So - Your Kid's off to College?

SO YOUR KID’S OFF TO COLLEGE?

by: Joann R. Deutch, Journalist

Whether you’re sad or dancing a jig as you say good-bye to your college bound student, no one tells you about this.

You already know how to figure out the financing issues, help with leasing an apartment and organizing the moving arrangements and that trip to the college.

But then, what if your child gets sick? What to do especially when they are far from home.

Here is what any parent needs to know:

Because your child is over eighteen most college administrators and health care staff will not allow the parent to be what is known as a “helicopter parent”. Your student is over 18 and therefore an adult. If your child falls victim to any form of mental illness, not uncommon in young adults in their early 20s, the Deans have a tendency to be less than helpful. Don’t be surprised if they rely on “Privacy Laws" to “protect” your young adult, and be less that forthcoming.

Universities (especially big ones, but little ones can be just as bad) do not actively seek out students who are struggling. It may be because they see so many of them that they are unable to distinguish between the seriously affected students from those that are just “having a hard time adjusting”. Perhaps a faculty member notices that a student has stopped coming to class, then it has it go up the administrative chain of command to a Dean. At that point the university may or may not try to counsel your child, but mostly they try to be “hands off” until the student shows up at the counseling center seeking help. By then your child could have been adrift for weeks or even months.

However there are some actions that can be taken ahead of time to cover such situations.

But first some sobering facts: Study upon study show, and colleges themselves report, that depression is at an all-time high for students. There is a growing realization among college administrators that mental health is a major concern, but providing adequate resources for mentally ill students “is a significant challenge due to lack of funds and colleges not being equipped”. Depression is only one issue. Other more serious health issues also crop up.

According to a 2014/15 report from the Center for Collegiate Mental Health, institutional enrollment grew by 5.6% between 2009 and 2015, while the number of students seeking mental health services increased by 29.6%, and the number of students attending appointments grew by 38.4%.

If a Dean calls - it's a crisis !!

Consider the following suggestions.

With the proper paperwork in place a university or hospital must release medical information to you about your child, and they must accept your health care instructions as set forth in the Power of Attorney for Health Care. (Not to be confused with a Power of Attorney to conduct business.)

• Have a HIPPA (Privacy Authorization form) filled and properly signed and witnessed. Click here HIPPA forms by state (free online versions); and
• Get a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care. Click here Power of Attorney for Health Care forms by state (an AARP issued version). Check the box that says your authority begins ”immediately”. Get 2 originals: Keep one yourself and leave an original with the school’s clinic.
• Get these for both your home state and the school’s state.

• A traveling notary can meet you almost anywhere to get documents signed. It costs about $75, rather than the traditional $15.
• Remember if your child is over eighteen then your child will have to sign the Power of Attorney for Health Care.
• Be sure to talk to your professional advisor to understand the details that have been suggested here

* This not intended to be Legal Advice.