Student Advocacy Center
The Student Advocacy Center Helpline is (210) 486-1111.
The Student Advocacy Center is changing the lives of our students by providing them with the resources they need to meet their basic needs so they are able to focus on their academics, increasing student performance, retention, and graduation rates, contributing to a healthy, stable, and educated community.
Since fall 2016, the Student Advocacy Center serves, students, faculty, and staff with a variety of programs and services to help them succeed. The Student Advocacy Center is driven by our own SAC work-study students, as well as Social Work, Counseling, and Public Health interns, from colleges across San Antonio, providing a collaborative approach to our client's needs.
Grab-and-go snacks/drinks are available to students at the center daily.
Hours
Monday-Thursday 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
First Saturday of the month 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
The SAC Advocacy Resource Room Powered by Whataburger
A food pantry available by appointment to students, staff, and faculty twice a month. To schedule, call (210) 486-1111.
Magic Closet
A clothes closet available by appointment to students, staff, and faculty twice a month. To schedule, call (210) 486-1111.
Counseling Services
Case Management Services through Referrals
- Application for public assistance including SNAP benefits, WIC or Medicaid.
- Emergency assistance for services and support including housing, health care, child care, and utility assistance.
Grab-N-Go
Daily snack and drink offered to students.
Service Center
Click on the findhelp.org link below to connect to local community resources. Type in your zip code to get a list of categories, such as food, housing, goods, transit, health, money, care, education, work and legal. These categories have sub-categories that provide information on free or reduced-cost help available in your community.
Partnering, Assisting & Transforming for Higher Education (PATH)
PATH is located in the Student Advocacy Center. Support and guidance are provided by student care advocates who offer support services to current, former foster, and adopted youth through the Alamo Colleges. Help is available to maintain academic success by connecting foster and adopted youth with their Certified Advisor for continued academic support. Eligible foster students benefit from referrals to services provided by the Alamo Colleges and by community partners.
Emergency Funding
There are funds specifically allocated for PATH students experiencing a crisis.
Some of these expenses may include:
- Housing (including rental arrears)
- Utilities (including arrears)
- Vehicle costs and maintenance
- Medical expenses
- Phone/internet
- Groceries
If you are experiencing an emergency and need to request funds, contact your Student Care Advocate.
Note: Students must be actively enrolled and attending school.
DFPS Benefits
- Medicaid Benefits: If you are under the age of 26 and aged out of foster care.
- Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Benefits.
- Other state resources as identified by your Student Care Advocate.
Student Advocacy Center Events
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Increase student retention rates by supporting student's unmet socio-economic or mental health needs which exist outside the classroom and negatively impact levels of stress, focus, and student performance.
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We will demonstrate respect and care for each student as we endeavor to deeply understand their needs and work tirelessly to help remove barriers to critical basic-needs resources using holistic assessment and case management as a best practice.