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PEER RESOURCE PROGRAMS MAKE A DIFFERENCE

The fundamental purpose of the Peer Resource Program is to support the educational process and enhance student achievement.  The Safe & Drug-Free Schools Program has identified Peer Resource Programs as an effective strategy for addressing at-risk youth needs.  Peer Resource Programs are a validated approach for assisting youth in coping with developmental needs, overcoming personal and social barriers to success, and fostering resilience. 

The program is based on a simple premise: Within every school, an informal "helping network" exists. Students with problems usually seek out other students, teachers, or other staff whom they trust.  They seek them out for advice, help in getting assistance, or just to provide empathic listening. The program utilizes the existing network and provides training to give skills for effectively helping others. Peer resources include, but are not limited to:  Peer Helpers, Mediators, Service Learning, Mentors, Tutors, Health Educators, Group Leaders, Leadership, Prevention Theater, and Greeters.

The program is designed to train professional staff to lead and implement quality Peer Programs that follow National Standards and Ethics.

PEER PROGRAM

Peer Programs can be very effective in the workplace, by creating a system of staff helping staff.  This is a human resource tools that will assist organizations deal with daily stress and management of a crisis in the workplace.

Adult Peer Resource Team Training, Phase I
[TWO DAYS]
The Adult Peer Resource Team Training will focus on the following:

• Identifying needs in building/community (Ex. Low academics, conflict) 
• Logistics of training (credit, club etc.) Time will be spent on evaluation of student learning
• Know National Standards and Ethics around peer resource programs 
• How to coordinate with other peer leadership programs
• Selection of the peer helpers, mediators, tutors etc.
• Utilization of peer resources (Short and long term)
• Understanding the rational for peer programs
• How to organize your program
• Roles of team members
• Evaluation model
• Public Relations 
• Plan of Action 

Adult Peer Resource Team Training, Phase II
[TWO DAYS]
The Phase II training is offered to those that have completed Phase I or are currently running a peer resource project. The focus of the training will be on the following:

• Core training for students in the Peer Resource Project 
• Teaching and Learning Strategies 
• Supervision Skills 
• Evaluation of Student learning 
• Continued planning and implementation by team 

Adult Peer Resource Team Training, Phase III
[TWO DAYS]
The Phase III training is offered to those completing Phase II. The focus of the training will be on the following:

• Delivery of services based on program objectives and school program design
• Supervision, rewards, evaluation and motivation of peer resource students
• Sample training for common peer resource projects such as tutoring, mediation and mentoring
• Evaluation tools

Conflict Mediation Peer Resource Project for Adult Team Members
[TWO DAYS]
This will be offered to those that have completed Phase I and II training or are involved in delivering a Conflict Mediation Project.  The specialized training will focus on the concept of violence prevention through starting a conflict mediation program.  Steps involved in setting up the program, appropriate uses of youth, standards, training activities, and evaluation will be a part of the seminar.

Tutoring: Peer Strategy for Academic Improvement for Adult Team Members
[TWO DAYS]
This will be offered to those that have completed Phase I and II training or are involved in delivering a tutoring project.  This specialized training will provide hands-on experience in developing effective K-12 tutoring programs. Screening, selection, training, supervision and evaluation will be a part of the training.  Strategies for increasing test scores and achievement will be given. Videos, scenarios, and share groups will facilitate this interactive training.

Evaluation for Success in Peer Resource Programs
[TWO DAYS]
This workshop will focus on evaluation components of peer programs.  Process, impact, and outcome evaluation will be discussed.  Evaluation that fits mission goals and training will be demonstrated. Each person will leave with examples of tools to use in their programs

Adult Peer Programs
[FIVE DAYS]
How to setup programs, design training for adult helpers, supervisors, and ongoing support.  The United National Model will be the basis of the training.

Prevention Theater for Adult Team Members
[ONE DAY]
Designed for those team members that have completed Phase I training or are involved in delivering a prevention theater program.  This specialized training is designed to teach you how to create a prevention presentation through the use of drama.  Prevention Theater is based on the power of peer assistance and intervention to use drama as the communication tool to provide a means of discussion and resolving problems.  The adult team members will be taken through the prevention process, which includes scene design, scene building, presentation, and evaluation.  Other presentation strategies will be presented.

