NWIC Closing for 3 days
This summer, Northwest Indian College (NWIC) will be closed at all locations Friday, August 26, Monday, August 29 and Tuesday, August 30, 2022, as part of the College’s efforts to support of the mental health and wellness of our employees. The purpose of this closure is to allow employees to take a break, reset and prepare to recharge for the upcoming year.
For the last two and a half years, the College has implemented a variety of activities and strategies—mostly funded by the COVID-19 relief funding –to promote employee wellness, self-care and work/life balance for faculty, staff and students throughout the pandemic. Some of the mental health supportive activities and initiatives included: hiring additional staff with focus on mental health and wellness support; contracting with a mental health counselor; Wellness kits; promotion of resources such as Employee Assistance Program and Student Assistance Program, extension of the unused leave policy, and for the first time this summer, limited remote-work availability.
NWIC President Justin Guillory says, “the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our employees and students remains a high priority, and mental health support is an allowable expenditure as part of the CARES Act/COVID-19 pandemic response and recovery efforts.”
This 3-day closure will be covered by the FY23 CARES Act spending plan. For these reasons, this summer closure (a non-holiday) is for this year only, and therefore should not be interpreted as an annual event. Additionally, the following Mental Health and Wellness Resources are available to students and staff:
- NWIC Employee Assistance Program
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- Our NWIC Employee Assistance Program offers free short term Counseling Services through Health Promotions Northwest if you need to speak to someone. This service is available to assist employees, current students and their household members.
Contact info: (360) 788-6565 and (800) 244-6142 https://www.peacehealth.org/health-promotion-northwest - Marilene Silva – Counseling Services
To make an appointment with Marilene, please call: 360-441-7186 or email: Marilenesilva@hushmail.com
Appointments are available through video and or phone calls only due to the pandemic.
Another link for services: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/marilene-d-silva-bellingham-wa/720341
Crisis line number – available 24 hrs/7 days a week: 360-594-1317
- Our NWIC Employee Assistance Program offers free short term Counseling Services through Health Promotions Northwest if you need to speak to someone. This service is available to assist employees, current students and their household members.
The College is also planning to schedule a workshop session, facilitated by Health Promotions Northwest, during the faculty pre-service during the week of September 12-16.
This closure was supported by the NWIC Board of Trustees at their monthly August meeting.