NDNU Student Services

We believe that a successful degree completion experience requires a sense of social and emotional well-being. We offer free mental health services to NDNU degree completion students through our San Mateo County Community College (SMCCD) partnership at Cañada College. Cañada College’s personal counselors are licensed therapists or trainees who are supervised by licensed therapists.

NDNU’s undergraduate degree completion students can sign up for one-on-one therapy sessions by completing a Personal Counseling Interest Form using your NDNU Student ID in lieu of requested G-Number. For information and to make an appointment visit here: https://canadacollege.edu/pcc/

Crisis Assistance

StarVista is a nonprofit organization that has been helping people throughout San Mateo County navigate life’s challenges for over 55 years. StarVista’s counseling, crisis prevention, youth housing, and outreach programs reach tens of thousands of people in our community each year.

StarVista also provides a crisis hotline that provides emergency assistance to people who are not experiencing a medical crisis. 
StarVista Resource Directory

Gender/Gender Identity/Gender Expression

The San Mateo County Pride Center is a place where you can be you and have easier access to direct services. The Pride Center’s mission is to create a welcoming, safe, inclusive, and affirming community climate that fosters personal growth, health, and opportunities to thrive. The Pride Center serves individuals of all ages, sexual orientations, and gender identities through education, counseling, advocacy, and support. 

Outlet is a program of Adolescent Counseling Services that empowers LGBTQIA+ youth and builds safe and accepting communities through support, education, and advocacy. Services include social groups, therapy groups, mental health counseling services, and education and training. 

Grief/Death Support

Kara’s mission is to provide grief support for children, teens, families and adults. 

The Sutter Care at Home Grief and Bereavement Support program is open to the public and is designed to meet people where they are in their journey through grief. 

The Gronowski Center is Palo Alto University’s psychology training clinic dedicated to providing compassionate, low-cost counseling, psychotherapy and assessment services to adults, older adults, couples, adolescents, children, and families in Santa Clara County and San Mateo County. This center specializes in various topics, especially in grief, bereavement, and trauma. They also offer services on a sliding fee scale, as a part of its mission to serve the mental health needs of the local community, regardless of people’s ability to pay.

Stress

The Jed Foundation (JED) is a nonprofit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for our nation’s teens and young adults, giving them the skills and support they need to thrive today…and tomorrow. 

The Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (AAPB) promotes and represents the science and practice of self-regulation to enhance health and performance. It is the association’s vision to integrate self-regulation into everyday life. 

Traumatic Events

Rape Trauma Services (RTS) strives to eliminate all forms of violence, with a special focus on sexual assault and abuse. Informed by the understanding of traumatic experiences and cycles of violence, RTS facilitates healing and the prevention of violence through the provision of counseling, advocacy, and education. RTS promotes and adopts policies, practices, and the social values rooted in fairness, equity and inclusiveness. 

ADHD/ADD

Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) was founded in 1987 in response to the frustration and sense of isolation experienced by parents and their children with ADHD. 

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is the lead federal agency for research on mental disorders. NIMH is one of the 27 Institutes and Centers that make up the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the largest biomedical research agency in the world. A wealth of useful information can be found at NIMH.

Anxiety

The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) works to prevent, treat, and cure anxiety disorders and depression.

HelpGuide is a small independent nonprofit that runs one of the world’s top 10 mental health websites. 

Depression

The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) envisions wellness for people living with mood disorders (depression and bipolar disorder) and provides hope, help, support, and education to improve the lives of people who have mood disorders.  

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

The International OCD Foundation helps those affected by obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and related disorders to live full and productive lives by increasing access to effective treatment through research and training and fight stigma surrounding mental health issues.

The mission of AACAP is to promote the healthy development of children, adolescents, and families through advocacy, education, and research, and to meet the professional needs of child and adolescent psychiatrists throughout their careers. 

Suicide Awareness

San Mateo County provides a variety of resources for those who are struggling with suicidal ideation and/or intent. While StarVista provides programs for residents, the Behavioral Health & Recovery Services also provides resources through its ACCESS center for those struggling with mental illness and further self-harm.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and other mental health organizations and individuals across the U.S. and around the world raise awareness of suicide prevention during September, National Suicide Prevention Month.

