CSUN Istart Program

iSTART will soon become MATAspire, with a change in our services to focus on substance use prevention and mental health promotion! We are looking for CSUN students to join our new MATAspire team!

Open positions:
* outreach and recruitment coordinator (graduate student assistant).
* cultural outreach coordinator (student assistant).
* photographer/graphic designer (student assistant).

All three positions are on Handshake (links in our bio linktr.ee). The deadline to apply is October 29. The positions require approximately 10 hours per week, and the pay is $21/hr.

Please apply through handshake, but feel free to email us at [email protected] if you have questions.

📣📣ANNOUCEMENT📣📣

Matadors!! There’s only three days left of our FREE HIV testing service. 4/28, 5/5, and 5/12. We will NOT be offering anymore testing after that 😔 so NOW is your chance to know your status before summer vacation☀️⛱🕶
Go to the link in our bio or csun.edu/istart/get-tested to learn more and book your appointment. Remember, the risk is not knowing.



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Image description: beige background with red and black text that reads same info as in caption. Two graphic drawings of red HIV ribbon and an HIV testing kit.

Spring break may be over, but that doesn’t mean you have to stop your self-care!

Give yourself permission to…
- go to sleep early if your body needs it
- take a “brain break” from work. This may including stepping away from your computer, looking at nature, or walking for a few minutes.
- nourish your body with nutritious food so that you feel good and have the energy needed to finish your tasks
- have a self care afternoon (or evening or morning!). Dedicate some time I’m your day to just focusing on yourself. Journaling, reading, cooking, a skin routine, can all be considered self care!

Happy Friday!! The first week of the spring semester is almost over…phew 😆

Why not try to pick up a new habit this semester?

You can make an endless combination of salads 🥗 Just grab any leafy greens 🥬 (like lettuce, kale, spinach, etc), throw in some veggies 🥕 (like carrots, tomatoes, bell peppers), maybe some grain (quinoa, bulghur, etc), a bean/pea of some sort (black beans, chickpeas, green peas, etc), some nutritious seeds (sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, etc) and sprinkle it off with some finely grated cheese 🧀 or nutritional yeast!

For dressing, you can make your own! Just mix together olive oil, lemon 🍋 , a little bit of apple cider vinegar, salt 🧂 , and pepper. That’s it! Your own homemade dressing.

Lettuce know in the comments what your favorite salad combo is 👇

Congratulations class of 2022! A special congrats to our iSTART peers who graduated yesterday! We wish you all the best of luck with your future endeavors. 💫

Hello Matadors! You’re right by the finish line! Some of you may be taking your last finals today and tomorrow. Congratulations. We want to remind you that although we prioritize school, we need to also prioritize and take care of ourselves and our mental health. If you haven’t yet, move around and go outside to get some fresh air and sunlight for at least 5 minutes. Good luck!

Hey Matadors! We hope you guys are having a good week so far! Here are 6 ways to prepare for finals:

Make the most of class time: It’s important to make the most of class time. Some of us are more productive in this type of setting!

Take advantage of office hours: Take advantage of office hours for additional help and clarification. Professors are here to help!

Study with classmates: Two is better than one! Form a study group - other classmates can help answer questions you may have.

Try to sleep for at least 6-8 hours: Sleep is vital to help us function. Getting adequate sleep is shown to help you retain information you previously learned!

Spend more time on harder classes: Prioritize! Prioritize classes that you are struggling with to ensure you do well.

Fuel up on healthy food and lots of water: Our brain needs nourishment. Try to snack on foods with a higher nutrient value like mixed nuts, bell pepper with guacamole, dark chocolate, apple slices with peanut butter, cottage cheese, and more!

Good luck matadors! You got this 💖

Happy Monday Matadors!
Summer is quickly approaching and we wanted to give you this friendly reminder of this free amazing service for our CSUN community. What better way to start this summer break by knowing your status! We have 3 more Fridays available for free testing for you!

The testing occurs at the Tarzana Treatment Center clinic in Northridge (Address: 8330 Reseda Blvd, Northridge). We have testing available every Friday from 9:30am-4pm.

SWIPE LEFT for more information & visit our website www.csun.edu/istart to book the appointment (you can also click the link in our bio!)

Happy Thursday Matadors!

