Lessons learned implementing and evaluating a Boston hospital systems' cross–sector housing intervention to prevent eviction

Methods: This workforce development program, developed in 2020, trains students as navigators on the community mental health landscape and basic needs.Navigators engage in case management efforts by helping connect their peers to community-based resources such as housing, food assistance, health insurance enrollment, and mental health services.Results: Evaluation from four program years indicate that students who participate in the program increased their levels of knowledge and self-efficacy to support their peers in connecting them to community-based services.Participants also reported a deeper understanding of social care needs within the community college context and a stronger sense of belonging on campus, which is a predictor of students' ability to thrive in college.Data also showed that approximately two-thirds of students who requested navigation services were connected to resources.Discussion: The integration of social care in community college settings not only addresses student needs by increasing access to care but also supports workforce development efforts.Community-based agencies are encouraged to partner with community colleges to expand their reach while also supporting efforts to advance social and economic mobility. Conclusion:The navigator program serves as a model for other higher education institutions, especially community colleges, aiming to support student success through addressing social care needs to replicate.