Addiction/Dependence

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation and to improve the lives of individuals living with mental and substance use disorders, and their families. 

Eating Disorders

The UCSF Eating Disorders Program, formally established in 2007, is a comprehensive, evidence-based program that provides outstanding clinical care for individuals with eating disorders (up to age 25) and their families, including family-based and individual treatments. 

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is the lead federal agency for research on mental disorders. NIMH is one of the 27 Institutes and Centers that make up the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the largest biomedical research agency in the world. NIH is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Kindful Body specializes in the treatment of eating disorders via online therapy and nutrition counseling. Kindful body brings together therapists who are passionate and expertly trained in helping clients transform their relationships with their bodies and food. Kindful Body’s key values for disordered eating treatment are self-compassion, self-acceptance, self care, and self-love. 

Substance Misuse

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a 12-step program for those struggling with alcohol. AA’s program of recovery is based on one alcoholic sharing their experience strength and hope with another at meetings. Their primary purpose is to help alcoholics achieve sobriety. California Meeting Schedules

Alanon/Alateen are support groups for loved ones who have been affected by someone else’s drinking. Based on Alcoholics Anonomous 12 step approach, their primary purpose is to help families and friends of alcoholics. They have meetings every day at many different locations. 

Narcotics Anonymous A 12-step support group for those struggling with drug addiction. 
Meeting schedules

Women’s Recovery Association provides a comprehensive continuum of care including residential treatment programs, professional clinical services and community peer support. WRA provides an environment that fosters women’s ability to help each other heal, with a strong emphasis on safety, acceptance, and community. 

Our Common Ground offers programs for adults with substance use disorders. They offer treatment for individuals struggling with addiction, withdrawal and recovery. OCG provides each client with a warm, supportive and familial environment comprised by other like-minded adults, families, significant others and OCG staff. The treatment center includes inpatient, outpatient and residential options. Phone: (650) 367-9030 Ext. 26 (voicemail). 

Rehabilitation Centers 

FreeRehabCenters.org seeks to provide the most complete list of free, low cost, sliding scale, and low income assisted rehab resources on the internet. 

https://www.freerehabcenters.org/state/california provides a list of free and sliding scale rehab services across the state together with contact information and website links.

NDNU Student Services

NDNU’s degree completion students can also access a variety of free physical health services – such as first-aid treatment, over-the-counter medication, pregnancy or strep testing, and flu vaccine to name a few – by visiting the Health Center at Cañada College and using your NDNU Student ID in lieu of requested G-Number:

Office Location: Bldg. 5 Room 303

4200 Farm Hill Blvd., Redwood City, CA 94061

Telephone: (650) 306-3309

E-mail: canhealth@smccd.edu

Students can also make a virtual appointment with the Health Center via zoom. For more information please visit:https://canadacollege.edu/healthcenter/

AIDS/HIV and other STDS  

Planned Parenthood Northern California serves all people regardless of immigration status, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or ability to pay. Planned Parenthood offers life-saving cancer screenings, birth control, sex education, and STD testing and treatment including PEP and PrEP to prevent HIV infection, infertility services, and more.      

Cancer

The American Cancer Society is on a mission to free the world from cancer. Until they do, they will be funding and conducting research, sharing expert information, supporting patients, and spreading the word about prevention. 

The UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center offers a wide range of programs and services to support patients and families dealing with cancer. 

The Stanford Cancer Center in Palo Alto is a leader in cancer care and research. They provide a warm, supportive environment that enables patients and families to stay in one location for procedures and tests. 

Dental and Medical Care

San Mateo County offers dental and medical care at their Fair Oaks (Redwood City) health center.   

Samaritan House also coordinates access to care at two free clinics, one in San Mateo (650-578-0400) and one in Redwood City (650-839-1447). 

The Rotary Club also offers a low/no cost dental service.  

Less expensive dental care services can be obtained by having your clinician be a dentist in training.   

Domestic//Dating/Sexual Violence

Cora is the only agency in San Mateo County solely dedicated to helping those affected by intimate partner abuse. From counseling, to emergency housing, to legal assistance, CORA’s services are designed to provide safety, support, and healing. 

