Clarke University is excited to announce a recent grant from the Walmart Local Community Grant Program to support its new CU Linked program. The $1,500 award will assist in connecting students with needed resources, goods, and support services on campus and throughout Dubuque, IA.
CU Linked is led by Clarke’s Social Work faculty and is open to all Clarke students. Students in need of assistance can attend walk-in hours or complete a simple form and are then paired with a faculty member who works to connect them with needed resources. This can include anything from small scale grants to cover utility payments and fees, to food and housing assistance.
According to Tara Velez, Instructor of Social Work and BSW Program Director, who is one of the leaders behind the CU Linked initiative, the program was developed in response to increasingly intense and diverse student needs.
For the 2022-2023 academic year, Velez anticipates that CU Linked will serve between 150-200 people or roughly one in four Clarke students. The program works in alignment with existing campus resources like Health Services, Counseling Services, and the Student Emergency Relief Fund. Additionally, CU Linked is looking to bring community partners to campus to make their services more accessible, such as Hillcrest Family Services and Crescent Community Health Center.
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