CARE Services Overview

Campus Awareness, Resource & Empowerment (CARE) Services offers four programs to support KSU students and the community:
  • KSU CARES 
  • KSU AmeriCorps VISTA Network 
  • Emergency Assistance Program 
These programs serve homeless, foster care, and/or food insecure students and impoverished persons and communities. They also offer financial assistance, access to food, temporary housing, and/or supportive services to bolster the realization of a healthy, stable, and dignified life academically and professionally. Furthermore, they strive to serve as a model of professional excellence and effectiveness by upholding core values of social justice, equity, economic sustainability, and mutual partnership. Marcy Stidum, LCSW, MPA serves as the Founding Director of Kennesaw State University’s (KSU) CARE Services.
2022 CARE Services Showbook Flipbook

Populations Served

  • What is College Homelessness?
    • Individuals and families who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence and includes a subset for an individual who is existing in an institution where he or she resided for 90 days or less and those who have resided in an emergency shelter or a place not meant for human habitation immediately before entering that institution;
    • Individuals and families who will imminently lose their primary nighttime residence and have proof of an eviction notice;
    • Unaccompanied individual and families defined as homeless based upon the McKinney-Vento Act. The McKinney-Vento Act defines homelessness as:
      • Sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason (also referred to “doubled up” or “couch surfing”)
      • Living in substandard housing such as motels, hotels, trailer parks or camping grounds due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations
      • Living in emergency or transitional shelters
      • Abandoned in hospitals
      • Have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings;
      • Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; or
    • Individuals and families who are fleeing, or attempting to flee domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or other dangerous or life-threatening conditions that relate to violence against the individual or a family member.
    • A Runaway Homeless Youth, defined as a youth who is “not more than 21 years of age…for whom it is not possible to live in a safe environment with a relative and who have no other safe alternative living arrangement.”  

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    Available Resources:

    …thank you for everything you've done for me. You opened up opportunities for me and gave me a hand, when I thought nobody cared.

    CARE Student

    Class of 2015
  • Who qualifies?

    At any time since turning age 13, both parents deceased, in foster care, or a dependent or ward of the court.

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    Available Resources:

    CARE Services has helped me to adapt to KSU. Because of the CARE Services, I have excelled in academics and I have learned how to transition into college life.

    CARE Student

    Class of 2019
  • What is Food Insecurity?

    The state of being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, food.

    • Individuals lacking sustainable physical or economic access to enough safe, nutritious, and socially acceptable food for a healthy and productive life.
    • When the ability to acquire enough food in a socially acceptable way is limited or uncertain.

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    Available Resources:

    ...you guys have blessed me and nurtured me with love completely and for that I am thankful. Thank you again for everything, words can’t describe.

    CARE Student

    Class of 2019

CARE RoadMap

CARE RoadMap Model was developed by Kennesaw State University's CARE Services.

Designed for people doing the work to make a difference in the lives of students belonging to special populations. CARE RoadMap provides access to tools, network and ideas to improve programmatic efficacy and efficiency. 

Registration

Questions? Please email our CARE Team at 

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