CHEP Peer Educator Program Request

CHEP Peer Educator Presentations

Accepting requests for the Spring 2025 semester!

Peer-to-peer education is a powerful approach to learning, particularly in areas like health, relationships, and social behavior. It involves individuals within a similar demographic sharing knowledge, experiences, and resources, fostering trust and relatability that traditional educational methods might lack. Peer-to-peer education leverages shared experiences and trust to foster meaningful learning and behavior change, making it an invaluable tool in promoting healthy relationships and wellbeing.

*All presentations are 1.5 hours. A 50 minute version can be done to meet the needs of class schedules. 

Peer-to-peer education is research based: 

  1. Enhanced Relatability and Engagement
    Peer educators often share common experiences, values, and communication styles with their audience, making the material more relatable and engaging. This relatability fosters a comfortable environment where participants feel safe to discuss sensitive topics (Bandura, 1997).

  2. Effective Role Modeling
    Peer educators serve as relatable role models, demonstrating positive behaviors and attitudes. Social Learning Theory suggests that individuals are more likely to adopt behaviors modeled by peers they identify with (Bandura, 1977).

  3. Increased Knowledge Retention
    When individuals perceive the educator as relatable and credible, they are more likely to retain and apply the knowledge shared. Research has shown that peer education improves knowledge and attitudes about health and relationships compared to traditional methods (Parkin & McKeganey, 2000).

  4. Reduction of Stigma
    Discussing topics like relationship violence or consent with peers can reduce the stigma associated with these issues. Peer-led discussions help normalize conversations around sensitive topics, promoting openness and understanding (WHO, 2007).

  5. Empowerment and Leadership Development
    Peer educators benefit as well, gaining leadership, communication, and organizational skills. This dual impact supports a culture of learning and empowerment within the community (Banyard et al., 2007).

  6. Create Community and Teamwork
    In higher education, peer-led initiatives have been shown to support student mental health and well-being by addressing issues like stress, loneliness, and anxiety. Peer programs create a sense of belonging and community, which are critical in combating isolation. Such initiatives not only help improve mental health outcomes but also empower students by fostering skills like teamwork, communication, and leadership (Brennan et al., 2021).


References:

  • Bandura, A. (1977). Social Learning Theory. Prentice Hall.
  • Bandura, A. (1997). Self-Efficacy: The Exercise of Control. W.H. Freeman.
  • Banyard, V. L., Plante, E. G., & Moynihan, M. M. (2007). Rape prevention through bystander education: Bringing a broader community perspective to sexual violence prevention. Journal of Community Psychology, 35(4), 463–481.
  • Brennan, L., et al. (2021). A systematic review of peer support interventions for student mental health and well-being in higher education. BJPsych Open, 7(4), Article e1-e11. Retrieved from Cambridge Core.
  • Parkin, S., & McKeganey, N. (2000). The rise and rise of peer education approaches. Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy, 7(3), 293-310.
  • World Health Organization (WHO). (2007). Peer education in the context of school health promotion: A comprehensive guide. WHO.
Which program are you requesting?

A Shot of Reality: Alcohol Prevention and Harm Reduction - As a result of participating in this program you will be able to: Identify standard drink sizes, Define Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) level and tolerance, Identify myths and truths of sobering up, Define alcohol poisoning and know how to respond to it, Identify ways to consume alcohol in less risky ways.

Prioritize Your Mind: Mental Wellbeing Starts from Within - As a result of participating in this program, you will be able to: Define mental health, Identify stress and major college stressors, Provide support and resources to peers, Learn and practice stress relieving exercises, Understand the importance of time management, Reduce stigma associated with mental health, Promote mental health awareness.

Relationship Reset: Foundations to a Healthy Relationship - After participating in this presentation, you will be able to: Define relationship violence, Define consent, Identify different kinds of relationships, Differentiate between healthy, unhealthy, and abusive relationships, Understand how to help a friend, Identify resources on & off campus, Know where to report and how.

required
**Submitting this form does NOT confirm your presentation. CHEP will reach out to you via email to confirm date and time.
***A $50 fee will be billed to the student org/department for no-showing scheduled presentations.