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: