What is Peer Helping?

Welcome to the National Peer Helping Blog and our first official post!!  In this blog, we will include best practices, outstanding programs, free training and resources, featured peer helping training, peer helping awareness campaigns, and national organizations that are peer helper friendly.  

In our first official post, we would like to define peer helping and how and it is supported by the American School Counselor Association. According to the American School Counselor Association, peer helping programs can be extremely beneficial to school and include a variety of interpersonal behaviors by trained students who seek to assist their peers.
ASCA Position Statement on Peer Helping


There are many uses for peer helpers in schools. This is not an exhaustive list, but an excellent guide to include students in helping roles in your school. Some activities for students include:

Peer listeners
Peer tutors
Peer mentors
Peer mediators
Student/office aids
Peer advisors
Group leaders
Peer educators
Peer ambassadors
Orientation and transition guides
Serving in outreach such as reducing crisis, alerting the school counselor to suicidal students and identifying students who are potential victims to violence.


How does one go about creating a peer helping program?  This checklist will help you get pointed in the right direction:

1.  Conduct an assessment to find out the specific needs of your school community.

2.  Establish a vision and mission statement of your program to define the focus of your program.

3.  Get trained!!  All peer helper coordinators should have adequate training in establishing, coordinating, and evaluating a program.

4.  Provide initial and advanced training to peer helpers.

5.  Have a set of ethics and standards for your helpers. There is a set of ethics for all peer helpers established by the National Association of Peer Program Professionals.

6.  Evaluate your program to make needed adjustments.

7. Continue to expand your program by expanding the role of your peer helpers.

Also, before starting a program, all peer helping educations should follow a specific ethical standard. The following ethical standards are from the National Association for Peer Program Professionals.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PEER PROGRAM PROFESSIONALS CODE OF ETHICS FOR PEER HELPERS PROFESSIONALS

Professionals who are responsible for implementing peer helper programs shall be people of personal and professional integrity. As a minimum, the NAPPP believes the Code of Ethical Standards for Peer Helping Professionals shall contain the following and be evidenced by commitment to and pursuit of:

1. A philosophy which upholds peer helping as an effective way to address the needs and conditions of people.

2. The individuals right to dignity, self  development, and self direction.

3. Excellence in program development and implementation through:

• Strong positive rapport with peer helpers.
• Appropriate background, training, and skills.
• Personal commitment and energy.
• The use of professionals with expertise and experience in human relations training.
• The use of proven curriculum for training, supervision, and supporting peer helpers.

4. The developing of a nurturing personality which:

•Reflects a positive role model and healthy lifestyle.
•Rejects the pursuit of personal power or gain at the expense of others.
•Respects copyright and acknowledgement obligations as they pertain to peer helping resources and ideas.
•Adheres to the ethical and legal obligations of confidentiality.
•Strives to exemplify the peer helping philosophy in all life situations

5. The promotion of a realistic understanding by both internal and external audiences of the benefits and limitations of a peer helping program.

If you are interested in starting a program, please contact the National Association of Peer Program Professionals for more information on finding a trainer in your area!