Peer Education and Advocacy and the School Based Health

Center Experience

Annika ShoreYouth HIV Education Coordinator

Cascade AIDS ProjectTeen2Teen peer educators:

Chris, Molly, Luna, Shané, Luis

Questions for the Day:

Why are we here? What is peer education and advocacy? Why have peer educators/advocates?

Topics for the Day: Foundation of a peer education program SBHC and peer advocacy Action Planning

What is Peer Education?

Youth learning from each other. Youth as bearers of important health/program

messages. Youth as credible sources of information and

resources. Youth as powerful agents for change.

Why engage peer educators and advocates?

Research shows, peers influence youth’s health related behaviors and attitudes

Help you achieve your goal(s) Benefit to the youth in the program Youth development (e.g. youth looking into

healthcare field) Funding

What do you need? Prep work:

- who will coordinate and work with youth?- what are the parameters of the program? (HIPPA, Confidentiality, etc.)- funding- clear goals in mind, or process for goal setting

Training for peer educators/advocates Dedicated time for the project Consistency of staffing Flexibility Resources (space, food, materials, etc.)

What could this look like at a School Based Clinic?

Action Planning:

What are your needs? What are your resources? What are three things you can do to engage

youth as peer educators and advocates?

Resources

www.cascadeaids.org www.ppfa.org www.advocatesforyouth.org www.hify.org

Annika Shore:

ashore@cascadeaids.org