Have you heard of quinoa (pronounced keen-wah)? If not, it’s a seed that acts like a grain, and it is commonly grown in South America. There are many aspects and benefits of quinoa, as mentioned in the graphic. They are:

- Nutrient dense. Packed with vitamins and minerals, such as folate, copper, vitamin B6, iron, zinc, and manganese, to name a few.
- Quinoa has anti oxidant and anti inflammatory compounds
- Gluten free, great for people with a gluten intolerance
- High in fiber (1 cup of cooked quinoa has 5.18 grams of fiber, which is 18% of the Daily Value (DV) )
- Good source of protein (1 cup of cooked quinoa has 8 grams of protein)
- may have beneficial effects on metabolic health. Some studies have found that eating quinoa may reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol and body weight, and may also help to regulate blood sugar and triglyceride levels.

Keep in mind that decreasing your risk for chronic and cardiovascular diseases depends on a multitude of factors (other foods you eat, exercise, substance use, etc). So try to incorporate quinoa into your diet, along with other nutrient-dense foods, and exercise and limit your use of substances as much as you can.

Hey Matadors! What is your definition of consent? Our definition is an agreement reached between individuals who engage in s*xual activity. Understanding and respecting each other's boundaries are essential for efficient communication between you and your partner.

Individuals who are underage, intoxicated or incapacitated by alcohol or drugs, unconscious or asleep are not deemed okay to give consent. Engaging in s*xual activities with an employee or student by someone with higher power is also not acceptable alongside the individual agreeing to an activity under pressure or threat.

Take a look at our post that has some infomation regarding your rights. You can also visit the website R**e, Abuse, and Insest National Network (RAINN), the largest anti-s*xual violence organization for more information or help, call 1-800-656-4673.

*xualawareness

Good morning Matadors!
⁠Have you ever thought of the difference between dependence and addiction? While it is possible to have a physical dependence without being addicted, addiction is usually right around the corner. Stay safe out there Matadors!⁠
SAMHSA's National Helpline is a free and confidential information service in both English and Spanish for those and their families that are facing mental and/or substance use disorders. ⁠
⁠
Refer to this number if someone you care about needs assistance: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)⁠

Good morning Matadors! As summer break is quickly approaching us, we wanted to show you all the different options you have when it comes to HIV testing at your own convenience. We hope this information can make testing even more accessible to our community here at CSUN🤗

get connected to local HIV testing!

This week is s*xually assault awareness for everyone. For today’s it goes over the link between s*xual assault and substance abuse.

Today we will be tabling with and other campus organizations for S.A.A.F.E. week. Come join us at 10:00am - 12:00pm at Plaza Del Sol, University Student Union.

Hey Matadors! We've been invited to Project D.A.T.E's event in recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness for Everyone (SAAFE)!

Stop by our table for complimentary water bottles, condoms, l**e, and more! We look forward to seeing you there!

*xualassaultawareness

We are here to help with some general tips you can use to protect your health! 1. Getting tested regularly is the best way to protect yourself and your partners 2. Talk openly with your partners and health care provider about STIs; talk about the best ways to stay safe and what you can do to prevent any unwanted outcomes 3. Find a supportive health provider who is trustworthy with sensitive issues, if you don’t feel safe talking about important health factors like preventing STIs, it might be time to seek out other options..

If you’re s*xually active it’s recommended to get tested every 3 months 👍🏼This is a friendly reminder of our FREE HIV testing for all CSUN students! We have appointments ready for you every Friday and you get your results in minutes. Don’t forget to make your appointment today!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day Matadors! 🍀

Luck is on your side today! Be sure to check out our FREE rapid HIV testing services. We now have same day appointments available on Fridays!! 🍀✨

We hope you guys are killing it with your midterms! Have a great St. Patrick’s Day and be safe! 🍀☺️



Alt image: green clovers with the statement “Happy St. Patrick’s Day” followed by a quote that says “I say luck is when an opportunity comes along and you’re prepared for it, Know your HIV status, swipe left” there are images on green clovers and a drink, pot of gold, and a green t shirt in the middle. ISTART logo is placed on the bottom right. Next page has HIV information.

Happy St. Patrick’s Week!

