Parents fund services

The Parents Fund, an IU Foundation program, makes many student programs a possibility. These programs include services for students with disabilities, the Campus Safety Escort Program and "The Financial Aid Survival Kit." The Parents Fund strives to help with student safety education, and a Fund grant allowed the Health Center to begin awareness and screening days, such as those held for anxiety and alcohol awareness.\nFour different awareness programs have been held in the past. \nIn October, programs were presented on depression; in February, on eating disorders; in March, on anxiety; and in April, on alcohol, said Nancy Buckles, director of Counseling and Psychological Services. \nThe funds the Parents Fund once provided for the awareness programs ended in 2000, so the Health Center is now absorbing the costs. The grant of the Parents Fund was greatly appreciated, Buckles said.\nBut its disappearance left a hole to be absorbed by the Health Center budget.\nAlthough the Parents Fund no longer contributes to these programs, Buckles said, \nit was instrumental in getting the awareness programs and screenings off the ground.\nThe eating disorder awareness screening, usually in February, was not held this year, but this was not because of a lack of funding, Buckles said. \n"We were unable to schedule programming to coincide with Eating Disorders Week this year because the timing of the event overlapped with the annual Big Ten Counseling Centers Meeting, which we hosted this year," Buckles said.\nSenior Angela Bole, president of the Women's Student Association, said, "They have done screening for the past three years and weren't able to do it this year."\nAlthough the eating disorder awareness screening did not take place this February, it will take place as usual in 2002.\nThe Women's Student Association, which held an awareness program this year without the Health Center, \nwill likely be involved in the 2002 program, Bole said.\nThe Health Center is now absorbing the costs of the four awareness programs, but Hugh Jessop, director of the center, indicated this would likely not be a problem. \nThe Health Center has an $8 million budget, Jessop said. \nThe budget is overseen by an advisory board that attempts to create a budget that will not cut student services.