Mentoring Projects for the Adult Team members
[ONE DAY]
Designed for those Team members that have completed Phase I training or are involved in delivering a mentoring project.  Participates will learn how to implement a program to training older peers to act as educators and mentors for younger students.  The mentors may serve as tutors, buddy, health educator and other roles.  The focus will be on setting up the program, screening mentors and mentees, evaluation and supervision.

Group Leadership for Peer Resource Youth for the Adult Team members
[ONE DAY]
Designed for those team members that have completed Phase I training or are involved in delivering Group activities.  Participants will learn training and teaching strategies to assist students learn how to lead a classroom group, small group discussion and an ongoing group.  Group work can be used for health education (tobacco prevention, drug and alcohol prevention, HIV prevention and other projects).  Small groups can center on transition issues, new students and other appropriate topics.

Administrative Leadership for Peer Resource Projects
[ONE DAY]
This is designed for administrators in the school system and other stakeholders in the Peer Resource Project.  The day will be spent reviewing the research behind peer programs, the role of the administrator, solving logistic problems for the team and coordinating all the peer resource projects in the building.

Tips for Trainers and Utilizing Energizers and Ice Breakers
[ONE DAY]
Designed for those team members that have completed Phase I and Phase II training.  Training for any age should be fun and meaningful!  This program will be designed to deliver state-of-the-art training tools and techniques with an emphasis on the use of energizers and icebreakers. Participants will learn the "tricks of the trade" by taking a developmental approach to group building and experiential learning.  Join the fun, be involved, share your wisdom.

Athletic Peer Project
[ONE DAY]
This workshop is designed for those that have completed Phase I training or are involved in delivering programs for athletics.  This is designed to look at activities that upper classmen can assist younger athletics in maintaining involvement, keeping grades up and being a buddy.

Service Learning
[ONE DAY]
This working will be designed for those that have taken Phase I or are already in charge of a service-learning program. Curricular and after school options will be discussed.  Planning, training, reflection and evaluation will be a part of the program.

Team Building for Adult Leaders
[ONE DAY]
This workshop is designed for those that are working with the peer resource project.  Time will be spent understanding self and others on the team.  Roles will be clarified. Communication, conflict resolution and collaboration will be emphasized.

Trainer of Trainers
[FIVE DAYS]
This workshop is designed for those adult leaders that would like to train other adult leaders in the K. C. Peer Resource Team training.  Participants should have completed Phase I, II, III and are currently involved in training youth and other adults.  The focus will be on leadership skills, building teams, skills of participants, understanding of peer programs, teaching and learning strategies, media utilization.  Part of the time will be spent on observation of training and feedback and ongoing quality assurance.  Two of the five days will be based at a training site.

Advocates for Change
[ONE DAY]
Advocates for Change involves teaching Current Peer Resource youth how to advocate for change in their environment that effects the health issues of youth such as tobacco reduction, safety issues such as seat belt usage, zero tolerance for underage drinking and driving.  The training will teach adults how to encourage and manage projects for Youth to Speak Out!

Building Assets in Peer to Peer Programs
[ONE DAY]
Participants will learn about the power of Assets and how this can be integrated into current peer programs.  Training will be designed to assist peer helpers utilize the asset model in their program.

Health Educators
[ONE DAY]
Participants will learn skills in how to utilize peer helpers in a variety of one-on-one approaches and classroom models in dealing with a variety of health issues such as HIV/AIDS, Smoking, Drugs and Alcohol, Eating Disorders, pregnancy reduction and other identified health issues.

Graduate Credit (1) will be provided for 15 hours of contact time.

Student Training available on a variety of topics:
Basic P.H. training, peer Mentoring, Mediation, Tutoring, Crisis Management and Mentoring.

Evaluation of Peer Programs
Evaluaton of Peer Programs can be provided through assisting organizations design process evaluation, impact and outcome evaluation and actually conducting the evaluation for the organization.

Consulting is available to individual programs, large systems, and state programs.