St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner which means it can be a trigger for drinking as it is a heavy drinking holiday. Here is an alternative drink you can try making to have a sober St. Patrick’s Day.

Drink:
Sparkling Cucumber Limeade

Ingredients:
• 2 cucumbers
• 4 limes
• Sparkling water
• Ice
• Tajín
• Mint leaf

How to make in 10 minutes:

🍋Rim the glass with lime juice and Tajín seasoning

🍋Peel and seed 1 ½ cucumbers and process in a blender or food processor

🍋Slice the remaining cucumber

🍋Fill the glass with ice, sparkling water, lime juice, and the processed cucumber

🍋Sprinkle some Tajín

🍋Garnish with cucumber slices and a mint leaf

Happy Monday Matadors! 🩸✨

Did you know Tarzana Treatment Centers has same day HIV rapid testing appointments? We are partnering with them to provide free and confidential rapid HIV testing for students like you!

Link: https://istartrapid.youcanbook.me

Visit our website for more information: https://www.csun.edu/istart/get-tested

Take advantages of these services and book your appointment today 🩸✨



Alt image: red background with white box that says ‘The Risk Is Not Knowing’ with a small red box that says ‘Get Tested Today’. The top middle section says ‘Know Your HIV Status’ and the bottom right has the iSTART logo written in white. The bottom middle of the page says ‘Where and When?’ Additionally, it says ‘Fridays 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM 8330 Reseda BLVD, Northridge. *swipe left for more information* the next image is a red background with our HIV flyer that contains all of the necessary information which promotes our HIV services.

1 in 4 people living with HIV in the U.S. are women. Today is the 16th Annual National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day! We encourage everyone to talk openly about HIV & AIDS within your own community. The more we talk about HIV, the more we end stigma, spread knowledge, support those at risk or living with HIV

It’s Having s*x is a high level of intimacy and to insure you feel safe and ready, here are 5 red flags to look out for to practice safe s*x with your partner.

🚩They make negative/weird remarks about your body
🚩They pressure you into doing things you do not want to do
🚩They refuse to practice safe s*x
🚩They deal with an STI by disappearing from the face of the earth!

🚩They do not know how to take “NO” for an answer

Remember, your voice and feelings matter during s*x. It is crucial that you take note or keep an eye out for red flags like these to protect yourself from getting hurt mentally, emotionally, & physically.

Happy Monday Matadors! Some good news: we now have same-day appointments available for our free and confidential HIV testing! This means you can book an appointment for up to an hour before it is scheduled. For example, if you want to book an appointment for Friday at 11am, you have until the same Friday at 10am to book it (given that it is still available).

The testing occurs at the Tarzana Treatment Center clinic in Northridge (Address: 8330 Reseda Blvd, Northridge). We have testing available every Friday from 9:30am-4pm.

SWIPE LEFT for more information & visit our website www.csun.edu/istart to book the appointment (you can also click the link in our bio!)

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Image description: White text on a salmon-colored background that says "Know your HIV status. Same day HIV testing appointments are now available." Along with information mentioned in the caption. Second image has iSTART'S HIV flyer listing out the same information.

“Prevention is better than cure, especially when there is no cure” ❤️

Hi Matadors! iSTART offers free and confidential HIV testing every Friday from 9:30-4 pm @ Tarzana Treatment Center!

Visit our website for more information and take advantage of our amazing service if you can ✨



Alt image: two hands holding each other, two white ribbons at the top and bottom of the page, post says: “prevention is better than cure, especially when there is none” and free HIV testing. ISTART logo at the top right. The next page has iSTARTs HIV services information.

Goodmorning beautiful matadors! ☀️✨

We are tabling today on 2/22 (and additionally on 2/23, and 2/24) between 12-2 pm at Cleary Walk East (in front of the matador statue) ✨

Make sure to stop by and say hi to learn about our paid student services and free rapid HIV testing! We’re also giving out free condoms, l**e, and more 🥰

See you there! ✨

Happy , Matadors! ✨

Did you know practicing these small habits can lead to better skin? (Moisturizing too, of course)

Drinking enough water, meditating, exercising, reducing stress, and taking breaks all result in healthier skin.

✨Water: Did you know your body is 60% water? Experts recommend the 8x8 rule (eight, 8 oz glasses a day). However, this is a general rule - as with many things, it depends on the individual (Healthline, 2020).