Housing & Food Services

Coastside Hope Agency is one of eight (8) Core San Mateo County agencies that addresses homelessness and provides basic safety-net services for those needing temporary assistance. Residents must reside in Montara, Moss Beach, El Granada, Half Moon Bay, La Honda, and Pescadero. Coastside Hope’s Emergency & Supplemental Food Pantry is also available 5 days a week at our El Granada office, during regular office hours. All food is given free to clients – no payment is ever required. Pantry food comes from community donations, local food drives, and from Second Harvest Food Bank. The Coastside Hope Agency also purchases food when necessary to ensure a sufficient supply of high-value foods.

Second Harvest Food Bank offers emergency food services as well as outreach and education on food access and nutrition. Second Harvest offers a number of free food resources, including many that don’t require ID to apply. California is the first in the nation to implement this state-wide program so that families no longer have to pay for their students’ meals.  For information about grocery and meal programs throughout the county call their Food Connection Hotline: 800-984-3663, or check out https://www.shfb.org/ and https://www.shfb.org/get-food/

Daly City Community Service Center is one of eight (8) Core San Mateo County agencies that addresses homelessness and provides basic safety-net services for those needing temporary assistance. Experienced case workers assess each individual’s situation and connect residents, primarily from Daly City, Colma, and Broadmoor, to emergency shelter, food, clothing, diapers, home goods, and urgent utility and housing assistance programs. Eligibility requirements and income guidelines apply to all programs. Seasonal support programs, such as back-to-school backpacks for students and Operation Santa Claus (toy deliveries for families with young children) round out the center’s features. Their goal is to help participants gain stable housing and self-sufficiency. Annually over 1,500 households and 3,000 individuals are served. 

Samaritan House helps families avoid a major crisis and homelessness with emergency rent or assistance with utility bills. Case managers work with clients to explore what contributed to their housing instability and address those issues. And they provide support with housing applications, qualification for housing programs and they work with landlords to create more housing opportunities for clients in need of a new home.

The Community Resource Center of the YMCA (CRC) serves families residing in Brisbane, South San Francisco, and San Bruno. The CRC provides individuals and families with basic emergency and support services to stabilize their living situations. They provide clients with crisis intervention and referrals based on an evaluation of each client’s needs and their qualifications for assistance. The CRC provides a safety net of services to San Mateo County residents in need of food, emergency housing assistance, emergency utility assistance, shelter and other basic needs. https://www.ymcasf.org/crc, and  https://www.ymcasf.org/food-pantries

Since 1974, the Pacifica Resource Center has worked with local businesses, organizations, and individuals throughout Pacifica to provide food, housing support, and other critical services to our neighbors in need. PRC is the only core agency in San Mateo County that provides these services to Pacificans struggling to make ends meet. 

San Mateo County Housing Search is a free service that helps people search for affordable housing in San Mateo County. 

HIP Housing is a trusted non-profit organization that creates a place to call home for thousands of people in San Mateo County. The Home Sharing Program helps match individuals seeking housing with people who have a room or Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) to rent.  Property Development and Management has allowed HIP Housing to preserve and expand the amount of available affordable rental housing in San Mateo County.  A third program, HIP Housing’s Self Sufficiency Program (SSP) provides housing assistance and support services to low-income parents or emancipated foster youth who are in school to increase their earning power and become financially self sufficient within 1-5 years.  Participants receive subsidized rent while they complete an education or job training program and find employment in their field. 

Veterans

Established in 1946, the San Mateo County Veterans Services Office (CVSO) helps veterans access state and federal benefits that help veterans, their spouses and family members. The CVSO also provides information and referrals to a wide range of services and connects veterans to programs such as the California Veteran College Fee Waiver for veterans and dependents.

550 Quarry Road, San Carlos, CA 94070 
(650) 802-6598

These providers offer counseling services on a sliding scale.

• One Life Counseling Center
• Access Institute
• C.G. Jung Institute: James Goodrich Whitney Clinic 
• RAMS (Richland Area Multi-Services)
• Liberation Institute
• SF Therapy Collective
• The Psychotherapy Institute
• Telecare
• The Wright Institute
• Community Institute of Psychotherapy
• Trauma Recovery Clinic
• Open Path Collective
• Star Vista Counseling Center
• California Institute of Integral Studies
• Seeds of Awareness
• SF New Perspectives