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Overview of Peer Education HiTOPS has been offering our community-based peer education program for over fifteen years. Recognizing that peers can be very influential with one another, we have developed our “teens teaching teens” program so that teens can help their peers learn how to stay safe and healthy.
Numerous studies have shown that peer education is an effective way to help youth develop healthy behaviors not only in sexual health but also in violence prevention and substance abuse prevention. Peer education draws on the credibility young people have with their peers, leverages the power of role modeling, and can deliver health education information in a way that is more engaging, and less intimidating, than adults. Behavioral science research suggests that people are more likely to hear and believe messages intended to change behavior and attitudes if they believe the messenger is similar to them and faces the same concerns and pressures. This is the basis for our “teens teaching teens” strategy.
HiTOPS peer educators have the opportunity to:
Peer educators are trained in sexuality issues and leadership skills. They learn to use problem solving and group cohesion exercises, improvisational skits, and small group discussions to present highly interactive workshops for teen and adult participants. HiTOPS peer educators are required to participate in all training sessions and help present workshops during the school year. Our peer education programs include:
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