Brookdale students facing any number of challenges can find help by talking to social worker Sylvina Mendez, who works full time on Brookdale’s campus.

“I connect students with the resources in Monmouth County, so they are able to focus
on their studies to advance themselves,” said Mendez, a Middletown resident who works for the Monmouth County Division of Social Services.

Brookdale’s president, Dr. David Stout, started updating the college’s academic plan when he became president in 2018. The research and focus groups found that “student basic needs” were not being met including housing, food, and mental health.

“In 2018, Monmouth County did an assessment of the needs of the county. One of those assessments was that there are students at Brookdale Community College that are homeless, have food insecurities, and lack basic needs,” Mendez said.

The partnership between the county and Brookdale gave students access to services on campus instead of going to Freehold where the Division of Social Services is located.

Mendez started working part time on campus three days a week in September 2018.

“The goal was to be the face of the agency here at Brookdale to help students with applying for financial services, food stamps, Medicaid, housing resources, and then the pandemic happened,” said Mendez. “Right after the pandemic ended, I was told I was coming here five days a week. I think that was because there was more of a need for the students.”

“I can provide information and referrals to services. I sit down with them and actually do an online application with them. It’s kind of like a concierge service, but it’s like a more hands-on approach. I could track their applications and see where they’re at,” Mendez said.

“Most students come in, get help, and then they go on their way. Some students do stop by, and I’ll never hear from them again. Students say ‘Oh, I really need all this help.’ Sure! Come in for an appointment, then never come. Then students stop and they go ‘I need this now. What do you know about this?’ So, it really depends on the individual,” she said.

Mendez’s original interest was in psychology and started with that major in college.

“I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do,” she said. “But I knew what I didn’t want to do. I didn’t want to be a psychiatrist. I didn’t want to be a psychologist.”

Mendez graduated from Monmouth University in 1989. She did her senior internship for the county and was offered a job when it ended. She has been working for Monmouth County since May of 1989.

Mendez is not a counselor, but she can refer students to community resources that do provide counseling. She supplies information and referrals if they are eligible for food stamps or NJ Family Care.

Her first 20 years of social work was working with the homeless or mentally ill. She was out in the field in Asbury Park, Keansburg and pockets of the county that have more significant homeless populations.

Her goal was to help individuals that have a mental health illness and connect them to services to prevent them from being either re-hospitalized, homeless or going to jail.

“Brookdale is a different physical venue. It’s a different focus group. I’d never worked with students. I’d never worked with young students. I’d never worked with older students. There’s a different need,” said Mendez. “But the fact is that there’s still a need.”

“I like working with the students because I feel like there is more reward,” she added. “In this environment they do appreciate it. The students appreciate it. The faculty appreciates it.”

Mendez grew up in New Jersey. Her parents had emigrated from Argentina. Her father was employed and her mother was a homemaker.

“In my house, they spoke Spanish, so my first language was Spanish. My first education in the English language was ‘Sesame Street’ and PBS. Through school, I learned English.” Mendez has a 23-year-old daughter in Tennessee, and her son will graduate high school this May. She enjoys fishing, boating, the beach, reading, exercising, or just being outdoors.

Her advice to students is, “don’t be afraid to ask. Don’t be afraid that someone’s going to judge you because you have a need. Because everybody struggles with one thing or another. Your struggle might not be my struggle. But there are people that can help you. You just have to have the courage to say ‘can you help me with this?’”
Brookdale’s president, Dr. David Stout, started updating the college’s academic plan when he became president in 2018. The research and focus groups conducted found that “student basic needs” were not being met including housing, food, and mental health.
“In 2018, Monmouth County did an assessment of the needs of the county. One of those assessments was that there are students at Brookdale Community College that are homeless, have food insecurities, and lack basic needs,” said Mendez.
The partnership between the county and Brookdale gave students access to services on campus instead of going to Freehold where the Division of Social Services is located.
Mendez started working part time on campus three days a week in September 2018.
“The goal was to be the face of the agency here at Brookdale to help students with applying for financial services, food stamps, Medicaid, housing resources, and then the pandemic happened,” said Mendez. “Right after the pandemic ended, I was told I was coming here five days a week. I think that was because there was more of a need for the students.”
“I can provide information and referrals to services. I sit down with them and actually do an online application with them. It’s kind of like a concierge service, but it’s like a more hands on approach. I could track their applications and see where they’re at.”
“Most students come in, get help, and then they go on their way. Some students do stop by, and I’ll never hear from them again. Students say ‘Oh, I really need all this help.’ Sure! Come in for an appointment, then never come. Then students stop and they go ‘I need this now. What do you know about this?’ So it really depends on the individual.”
Her original interest was in psychology and started with that major in college.
“I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do,” said Mendez. “But I knew what I didn’t want to do. I didn’t want to be a psychiatrist. I didn’t want to be a psychologist.”
Mendez graduated from Monmouth University in 1989. She did her senior internship for the county and was offered a job when it ended. She has been working for Monmouth County since May of 1989.
Mendez is not a counselor, but can refer students to community resources that do provide counseling. She supplies information and referrals if they are eligible for food stamps or NJ Family Care.
Her first 20 years of social work was working with the homeless or mentally ill. She was out in the field in Asbury Park, Keansburg, and pockets of the county that have more significant homeless populations.
Her goal was to help individuals that have a mental health illness and connect them to services to prevent them from being either rehospitalized, homeless, or going to jail.
“Brookdale is a different physical venue. It’s a different focus group. I’d never worked with students. I’d never worked with young students. I’d never worked with older students. There’s a different need,” said Mendez. “But the fact is that there’s still a need.”

“I like working with the students because I feel like there is more reward,” she added. “In this environment they do appreciate it. The students appreciate it. The faculty appreciates it.”
Mendez grew up in New Jersey. Her parents had emigrated from Argentina. Her father was employed and her mother was a homemaker.
“In my house they spoke Spanish, so my first language was Spanish. My first education in the English language was Sesame Street and PBS. Through school, I learned English.”
Mendez has a 23-year-old daughter in Tennessee, and her son will graduate high school in May. She enjoys fishing, boating, the beach, reading, exercising or just being outdoors.
Her advice to students is, “don’t be afraid to ask. Don’t be afraid that someone’s going to judge you because you have a need. Because everybody struggles with one thing or another. Your struggle might not be my struggle. But there are people that can help you. You just have to have the courage to say ‘can you help me with this?’”

Mendez’s office is located in MAC 106, and hours are Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. She can be contacted at 732-224-1983 or email [email protected].