SWAG视频

Dear SWAG视频 Community,

We find ourselves amid a devastating and unprecedented natural disaster affecting students, faculty, and staff, and their families, loved ones, and friends, across a variety of diverse communities in southern California. We pray for anyone affected and we stand united in support of our SWAG视频 community, and beyond. As an institution dedicated to the education of healers, our mission is committed to the health and well-being of our community.

The first week of classes is typically a cheerful occasion filled with renewal and optimism. However, the southern California fires have brought agony and despair and has caused unimageable loss and devastation. Our hearts are with our neighboring communities 鈥� affecting family, friends and many of you personally. In these challenging times, I know that our recovery will come from our unique SWAG视频 ethos, and unity.

The SWAG视频 leadership team, and I, empathize with the underlying heartache, anxiety, and emotional stress caused by this natural disaster. We also very much appreciate the far-reaching adverse effects impacting our university community, those connected to us, and elsewhere. SWAG视频, and the greater Los Angeles County, are integrally connected 鈥� and these events have touched us all.

While there remains no immediate fire danger to our campus, given an expected change in the wind patterns in the days ahead, it is likely this crisis will remain dynamic.

Our clinical operations remain active, and we recommend they continue to remain active. In-person labs also remain active. However, wherever possible, we wish to transition curriculum and work to virtual platforms, but we are still operational on campus.

Additionally, due to power outages, loss of internet connectivity, and air quality concerns, some students, faculty, and staff may need to come to campus to access their 鈥渞emote鈥� options.

Each Dean is seamlessly adjusting their teams as appropriate. Students, please follow your Dean鈥檚 directions in regards to your curriculum on Friday, Jan. 10.

Additionally, we may be called upon to provide resources requiring campus operations. We remain ready to support and serve as needed.

For employees, who feel it appropriate to work remotely, kindly coordinate with your supervisors to do so. We are asking supervisors to work directly with their employees to meet critical staffing and operational needs on campus, while remaining empathetic and flexible, as many of our employees have been impacted.

To our students, we are here to support you. Please make use of the resources listed below should you need assistance.

We wish to personally thank the teams who have already gone above and beyond to support our university community during this difficult time. Below we have included resources available to support members of our campus.

Please know that this crisis is still not yet over. Once the horizon of better days arrives, we will continue to unite to assist our SWAG视频 and the communities at large. We are here to support all of you. Thank you for remaining steadfast in your commitment to one another. Together we stand proud to be a part of the SWAG视频 community and we will build back, with resilience, what has been lost, and emerge even stronger than before.

Resources

鈥婨mergency Shelter

Fairplex Pomona – 1101 W. McKinley Ave. Pomona, has opened as an additional evacuation site. Most of the evacuation sites located closer to the fires are expected to be filled to capacity. The American Red Cross is operating the site. If you need to refer someone for shelter, they can go to the Red Gate entrance near the conference center. The evacuation site is located within Expo Hall 5. You can also call the Red Cross at (800) 733-2767.

Transportation to Additional Shelters

Uber is offering residents in Los Angeles County who鈥檝e been ordered to vacate their homes with a credit to get to an evacuation site. The $40 will only be valid for trips to an active shelter. and use the code 鈥淲ILDFIRE25鈥� Shelter locations valid for free Uber rides:

• Pasadena Civic Auditorium 鈥� 300 E. Green St., Pasadena
• Westwood Recreation Center 鈥� 1350 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles
• El Camino Real Charter High School 鈥� 5440 Valley Circle Blvd., Woodland Hills
• Ritchie Valens Recreation Center 鈥� 10736 Laurel Canyon Blvd., Pacoima

Lyft will be offering $25 vouchers, valid for two trips, to 500 customers from now until midnight on Jan. 15. and use the code CAFIRERELIEF25 to get the promotion.

Emergency Assistance

Optum

(access code: westernu) is available to our employees, students and members of their household 24/7 online or by calling (800) 234-5465. Included in this resource, is a .

Housing

are partnering to offer free temporary housing for people displaced from their homes due to wildfires.

Utilities

– helps customers receive support in a variety of ways that can help ease their recovery. information on latest updates.

Student Emergency Fund

This fund is for SWAG视频 students who are unable to meet immediate, essential expenses because of a one-time or temporary hardship related to an unexpected emergency situation that threatens to derail their academic progress. Emergency situations can include but are not limited to injury, illness, theft, death of a family member, fire, or natural disaster. To be considered for funding (typically up to $1,000), students must have an urgent need for financial support to cover a documented expense or have exhausted all other avenues for additional support, including but not limited to Financial Aid assistance. For additional information on how to qualify and to submit an application, please visit the .

Food Resources

SWAG视频 has compiled numerous resources for anyone experiencing food insecurities. This page is updated as additional information becomes available. Additionally, Sowing Seeds for Life is a local, non-profit organization and they host a drive-through food bank in Pomona, CA. You can for event information or visit the website.

Sun Life

Need help with getting replacement glasses or finding a temporary dentist that is open in your area due to disaster, Sun Life has designated a dedicated line for Dental Insurance and Vision Insurance (partnered with VSP). Click here .

Employee Assistance Program

SWAG视频 contracts with providers for confidential short-term, preventive assistance to employees and their dependents that are experiencing difficulties in dealing with personal, professional, and life management issues. Referrals can be made by contacting EAP at 800-234-5465 or at the Live and Workwell website – access code: westernu.

鈥婱ask availability for those on campus

If desired you may obtain an N95 mask from the security desk at the University Services Center on the Pomona campus.

LA County Resources

If you have been impacted by a disaster, please reference the resources below:

State-wide

• (FEMA)
• (SAVE)

Los Angeles County

鈥婽o help our campus community restore hope, we invite you to help how you can.

If you would like to help, you can contribute to SWAG视频 Student Emergency Support Fund or SWAG视频 Food Pantry Fund.

Warmest Regards,
Robin