What is the Wellness Peer Educators Program?
The Wellness Peer Educator Program is designed to faciliate the development and maintenance of healthy lifestyles in John Jay students. To meet this goal, the program seeks to make students aware of public health issues associated with unhealthy behaviors and practices. The Wellness Peer Health Educators students will combine their specialized training in health education and wellness with a desire to make a difference on campus. Wellness Peer Health Educators are expected to serve as role models in their efforts and to serve as an extension of the professional staff of The Wellness Center.
What is involved?
- Students who are elected to be part of the Peer Education Program are involved in the following:
- Conducting outreach (5 hrs/week).
- Serve as a Wellness Services Leaders on campus regularly.
- Participate in training and continuing education opportunities, as identified/assigned.
- Seek out opportunities to work collaboratively with community-based, student organizations and other departments.
What kind of training is provided for the Peer Educators?
The Wellness Peer Educators are trained under the National Association of Student Personel Administrators' (NASPA) and Boosting Alcohol Consciousness Concerning the Health of University Students (BACCHUS) programs which have created a Certified Peer Educators (CPE) training. CPE training is an effective strategy for building a well-educated and sustainable peer education group. CPE Training helps peer educators develop leadership skills to be able to successfully create and implement campus programs. The training includes eight modules, covering the role of peer education, helping peers make a behavior change, listening skills, response and referral skills, how to take action and intervene, recognizing the role of diversity and inclusivity, programming and presentation skills, self-care, and group dynamics.
What prior requirements must students fulfill before becoming Wellness Peer Educators?
Students who take part in the Peer Education Program must fulfill the following:
- Students must complete an application and submit it to jjcwellness@jjay.cuny.edu.
- Upon acceptance into the program, students must be available for training and complete the CPE training program. This training is provided during the summer semester. Following completion of the training, students are asked for a minimum one-year commitment.
- CPE Post-Test: Each student will complete the BACCHUS CPE Post-Test upon completion of the nine CPE Training Modules. Students must score an 80% or higher in order to receive their CPE certificate and certification card.