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TOPICS
1. Opportunities for Creating and Strengthening Peer Programs
2. Online Conference on E-Mentoring
3. National Conference on Peer Helping
4. Two Key Studies from Peer Research
OPPORTUNITIES FOR CREATING AND STRENGTHENING PEER PROGRAMS
1. COMPREHENSIVE PEER PROGRAMS LEADER WORKSHOP (Level I)
The focus of this workshop is on developing high quality peer programs and recruiting, selecting, training, and supervising volunteers to provide peer assistance. Emphasis is placed on the key components of successful peer-based programs in schools, universities and communities. The use of peers as mediators will be included. The course will take place: July 7-11, 2003 in Waterloo, Ontario and July 14-18, 2003 in Victoria, British Columbia. Space is limited to sixteen participants. The fee for the workshop is $753.50 and includes all materials, nutrition breaks, post-session consultation and membership in the Peer Resources Network. Additional information and online registration as well as accommodation information is available at www.peer.ca/trng.html or by calling 1.800.567.3700.
2. ADVANCED TRAINING FOR PEER PROGRAM LEADERS (Level II)
An advanced course for persons who have completed a Level I course and have at least two years experience with facilitating peer programs. Emphasis on training skill development, coaching others to create successful peer programs, and the latest trends, issues and resources associated with peer work. The course will take place: July 7-8, 2003 in Victoria, British Columbia, December 4-5, 2003 in Palm Springs, California, and May 13-14, 2004 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Space is limited to eight participants. The fee for the workshop is $550.00 and includes all materials, nutrition breaks and post-session consultation. Additional information and online registration as well as accommodation information is available at www.peer.ca/trng.html or by calling 1.800.567.3700.
3. FIRST NATIONS PEER PROGRAMS LEADERS WORKSHOP (Level I)
The emphasis of this workshop is on First Nations, Aboriginal, Metis, Inuit and Indian communities and has been designed for adults working with youth. The workshop integrates First Nations customs and traditions into state-of-the-art peer training principles. The merging of the Medicine Wheel with the Experiential Learning Cycle benefits any peer training program. The course will take place July 14-18, 2003 in Victoria, British Columbia. Space is limited to sixteen participants. The fee for the workshop is $753.50 and includes all materials, nutrition breaks, post-session consultation and membership in the Peer Resources Network. Additional information and online registration as well as accommodation information is available at www.peer.ca/trng.html or by calling 1.800.567.3700.
4. FIRST NATIONS PEER PROGRAMS LEADERS WORKSHOP (Level II)
An advanced workshop for persons who have taken the Level I workshop training and have at least one-year experience in facilitating peer programs for youth in First Nations communities. Emphasis on improving training skills and the use of peer work for community development and healing. The course will take place July 10-11, 2003 in Victoria, British Columbia. Space is limited to ten participants. The fee for the workshop is $550.00 and includes all materials, nutrition breaks and post-session consultation. Additional information and online registration as well as accommodation information is available at www.peer.ca/trng.html or by calling 1.800.567.3700.
All seminars are based on principles of adult learning and use experiential skill-building exercises and activities; builds on participant experience and ideas; provides focused input from the workshop leader; encourages sharing learning experience; provides a library of relevant resources; and provides a notebook and take-away trainer materials for each participant. Participants who complete any seminar will receive a Certificate of Completion and be eligible for Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credit. Additional information and online registration is available at www.mentors.ca/trng.html. Or call 1.800.567.3700.
ONLINE CONFERENCE ON E-MENTORING
More and more peer programs are recognizing the value of using email, chat rooms, and other technology to provide peer mentoring. MENTOR/National Mentoring Partnership will be providing a forum on E-Mentoring with the most current information and best practices. The forum, E-Mentoring: Creating New Ways to Connect will be held June 16-20, 2003 in MENTOR's Online Community. The forum will focus on how to start an e-mentoring program, discuss e-mentoring formats, provide information on a new resource toolkit and share strategies for building partnerships to implement e-mentoring.
Some of the experts who will be sharing information and best practices on e-mentoring during this week long event include: Jayne Cravens, Online Volunteer Specialist, United Nations Volunteers Program; David Neils, Founder and Director, International Telementor Program; Lisa Derx, e-buddies Director, Best Buddies International; Thomas Kriese, Director, AOL Time Warner Foundation and Jessica Rogers, Manager, Achieve! Minneapolis. For more information, contact Kristi Zappie-Ferradino, MENTOR/National Mentoring Partnership, email: KZFerradino@mentoring.org
"By caring for children who need mentors, and for addicted men and women who need treatment, we are building a more welcoming society - a culture that values every life."
NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PEER HELPING
National Peer Helpers Association Conference
June 20-22, 2003 (Pre-Conference)
June 23-25, 2003
Sheraton Colony Square, Atlanta, Georgia
Tel: 1 888 267-1206
www.peerhelping.org
"What planet would you advise me to visit now?" he asked. "The planet Earth," replied the geographer. "It has a good reputation."
~ From The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (1900-1944) ~
WHAT'S NEW FROM PEER ASSISTANCE LITERATURE
Peer Resources continually scans the professional and popular published literature to find articles of interest to people involved in peer assistance. Two of several hundred recent additions to the searchable, annotated bibliography at www.peer.ca/SearchB.html are:
Wasserman, G.A., Kennan, K., Tremblay, R.E., Cole, J.D., Herenkohl, T.I., Loeber, R., and Petechuk, D. (April, 2003). Risk and protective factors of child delinquency. Child Delinquency Bulletin Series. Washington, DC: US Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Retrieved from: www.ncjrs.org/pdffiles1/ojjdp/193409.pdf.
In a major paper on a review of research associated peer influence and anti-social behaviors, the authors conclude that peer programs should not focus on assisting young people to reduce contact with deviant peers for juveniles predisposed to antisocial behaviors. Instead peer influence programs should promote pro-social skills (such as how to resolve peer conflicts, how to listen deeply and how to express feelings more appropriately - all the skills associated with typical peer helping programs. Such skills typically act as protective factors and reduce the likelihood of further involvement in delinquent activities. (RAC)
Dennison, S. (2000). A win-win peer mentoring and tutoring program: A collaborative model. Journal of Primary Prevention, 20, 3, 161-174.
The Big Buddies peer mentoring and tutoring program in North Carolina had as its goals: preventing school dropouts, increasing youth interest in volunteerism, and providing real-world learning experiences for university students. The article describes some of the issues resolved during the initial year of operation such as program set-up, participant selection, schedule and location of buddy time, content of peer mentor-tutor training, program coordination, use of materials with plans, and program evaluation design. Twenty-five grade-three and grade-four Little Buddies were paired with grade 11 and 12 high school honors students. Results of a program evaluation showed positive (but not statistically significant) increases in self-esteem, attitudes toward school, and on-task classroom behaviors. Sixteen of the 25 children improved one grade level in the academic subject in which they received tutoring from their Big Buddies. Self-esteem and concern for others also increased. (RAC)
The Peer News is provided free to subscribers every 45-60 days by Peer Resources. To become a member of the Peer Resources Network and receive a more comprehensive monthly publication as well as the only print magazine on coaching, visit www.peer.ca/PRN.html or call 1.800.567.3700 in North America or 1.250.595.3503 outside of North America. To be removed from this mailing list send an email to info@peer.ca.
All articles and information included in this newsletter have been prepared by Rey Carr and all copyrights are held by Peer Resources. To submit information or articles for possible inclusion in future issues, please send an email to peernews@peer.ca.
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