✨Meditation: Meditation assists with the aging process by slowing it down. It helps repair the body’s tissues and cells which result in a youthful appearance (Beauty Heroes, 2015).

✨Exercising: When an individual increases their blood flow, the skin nourishes its cells. Exercising also helps let waste products leave the body resulting in the blood to carry oxygen and nutrients throughout the body including the skin (WebMD, 2011).

✨Stress reduction: I’m sure many of you knew this! Stress can show negative effects on the skin including psoriasis, eczema, acne, and even hair loss (Harvard Health Publishing, 2021).

✨Taking breaks: Taking breaks has been shown to provide people with lower stress (which can help the skin) and a lower risk in terms of developing heart disease (WebMD, 2013).

Happy matadors! 🐫✨

Are you familiar with the signs and symptoms of HIV? To begin, HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus and affects a large number of people, primarily those between the ages of 25 and 29, as well as gay, bis*xual, and other men who have s*x with men, according to HIV.gov.

Today, we'll go through how to recognize HIV symptoms, as indicated in the post. Fever, sore throat, and fatigue are all possible symptoms (flu-symptoms). HIV, on the other hand, is known to be asymptomatic (meaning it doesn't cause any symptoms) until it progresses to AIDS. Weight loss, night sweats, exhaustion, and recurring infections are all symptoms of AIDS. Other signs and symptoms could include:

❤️‍🔥 Abdominal pain
❤️‍🔥 Nausea/persistent diarrhea
❤️‍🔥 Difficulty/pain while swallowing
❤️‍🔥 Ulcers or white tongue
❤️‍🔥 Dry cough
❤️‍🔥 Swollen lymph nodes

The best way to prevent HIV/AIDS is to get ✨TESTED✨

iSTART offers FREE and CONFIDENTIAL HIV rapid testing every Friday at 9:30 am - 4:00 pm @ Tarzana Treatment Centers (advanced booking only)

Learn more @ csun.edu/iSTART to book your appointment and take advantage of these services ❤️‍🔥



Source: hiv.gov

Source: hiv.gov

Happy Friday, Matadors! 💖

Are you a first-time user of a dating app? We understand how scary it can be to speak with someone you aren't convinced is who they say they are. We've created a post specifically for online dating safety to help ease your anxiety

Here are some online dating tips to help you rule out what’s safe and what’s not!

✨Don’t link other social media to your dating profile - It's essential to keep accounts like Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, or Facebook separate because they're likely to include more personal information that hackers could use.

✨Limit your location settings - Make sure your location settings are either off or used with caution. Don't allow strangers to know where you live, work, or go to school.

✨Stay sober - It's common to grab a drink on their first date, but proceed with caution because you are more vulnerable when intoxicated. Plan ahead or, if you're not sure, ask your date whether they'd like to meet for coffee instead.

✨Let someone know - Inform a trustworthy friend or family member of your plans. If you feel the need, let them know where you are. It's always better to be safe!

✨Trust your gut - The best part about dating apps is that YOU get to determine what you want to do with them. Sometimes the greatest option is to trust YOUR instincts!

We hope this helps! Always remember to plan beforehand and keep an eye out for anything suspicious. Keep an eye on what's going on around you and have fun!

Love responsibly this Valentine’s Day. Knowing your HIV status can protect you and the people you love. Add HIV testing to your Valentine’s Day checklist by booking a FREE HIV test with iSTART. Our HIV testing is rapid which means you will get your results right on time before Valentine’s Day weekend so book your HIV test for this Friday!

You can click the link in our bio to access our website and find more information under “ Get Tested” ❤️🌹🩸

Hey it's time for a that often gets oversimplified: saying, "no" to drugs or alcohol.⁠
⁠
Saying no isn't always easy if you are still finding your footing in college. There's people at parties looking to connect, there's friends trying to let loose, and there's possible romance looking for some liquid courage. All of these situations can create a lot of pressure to say yes and avoid the feeling that you don't fit in or are letting someone down. ⁠
⁠
Luckily, there are many things you can do to set it up so you can decline more easily, or even prevent people from asking/ pressuring you. Check out these tips on how to set your night up for success!⁠
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