Basic Needs Center

Financial Support  

Visit Financial Aid to learn about other financial support options, as well as financial aid forms and resources. 

Food Assistance

Learn how to access free and discounted food on- and off-campus.

• The Food Pantry at Sierra College is open to all currently enrolled students experiencing food insecurity regardless of income. The Food Pantry stocks non-perishable items such as cereal, canned goods, pasta, peanut butter, etc.
• Almost Free Food at Nevada County Campus. Starting Monday, March 13, 2023, pick up a voucher in N1 to grab a bite to eat in the Cafe. One voucher can be used per week and must be used on day of pick up.

• Wolverine Meal Deal Vouchers on Rocklin Campus. Visit the Basic Needs Center to pick up a voucher. The program is available to all Spring 2023 enrolled students experiencing food insecurity. Learn more about how the Wolverine Meal Deal works below:

Community Food Assistance Resources

• AuntBertha.com: Find food resources available in your area, including emergency food, food delivery, food pantries, and help paying for food.
• CalFresh: Most students may qualify for CalFresh. To see if you qualify, complete the CalFresh application. If you have any questions, please contact Britt Bray, Program Manager of Basic Needs and Support Services at Sierra College.
• Community Food Resources, Find a list of food distribution agencies, free farmers markets and food banks in your local area. 
  • Interfaith Food Ministry
  • Food Bank of Northern California
  • Placer County Food Bank Distribution Schedule
• Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) offers a supplemental nutrition program for women and families who qualify. WIC offers cards to buy healthy foods, nutrition information, breastfeeding education and support, and referrals to health and community services.

Health and Wellness  

• Student Health Services: As part of your tuition fees, we offer all students free or low-cost medical services provided by a nurse practitioner. Services include family planning/birth control, counseling, illness diagnosis/treatment, lab tests, health screenings, prescriptions, and Well Woman exams. 
• Counseling: Our counselors can help guide and support you through your educational experience. We offer career and academic planning, plus short-term personal counseling.
• Behavioral Intervention CARE Team: Our CARE Team provides coordinated support for students in distress and takes a proactive approach to address students’ concerns, including personal issues, academic progress and mental health.
  

• Free access to mental health care: Sierra College students have FREE, 24/7 access to virtual care services with TimelyCare — the virtual health and well-being platform from TimelyMD, designed for college students. Students do not need insurance to access TimelyCare services.
• Hygiene Products: The Food Pantry offers menstrual supplies and hygiene products in addition to stocking non-perishable food.

Community Health and Wellness Resources

• AuntBertha.com: Find health and wellness resources available in your area, including dental care, help paying for health care, medical care, mental health care, sexual and reproductive health, and vision care.
• Mental Health Resources: If you are experiencing a crisis or life-threatening emergency, call 911. Otherwise, use the Mental Health Resources list to find mental health support on- and off-campus.  
• Nevada County Health and Human Services: Learn about health services, emergency services and other offerings in Nevada County.
• Placer County Health and Human Services: Learn more about in-home support services, Medi-cal, mental health, public health and other offerings in Placer County. 

Housing  

• Residence Hall: Rocklin Campus offers on-campus, student housing. Several spaces are open each year in the Residence Hall for unhoused or emergency situations involving students who need housing. 

Community Housing Resources

If you need help finding housing, we partner with local non-profit organizations and county agencies that support temporary and long-term housing for students, including: 

• AuntBertha.com: Find housing information, including help paying for housing, housing advice, maintenance and repairs, residential housing, and temporary shelter.
• Placer Housing Programs: Learn more about transitional and permanent supportive housing available.
• Placer Housing and Homelessness: Learn more about Placer County’s housing and homelessness programs, including emergency shelter, rapid re-housing, permanent supportive housing and housing vouchers.

Jobs and Employment

• Career and Transfer Connections: Our Career and Transfer Connection team provides resources and guidance to help students research careers, gain work experience, earn credit for internships and hone their professional development skills.
• CalWORKS: CalWORKS helps students meet their Welfare-to-Work requirements. The program offers academic, personal and career counseling, educational expense cards, employment opportunities, financial grants, priority registration and loaner laptops and calculators.

Community Job and Employment Resources

• Golden Sierra Job Training Agency: Use this local agency to find a job, gain job training, access job research resources or to attend job fairs and workshops.

Laptops, Wi-Fi, Technology  

• Student Tech Support: If you need help learning how to access and use Sierra College-related technology, our Student Tech Support team can help. 
• CalWORKS: CalWORKS helps students meet their Welfare-to-Work requirements, and offers loaner laptops and calculators to eligible students. 

Student-Parent Support

Sierra College provides support and resources for student-parents of children who are 18 years old and younger, and for students who are pregnant or expecting a child. For assistance and referrals, please contact our Basic Needs Center.

• Cooperative Agencies Resources for Education (CARE): The CARE program helps students who are single parents receiving cash-aid from CalWorks or Tribal TANF who want to receive college-level training or complete a specific educational program. Services may include meal cards, gas cards, child care assistance, school supplies and/or grant funds.

• Pregnancy and parenting rights: Federal law under Title IX prohibits schools, like Sierra College, from discriminating against students because of pregnancy, childbirth, abortion, or recovery from these. You have the right to an equal education, including participating in class and having pregnancy-related absences excused.
• Lactation spaces: Sierra College offers lactation facilities at all four locations.

Community Student-Parent Support Resources

• Child Action Inc., (CAI) – Sacramento County: CAI provides resources and referral services for families seeking child care, child care subsidies for qualifying families and family education and support.
• Child Care Referrals – Placer County Office of Education (PCOE): The Resource and Referral program at PCOE provides free child care referrals, without discrimination and without regard to income, to all individuals seeking child development programs in Placer County.
• Placer County Services for Children and Family Resource Guide: Use this guide to find family support, food assistance, clothing/furniture, disability services, employment services, health insurance/financial/general, medical/dental clinics, mental health/safety/violence/anger management, and transportation services.
• Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) offers a supplemental nutrition program for women and families who qualify. WIC offers cards to buy healthy foods, nutrition information, breastfeeding education and support, and referrals to health and community services.

Transportation 

• Bus Services: If you’re looking for ways to save money on your commute, consider using public transportation. 
• Transportation Assistance: If you need help with transportation to and from Sierra College, we offer transportation discounts and support to assist students on a case-by-case basis.