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Health & Wellness

Mom with children — We want to ensure our student families have access to healthcare,
relevant and timely information about the various choices
and costs as well as know who to contact for what, when,
and where. (Photo by Carolyn Lagattuta)

Emergency Health Care

In any medical emergency dial 911.
Note that emergency care is not available at the UC Santa Cruz Health Center.
See information on domestic abuse help, urgent care centers, and Santa Cruz and Watsonville hospitals.

Counseling and Psychological Services

UC Santa Cruz's Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) provides free, confidential counseling services for UC Santa Cruz students who are parents.

Services include:

Case management and consultation.
Individual, couples, and family counseling. Contact CAPS psychologist Susan J. Gulbe Walsh, Ph.D. at (831) 459-2377 or CAPS central office at (831) 459-2628.
For psychiatry, crisis intervention, group counseling, and workshops, please contact the CAPS central office at (831) 459-2628.
Other programs include:
- A monthly parent support group.
- The Let's Talk Drop-In Program.
- Therapy Assistance Online (TAO), an online program that helps students manage stress and anxiety.

Health Insurance

UC SHIP is the University of California Student Health Insurance Plan. Students can add dependents to their UC SHIP plan. See specific benefits for mothers to be and dependents. Pregnancy & maternal UC SHIP benefits (on page 5).
See also information on UC SHIP care for students who live off-campus.
Students should also consider applying for California state insurance for their dependents. UC Santa Cruz health case managers are available to help apply. Contact the CAPS front desk at (831) 459-2628.

Prescription Services

UC Santa Cruz's pharmacy provides many over-the-counter items and you can always request a special order.

Health Promotion Programs

The Student Health Outreach & Promotion (SHOP) supports students addressing issues such as alcohol and drug use, prevention and education on sexually transmitted diseases, sexual health, and strategies for ensuring a healthy college-life balance.