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  • 2020-2021 Foley Middle School Peer Helpers

     

     
    Destini Bemis
    Matthew Biggs
    Angelly Cantillano Suazo
    Ruth Chong
    Blakeley Cluster
    Myah Dantzler
    Aubrey Gianelloni
    Fernanda Guadalajara-Camacho
    Cooper Hermecz
    Kaitlyn Huguley
    Olivia Jones
    Serrina Jones
    Jeimy Machado
    Letson May
    JaMya McAllister
    Tinaya McGowin-Prim
    Tyson Motes
    Xavier Murray-Talley
    Teja Perdue
    Carmen Pickens
    Savanna Pulliam
    Jaylee Ramirez
    Secilia Soto
    Sarah Sullivan
    Jordan Thomas
    CarrieAnn Wilson
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  • Jennifer Claire Moore Foundation Peer Helper Program

     

    When young people have problems, they are far more likely to discuss them with their friends rather than their parents, teachers, ministers or other caregivers.  Social media enables young people to share life-changing events with strangers without ever talking to someone within their own homes.

    To equip young people to act as a resource to help other youth with the issues they face, the concept of “peer helping” was developed. Peer Helpers are students who are trained to recognize when their peers may have a problem, listen to fellow students confidentially and assist them with emotional, societal, or academic struggles.

    A teacher or school counselor is trained to serve as a Peer Program Coordinator, the teacher/counselor Peer Program Coordinator in turn selects students to serve as Peer Helpers and trains them on the peer helping system.  They learn a set of skills – attending, empathizing, summarizing, questioning, genuineness, assertiveness, confrontation, problem-solving, conflict resolution and confidentiality – that assist them in meeting the needs of their fellow students.  In middle and high school, Peer Helpers are generally taught as a state accredited class; in intermediate and elementary school, Peer Helpers are generally led as a club.

    As a part of their training, Peer Helpers agree to keep the issues other students share with them in strict confidence.  However, if a student threatens to harm him or herself, exhibits psychotic behavior or reports abuse, the Peer Helper must involve their coordinator, a counselor or administrator immediately.

    Peer Helpers not only assist classmates by listening empathetically, providing options for making healthy choices, becoming advocates, and helping them get involved in campus life.  In the process of helping others improve their self-esteem, Peer Helpers can themselves become leaders and role models.