Coordinated Support Services

CSS provides individualized guidance to help students who are navigating personal or academic challenges. We support students in identifying barriers, exploring their options, and making informed decisions. This may include help accessing mental health supports, academic accommodations, financial resources, or other services—both on campus and in the community. The CSS team works alongside students to coordinate support, troubleshoot obstacles, and empower them to make informed decisions that support their success.

CSS can provide assistance in many areas, including but not limited to:

• Mental health support
• Sexual violence survivor support
• Food and housing insecurity
• Harm reduction and substance use support
• Indigenous and 2SLGBTQIA+ -focused supports
• Help accessing academic support and accommodations
• Guidance on navigating OC policies and procedures

All current OC students can access CSS, no matter which campus you're on or whether you're studying in-person or online. Support is available to students from all programs and locations.

OC faculty and staff are also welcome to connect with CSS when questions or concerns about supporting students arise. We can help with debriefing conversations or situations, navigating the support systems available, and exploring options if a student declines to be connected with us. We also support staff in facilitating consent-based conversations, and we're available to confidentially discuss general observations—without identifying a student—to help you determine next steps.

CSS focuses on coordinating support when students are facing complex challenges or multiple barriers. While other student services offer specific types of support (like Counselling Services, Disability Access Services, or Education Advising), CSS takes a broader, big-picture approach.

We help students make sense of what’s available and figure out what combination of services might be most helpful. Our role often involves collaborating closely with other departments, making referrals, and helping students navigate between services. By working together with other supports, we aim to reduce confusion, fill in gaps, and provide more coordinated, wrap-around support that meets students where they’re at.

Yes! Students are welcome to connect with us directly. You can reach out by emailing occares@okanagan.bc.ca or by dropping into the Student Services office (room S111) on the Kelowna campus.

Every student’s situation is unique, and there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to offering support. We encourage OC employees to choose the referral method that best fits the situation and feels the most supportive for the student.

Support from CSS is always student-led and consent-based. Students must provide consent before we can connect with them, and we’re not able to reach out directly unless they’ve agreed—except in rare cases where there is an imminent risk of harm. For suggestions on how to talk with a student about support and encourage them to connect with CSS or accept a referral, visit the Care System webpage.

If you're unsure about the best way to refer a student—or if you're navigating a situation and want to talk through options—please don’t hesitate to connect with us at occares@okanagan.bc.ca.

Here are the ways OC employees can refer a student to CSS:

• Care System Referral
  Faculty and staff can submit a Care Referral through the Care System—an online tool that helps OC employees connect students to CSS. Students must give consent for a referral to be submitted on their behalf. For more information about the Care System and this referral process, visit the Care System webpage.
• Email Warm Hand-Off
  With the student’s consent, you can send an email to CSS at occares@okanagan.bc.ca, cc’ing the student on the email. Including some brief context about the student’s situation or the support they’re seeking can help us respond effectively. Please be mindful of the student's comfort and share only what they’ve agreed to disclose.
• In-Person Warm Hand-Off
  If you're on the Kelowna campus, you can bring the student to the Student Services office (S111) and let the front desk know you'd like to introduce the student to someone from CSS.
• Provide Our Contact Information
  You can also give the student our contact information—occares@okanagan.bc.ca—and encourage them to reach out directly. If they want to learn more about what we do, you can guide them to the CSS webpage for more information.

Remember that the student always has a right to decline support. It is important to be respectful of their decision and never pressure or coerce them into accepting a referral to services. If a student says no, validate their choice and remind them that they can always connect with you again if they ever change their mind or need help in the future.

At this time students are not able to submit a referral on someone else’s behalf, but you're welcome to connect with CSS if you’re concerned about a fellow student. We can talk through the situation with you, help you think about how to check in with them, and explore ways to offer support. You can also share our contact information with the student and encourage them to reach out directly.

If you'd like to help someone take the first step toward accessing support, here are a few ways you can assist them in getting connected:

• Help them write an email to CSS requesting support.
• Offer to come with them to the Student Services office (S111) to ask for support in person.
• Tell them about the Well-Being and Student Support webpage and offer to help them explore the resources on campus and in the community that are available to assist them.

Yes. The information you share with CSS is private. We will only share it with others if you give explicit consent, and then only on a need-to-know basis, in line with Okanagan College’s privacy policies. Rare exceptions to this include situations where someone is at imminent risk of harm or a minor is being harmed.

No, connecting with CSS is entirely your choice. Faculty and staff may suggest our services because they care and want to ensure you have support, but you’re not required to follow through. If you're unsure, you're welcome to reach out to learn more before deciding if it's right for you.

You can explore an extensive list of campus and community well-being resources on our Well-Being and Student Support webpage. If you're unsure where to start or what might be helpful, you're welcome to reach out to CSS for guidance.