POWER Peer Education Program

POWER: Promoting Otter Wellness through Education and Resources

Program Overview

The Peer Education Program utilizes a peer-based harm reduction approach to promote healthy living among students at California State University Monterey Bay. Peer Educators present dynamic, interactive workshops to their CSUMB peers and conduct outreach activities that encourage responsible lifestyle choices by increasing awareness and correcting misperceptions about various health and student life issues. As friends, educators, activists, role models, and team members, Peer Educators strive to make a difference at CSUMB and within the surrounding communities.

Mission

As a component of the Personal Growth & Counseling Center’s mission to promote the mental health of CSUMB students in order to improve the quality of their lives and aid them in achieving academic success, the Peer Education Program trains students to provide primary prevention education and health promotion services to the CSUMB student body.
 

Outreach

Last April, the Peer Educators and the Personal Growth & Counseling Center staff promoted "Enough Is Enough: A Campaign to Stem Societal Violence."  The Peer Educators invited students to pledge against violence by participating in the "These Hands Don't Hurt" event.  In October, Peer Educators provided mental health screenings during "Mental Health Awareness Week" and provided education on harm reduction and safety during "National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week."