Wellness activities, free health resources and the chance to snag a free tote bag drew students to WellFest by TitanHEALTH Wednesday morning. Held biannually at Cal State Fullerton, WellFest is designed to bring students, providers and organizers together to highlight resources available for students on campus.
Kerri Boyd Crooks, associate director at TitanHEALTH, said the event encourages students to familiarize themselves with the building and staff who provide health services.
“The main goals of WellFest are to open up our space to students, especially early in the semester, so they know where we are,” Crooks said. “Have our staff all be present for WellFest, so they know who we are and then provide some of our services, give them a sample of what we do.”
That focus on familiarity and accessibility has shaped WellFest for almost a decade, as the event continues to showcase the range of services available through TitanHEALTH, which include medical appointments, physical rehabilitation and recovery services, HIV testing, contraceptive services, same-day triage, X-rays as well as the newer addition of gender affirming care.
“Students pay a health fee in their tuition every semester, and that covers the cost of the majority of these services,” Crooks said. “For physical rehab services, students pay $35 for a semester, but they can come as much as they need in that semester.”
The center does not bill students’ personal insurance, however they do offer resources that can help students navigate their insurance and receive referrals to outside providers when necessary.
Andre Gonzalez, a design specialist on TitanHEALTH’s marketing outreach and design team first became involved with the center as a CSUF student where he created flyers and graphics for TitanWell and the nutrition program. After graduating in 2023, he was hired full-time.
“There’s definitely a balance when it comes to design, especially for our center because we want to make sure that students feel comfortable with coming, especially when it comes to medical topics and sexual health or naloxone training,” Gonzalez said. “All of those kind of require a sensitivity so we balance in between delivering accurate and helpful information while kind of packaging it in a fun way.”
The Readily Accessible Protection program is one of the services surrounding sexual health offered by TitanHEALTH, which provides students with free sex-safe products on campus.
Students were even able to snag free miniature tote bags by following TitanHEALTH on social media. This, among many others, was one of several incentives and giveaways offered at the event.
“We definitely want to award students for going through the experience with us,” Gonzalez said. “If students turn in their map, they’re actually able to win a variety of prizes, such as tumblers or lunch bags that were donated by the pantry.”
Gonzalez said the activities and prizes were designed to give students an extra reason to stop by and explore the event.
“We have snacks and cold drinks, which are especially helpful on a hot day like this,” Gonzalez said. “We have acai bowls as well as different campus partners and community partners that we’ve invited, so that students get a full look at the resources at their hands.”
For second-year psychology student Jasmine Zelaya, Wednesday’s event was her first WellFest and she left feeling more inclined to visit the center if she is ever in need of their services.
“I think that I was just too nervous to come and I didn’t really know what to expect out of the building, but after WellFest I feel more comfortable in coming,” Zelaya said. “It’s nice to know what you are paying for and know what’s out there to help you.”