Give your student permission to discuss emotional subjects and to disagree.
• Discuss any family history of medical or mental health problems. Become an active listener, be patient and avoid interrupting them. Allow your student to make their point.
• Avoid lecturing and criticizing. Share your knowledge and information in a non-judgmental way.
• Encourage your student to solve their own problems.
• Recognize warning signs of depression, anxiety, sleep disorders and substance abuse.
• If your student calls in crisis:
  • Find out what the problem is and how they are coping with it.
  • Help your student utilize campus resources such as:
    • Counseling Center
    • Residence Life
    • Dean of Students Office

First-Aid Supplies

Every student should have some basic medical supplies while at school including:

• Band-Aids
• Antibiotic ointment
• Acetaminophen
• Ibuprofen
• Cold medicines
• Thermometer
• Cold pack

Medical Advice

In preparation for your student taking control of their own health care, discuss the following:

• When it is appropriate to seek health care.
• Health insurance coverage and the importance of carrying a health insurance card.
• How to care for cold, flu and allergy symptoms, stressing that antibiotics are not always necessary.
• How to eat healthy.
• The importance of seven to eight hours of good sleep.
• Young adults need to know how and when to perform self breast and/or testicular exams.
• All sexually active young adults should have routine STD testing.
• All young adults should have their cholesterol/lipids checked by the age of 20.
• All young adults should have their blood pressure checked annually.
• Young adults should be aware of the signs and symptoms of mental health problems.

Student Life

Letting go is an important task for parents since college life is another step toward independent living for your student. Keep the following in mind as you help your student transition into college life:

• College requires more self-discipline. There is less time spent in classrooms and more time spent studying outside of class. Helping your student develop time management skills is very important.
• Encourage independent decision-making about choice of major, course work, friendships and interests. Young adults need to make their own choices and learn from them.
• Expect identity exploration as young adults are exposed to varied life styles.
• Expect an adjustment to shared living. One of the tasks learned is how to get along with others, problem solve differences and learn to compromise.
• Students who feel pressure to get straight A’s are more stressed and don’t enjoy the learning process.
• Help your student set realistic expectations about participation in extracurricular activities such as sports, clubs, drama productions or student government.
• Discuss financial arrangements for college in advance. Review financial aid and student loan options. Discuss whether getting a job is expected and how many hours are realistic.