GRO+ for Students: Evidence-based Support for All Penn State Students

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GRO+ for Students: Evidence-based Support for All Penn State Students

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Proactive, scalable mental health support for every Penn State student.

The GRO+ mobile app will translate 25 years of scientific findings from the Prevention Research Center into a living resource students actually use, not recycled wellness content.

  • Catching crises before they happen. Proactive, clinically validated screening identifies signs of anxiety, depression, and substance use early – reaching students before needs escalate to crisis.
  • The right level of support for every student. A tiered model meets each student where they are, from self-guided resources to peer support to direct clinical care – scalable across the entire student body.
  • Designed for every student on campus. Culturally responsive content built for first-gen, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, international students, athletes, and veterans – because effective prevention has to reach everyone.
  • A scalable model with measurable impact. Real-time, population-level insight lets Penn State track engagement and outcomes – turning a philanthropic investment into demonstrable, lasting infrastructure.

Decades of research, finally in students’ hands.

Smartphone displaying a login screen for Penn State students with options to log in using Penn State credentials, Google, or a QR code. The background features the Penn State logo.

This image shows a smartphone screen displaying a "Support Hub" app with various resources. Sections include "Recommended for You," "Support Groups," "Campus Resources," and "Calming Aids." Resources listed are "Managing Academic Burnout," "First-Year Student Adjustment," "Peer Connect," "Financial Stress & Support," "CAPS: Scheduled Counseling," "Student Health Center," "5-Minute Calming Breath," "Immediate De-Stress Audio," and "Finding Financial Aid." The app has a navigation bar at the bottom.

A smartphone screen displays a health survey question: "During the past week, how supported have you felt managing academics, finances, and personal wellbeing?" with a scale of 1 ("Very Unsupported") to 10 ("Very Supported"). The selected answer is 5. The survey notes that materials are informed by Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center. There are "Back" and "Next" buttons at the bottom.

 

    Proactive, scalable mental health support for every Penn State student.

    The GRO+ mobile app will translate 25 years of scientific findings from the Prevention Research Center into a living resource students actually use, not recycled wellness content.

    • Catching crises before they happen. Proactive, clinically validated screening identifies signs of anxiety, depression, and substance use early – reaching students before needs escalate to crisis.
    • The right level of support for every student. A tiered model meets each student where they are, from self-guided resources to peer support to direct clinical care – scalable across the entire student body.
    • Designed for every student on campus. Culturally responsive content built for first-gen, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, international students, athletes, and veterans – because effective prevention has to reach everyone.
    • A scalable model with measurable impact. Real-time, population-level insight lets Penn State track engagement and outcomes – turning a philanthropic investment into demonstrable, lasting infrastructure.

    Decades of research, finally in students’ hands.

    Smartphone displaying a login screen for Penn State students with options to log in using Penn State credentials, Google, or a QR code. The background features the Penn State logo.

    This image shows a smartphone screen displaying a "Support Hub" app with various resources. Sections include "Recommended for You," "Support Groups," "Campus Resources," and "Calming Aids." Resources listed are "Managing Academic Burnout," "First-Year Student Adjustment," "Peer Connect," "Financial Stress & Support," "CAPS: Scheduled Counseling," "Student Health Center," "5-Minute Calming Breath," "Immediate De-Stress Audio," and "Finding Financial Aid." The app has a navigation bar at the bottom.

    A smartphone screen displays a health survey question: "During the past week, how supported have you felt managing academics, finances, and personal wellbeing?" with a scale of 1 ("Very Unsupported") to 10 ("Very Supported"). The selected answer is 5. The survey notes that materials are informed by Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center. There are "Back" and "Next" buttons at the bottom.

     

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      Project Team

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