Peer Educators
Twelve volunteer youth (18-29) are trained every fall to provide information and support services to their peers.
Training topics include: mental health, drugs and alcohol, healthy sexuality, listening and questioning skills, crisis intervention, and relationship violence.
The training is 4 hours per week over five weeks. Once training is complete, participants receive a nationally recognized certificate in Peer Education. Like the Youth Outreach Workers, Peer Educators provide information, support, empathy and referrals. These volunteers give 5 hours a week to the program under the supervision of our senior Youth Outreach Worker.
Click here for Peer Educator program poster.
- Increase communication and awareness around youth and mental health issues and decrease stigma.
- Help youth connect with each other and their community.
- Assist in early intervention for mental health problems
- Help youth connect with a friendly safety net of youth-friendly professionals.
- Empower youth to help make life better for themselves and their peers.
- Develop plans to make mental health services more “youth friendly”, accessible, and empowering.
Volunteer for this program
WCSS Volunteer Policy
In 2009 Peer Educator Volunteers donated 61,069 hours to help identify peers at risk and make program referrals.
WCSS Recruiting for Peer Educators
September 14, 2009
Whistler Community Services Society (WCSS) is now accepting applications for a limited number of young adults (18-29) to be trained to act as Peer Mentors in the community to help support the services offered by the Youth Outreach program. 12 new Peer Educators will be trained to provide youth with the tools and skills necessary to support their peers when faced with challenges around drugs and alcohol, relationships, housing, employment, mental health, hunger and healthy sexuality.
“We could not reach close to the number of youth that need this type of information without our Peer Educators,” commented Davin Moore, Youth Outreach worker for WCSS, “Last year the Peer Educators volunteered a combined 61,000 hours over the season connecting with their peer group and helping put on such events as the Trivial Pursuit of Sex & Drugs, and Whistler Welcome Week”.
Intense training takes place from the end of October into early December and then the project runs to the end of April 2010. Peer Educators volunteer a minimum of five hours a week connecting with peers in areas frequented by young adults. The Peer Educators received ten training sessions from Whistler Counsellors/Therapists and Service Providers. Topics covered included: community resources and referral, basic counseling and listening skills, crisis intervention, mental health, relationship violence, professional boundaries and self care, drug and alcohol education, tobacco reduction and healthy sexuality.
For more information or to volunteer as a Peer Educator, please contact Davin Moore Community Youth Outreach Worker 604.938.3902 or davin@mywcss.org.
Community Partners
Spruce Grove Annex • 7328 Kirkpatrick Way • Whistler, BC V0N 1B7
Tel (604) 932-0113 • Fax (604) 932-0599
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