HiTOPS.org ~ Teen Council

Teen Council

The HiTOPS Teen Council is a group of 20 high school seniors who undergo extensive training to become effective peer sexual health educators in their school and community. Students selected for the Teen Council receive over 140 hours of training in human sexuality, presentation skills, group facilitation, communication and negotiation skills, and interactive educational techniques. The HiTOPS program is considered the most comprehensive, high quality training of this type available in New Jersey. Click here to learn more about becoming a member.

Throughout the year, the Teen Council conducts workshops dealing with the difficult issues facing teens - pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, homophobia, HIV/AIDS, relationships, dating, and communication with peers and parents. Our goals are to promote respect and good communication among teens, to reduce teen pregnancy and the spread of STDs, to reduce dating violence and date rape, to fight against homophobia and to empower teens with knowledge and information so they will have the tools they need to make responsible decisions. The HiTOPS Teen Council has been personally honored by former Governor Christie Whitman for its excellent work in teen pregnancy prevention.

The HiTOPS Teen Council is the longest running of our peer education groups and has been providing peer-to-peer education since 1987. Participation in the HiTOPS Teen Council requires a commitment of time, dedication and responsibility. Students who participate in the Teen Council are role models in a position of leadership, and we ask them to conduct themselves accordingly. In addition, the time commitments include the following:

3 day camp retreat in August.
5 half-days of intensive instruction in August at HiTOPS in Princeton.
An overnight mid-winter retreat in January.
Weekly, 3-hour training sessions every Wednesday evening from September- June.
Performing scheduled workshops several times per month.

Members of past years’ Teen Councils consistently cite the HiTOPS experiences as among the most important in their lives. Teaching one’s peers helps build self-esteem and confidence in a way that is often transforming.

"Putting the HiTOPS experience into words is no easy task. This is truly the most amazing group I have ever been a part of. I am so proud of all we have accomplished. I feel that besides becoming educated on a number of sexuality issues, I have grown as a person. I can see the effects of HiTOPS in my everyday interactions with peers. Most importantly HiTOPS has given me a vision of what I would like to do for the rest of my life. I will continue to be involved in sexuality education throughout college and in the years that follow. HiTOPS has shown me that I have the ability to make a difference."

- former Teen Council member

Click here to visit the Teen Council Member's Page and to learn more about becoming a member.