Assault proves urgency of partnership with Truman Medical Center

It started out as two nonprofits engaging in the good ole fashioned bartering system – free space in exchange for free services. But a crisis showed why this partnership was necessary for both institutions.

Truman Medical Center needed additional space for its behavioral health programs. MCC-Penn Valley needed to offer mental health services to its students. So Truman Medical Center Behavioral Health’s Futures Program moved onto the fourth floor of MCC-Penn Valley’s Campus Center building on Sept. 13.

“It only made sense for two urban institutions like Penn Valley and Truman to come together. We both serve the same population who has multiple challenges and disparities,” says Bernard Franklin, MCC-Penn Valley president.

Then on Sept. 14, MCC-Penn Valley Dean of Instruction Al Dimmitt was viciously assaulted minutes before a scheduled press conference with Governor Jay Nixon.
Veronica Highley, director of the Futures Program at Truman, says many students visited their offices in the days after the attack.

“We didn’t hear from many students who said they didn’t feel safe at Penn Valley anymore,” says Highley. “Many of the people who came to us shared how the incident triggered a lot of past issues. They talked about how they thought they had deal with past traumatic issues in their neighborhoods, in their homes and this incident caused those memories to resurface.”

The partnership allows Penn Valley students to get a free assessment and two visits with Truman counselors. If additional visits are necessary, Truman will work with students to identify payment programs and options. In return, Truman gets office space to serve its existing clients – many who are youth who have never been on a college campus.

“For many of our clients, neither they nor anyone in their family has gone to college. By coming to Penn Valley and stepping foot on a college campus regularly, it makes the dream of going to college a reality instead of a far-off place,” says Highley.

The partnership was also discussed in a recent issue of The Kansas City Star.

MCC-Penn Valley participates in urban core health and wellness center partnership

MCC-Penn Valley participated in the ribbon cutting ceremony for the grand opening of the Health and Wellness Center at the Bluford branch of the Kansas City Public Library on Saturday.

The Center will provide health and wellness information to patrons of the branch. Truman Medical Center will provide health information and activities. MCC-Penn Valley Health Science Institute will offer health career training information as well as provide hands-on health care educational opportunities for high school students who visit the library.

Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City provided funding for the project with a $111,000 grant.

In addition to MCC-Penn Valley President Bernard Franklin, speakers at the ribbon cutting included: Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, Health Care Foundation President & CEO Steve Roling, Kansas City Public Library Director Crosby Kemper, Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser, Kansas City Councilwoman Sharon Sanders Brooks and Truman Medical Centers CEO John Bluford.

Students connect with MCC-Penn Valley president

MCC-Penn Valley President Bernard Franklin recently hosted lunch with students. Franklin talked with students about safety in the aftermath of Dean Al Dimmit's assault. He and Dean Lisa Minis encouraged students to trust their instincts and report odd behavior to appropriate channels.

Students also heard from a guest speaker who was seriously injured and overcame his circumstances.

MCC-Penn Valley president takes time for student athletes

MCC-Penn Valley President Bernard Franklin recently chatted with men and women's basketball players about the responsibility of being scholars and athletes. Franklin praised the players for their hard work on the court and encouraged them to show the same diligence in the classroom.

MCC-Penn Valley president leads by example

MCC-Penn Valley president Bernard Franklin recently asked all faculty and staff to do their part to help the campus stay clean and go green.

Employees now recycle and purge their own items daily.

Franklin isn't merely issuing the call to action. He's rolling up his sleeves and recycling and dumping his own trash as well.

MCC-Penn Valley President appears in latest issue of national monthly magazine

MCC-Penn Valley President Dr. Bernard Franklin was quoted in the latest issue of The Atlantic magazine. Read the article, "The End Of Men."
On page 2 of the online article, Franklin discusses his efforts to improve services to male students at Penn Valley.