Building Bridges: Baldwin County Peer Helpers

Issue: Natural and Societal Disaster Preparedness

Grant Amount: $46,300.00
Foley, AL
Year Funded: 2011
Organization: JENNIFER CLAIRE MOORE FOUNDATION

Contact Information

Laura Ehlert, Executive Director, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), 251-971-3633.
Reta Barnes, School Liaison, reta@jennifermoorefoundation, 251-975-8981.

Building Bridges: Baldwin County Peer Helpers will provide systematic youth development, effective education, interactive teaching, development of life and resiliency skills, and asset-building in youth and adult support through a student-led school program. The Peer-to- Peer Program,certified by the National Association of Peer Program Professionals (NAPPP), has been very successful in 17 public and private schools in Baldwin County, AL. We want to extend this valuable program to all 44 public schools, and private systems, in Baldwin County and provide a national model for others to replicate.

Peer Helpers are taught by trained, NAPPP-certified teachers or counselors to assist fellow students with the pressures of day-to-day life including bullying/cyber-bullying, suicide, dropout, depression, substance abuse, and more.  They are trained to esolve conflicts positively.  The Peer Helper program can stop a suicide, keep a student from dropping out, prevent substance abuse involvement, reduce bullying and be the first line of crisis management for a school through listening, supporting, debriefing, and referring others in need.  Peer Helpers also increase their own self-esteem and leadership skills. All Peer Helper students complete a certified curriculum or club-based training program and are supervised by professionals.

Additionally, peers trained in grief counseling or crisis management provide immediate attention to students in crises such as home fires, natural disasters, death of family/peers, etc.  These trained students provide services for large numbers of youth in immediate need while making necessary referrals for services.

Project Updates

Building Bridges: Baldwin County Peer Helpers March 2012 Update

Our Anti-Bullying Campaign is on the move!

Baldwin County Peer Helpers, supported by the Jennifer Claire Moore Foundation, continue to make progress against bullying in their schools.  Following the area's first Anti-Bullying Summit in January, the 34 attending Peer Helper students from six high schools began working in teams with fellow Peer Helpers. The Peer Helper students produced age-appropriate anti-bullying skits and videos to educate younger students.  In March they got started on their goal to visit all middle and elementary schools in Baldwin County with their anti-bullying message. Because the county has a student population of over 30,000, this project is a major undertaking!  In March they presented to 3,430 elementary students and 1,500 intermediate/middle school students. In April they plan to present to 3,700 elementary students and 2,790 intermediate students.  By reaching out to younger kids to let them know bullying is wrong at any age, these dedicated Peer Helpers can make a tremendous positive impact! 

Following their presentations, the Peer Helper students provide a pledge for the younger students to sign.  The pledge promises to be kind and refuse to participate in bullying. The school displays the signed pledges along the hallways as a constant reminder to make good choices..

 

 

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