Starting A Peer Group

When considering whether or not to form a peer education program on your campus, there are a few things to consider. First, a peer education program must be part of an overall prevention and intervention strategy. Although the message of students working with students is a powerful and credible one, it is less effective without a professional serving as a resource for guidance, training and referrals. Finding an active group advisor on campus is essential for the success of your peer education program. With this in mind, there are four key concepts that form a foundation and framework for support and clearly demonstrate why a campus should begin and maintain a peer education program.

These concepts are:

• Peer educators make healthier decisions than the general student population.
• Peer educators are effective in helping others make healthier choices by providing information, challenging incorrect attitudes, confronting unhealthy behavior, and referring students to professional help.
• Peer educators, because of their own healthy choices and willingness to talk about and role model them with others, help create positive social norms and the foundation of critical mass supporting health campus environments.
• Peer education is student leadership, activism, and service at its best. Putting the health and safety of others and the community on an equal value with personal health and safety is the “ student development theory” that we hope all of our students achieve.

The information provided here will help you get started. For more information please e-mail admin@bacchusnetwork.org or call 303-871-0901.

To affiliate your new group, click here.