HiTOPS.org ~ New Jersey Teen PEP

New Jersey Teen PEP

The New Jersey Teen Prevention Education Program (Teen PEP) is a peer sexual health education program that is currently being implemented in nearly fifty public schools and community based organizations across the state of New Jersey. Teen PEP is sponsored by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services in collaboration with HiTOPS and the Princeton Center for Leadership Training. The purpose of Teen PEP is to increase knowledge, skills, and behavior that promote sexual health among New Jersey high school students. The program utilizes the peer-to-peer education model developed by the Princeton Center for Leadership Training, and the nationally recognized sexual health curriculum developed by HiTOPS.

The core of Teen PEP is a curriculum-based, year-long educational program in human sexuality and peer education which is team-taught to selected students. In New Jersey public schools, Teen PEP is offered as a course for credit. In community based organizations, it is offered as a volunteer, community service program. Peer educators develop knowledge and skills to effectively deliver health promotion workshops to their peers. These innovative workshops address unplanned pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, other sexually transmitted infections, homophobia reduction, dating violence, date rape, sexual harassment and the impact of alcohol and other drugs on sexual risk taking. Workshops are conducted with peers, parents and educators in schools and communities and focus on building critical skills such as communication with peers and parents, problem-solving and decision-making, self-management, and negotiation and refusal skills. This challenge requires the peer leaders to develop a depth of knowledge about human sexuality, but also to develop skills in group facilitation, managing group dynamics, presentation skills, and conducting oneself both in and out of school as a leader and role model.

In order to establish and sustain this peer education program, Teen PEP builds the capacity of stakeholder teams in each member school or organization. Teen PEP likewise builds the capacity of program advisors to effectively facilitate a youth development process with their students. The program equips student leaders with the knowledge and skills to transform the culture and climate of their schools and communities through ongoing peer-to-peer education. These youth leaders become knowledgeable, effective peer educators, role models, and health advocates.

Teen PEP officially began in 1999. In the current program year, there are more than 600 Teen PEP peer educators throughout New Jersey conducting outreach education to their peers. At present, nearly 50 schools and organizations, large and small, urban, suburban, and rural, are members of the Teen PEP network.

School or community based organization staff or adminstrators interested in finding out more about Teen PEP can contact Chavonne Lenoir, Princeton Center for Leadership Training, and also see a more detailed description of the program at Princeton Center for Leadership Training.