Students overcome challenges with assistance from Citrus College

By Patricia A. Rasmussen, Ed.D., Citrus College Governing Board Member

A college education wasn't part of Alexis Carlin's original plan. After graduating from high school, she worked in the cosmetic industry for more than a decade. However, motherhood – along with a global pandemic – led her to change direction and register for classes at Citrus College. "I knew I wanted to build a wonderful life for my son and realized that going back to school would probably be a lot easier than the other obstacles I was facing," she remembers.

Like many single parents before her, Carlin connected with the college's Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS), Cooperative Agencies Resources for Education (CARE), and California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) department soon after enrolling. This connection helped her solidify her goals. "As I interacted with the students and staff of EOPS/CARE and CalWORKs, I realized I really wanted to further my education," Carlin said.

Part of the college's student services division, the EOPS/CARE and CalWORKs department operates with a single purpose: to help students succeed in reaching their educational goals. The three programs within the department are each designed to remove barriers that can prevent students from pursuing higher education.

EOPS is a state-funded program that provides services for economically and academically disadvantaged students. Qualified participants receive access to a number of resources, including specialized counseling, priority registration, textbook funds and basic needs support, such as food and gas assistance. They also have the opportunity to participate in Summer Bridge, a program that helps incoming freshmen transition from high school.

CARE began as a special project within EOPS. It is designed to assist single parents who are receiving state aid to attend college and develop the skills necessary to gain employment. In addition to receiving the benefits of the EOPS program, CARE students can also receive an unmet need grant, transportation support and focused counseling, among other benefits.

Similarly, CalWORKs is a state-funded program designed specifically for parents. On the Citrus College campus, CalWORKs staff help students receive access to vital services, such as work study, job placement, curriculum development, skills training and more.

In addition to giving students access to important resources, the department also provides them with valuable opportunities. For example, staff helped several students earlier this year apply for the "Live Your Dream" scholarship, presented by the Azusa/Glendora chapter of Soroptimist International of the Americas, Inc. Designed to assist with school and personal experiences while students work to improve their skills, it is awarded every year to women who provide the primary financial support for their families. In 2023, the scholarship was awarded to three Citrus College CalWORKs students – including Carlin.

"I always reach out to the EOPS/CARE and CalWORKs counselors at Citrus College to see if they have students interested in applying," said Marilyn Grinsdale, chair of the Live Your Dream scholarship committee. "The department is so amazing! Our organization tries to help a few women, but the staff in EOPS/CARE and CalWORKs help so many people every single day."

Driven by their desire to make a positive impact, the EOPS/CARE and CalWORKs team serves students with kindness, dignity and compassion. Many of the employees share backgrounds similar to those of their students, which allows them to empathize and provide high-quality service. "As a single mother of a two-year-old boy, the support I received made all the difference," Carlin explains.

Making a difference is what this department is all about. Future plans include rolling out a NextUp program for students who were once in foster care, navigating ever-increasing enrollment numbers and continuing to adapt to meet the evolving needs of students. As the Glendora area's representative on the Citrus Community College District Board of Trustees, I am proud of the great work taking place in the college's EOPS/CARE and CalWORKs department, and I look forward to sharing news of their continued growth.