FAIRHOPE, Ala.— On Sept. 26, Fairhope High School’s Peer Helper program hosted a training day for new and returning members. The training day took place inside the Black Box Theatre and members learned the importance of the program while preparing for the upcoming Red Ribbon Week.
“The training program was a great day. We were able to review core helping skills and plan for Red Ribbon Week next month while enjoying several teambuilding activities,” said Kathyrn Stewart, program sponsor.
Red Ribbon Week is a national drug-prevention program that takes place mid October every school year. The FHS Peer Helper program assigns dress up days and different activities each day for students to participate in to support the prevention of drug-use.
“The peer helper training day taught me how to effectively help students and has shown me how the program has impacted students by being a safe place for them to talk to a peer when struggling,” said Mary Marshall Roberts, senior peer helper.
Students learned the four core helping skills such as understanding, listening, coping and referring. Peer helpers are responsible for encouraging students to take part in awareness as well as using these helping skills to support a struggling student.
“The Peer Helper program has taught me how to use my story to help and give others hope,” said Zaylee Bradley, senior peer helper. “This relation of struggle can impact peers in ways of overcoming hard situations with the help of someone that may have struggled similarly.”
The peer helper training highlighted the significance of being able to understand and relate. School Counselor Kendra Small believes the program has benefited students academically and emotionally.
“The Peer Helper program is such an incredible resource for the counseling department in that students often feel more comfortable discussing some topics with peers rather than grown ups. The peer helpers are trained in best practices that fit their ability to lend a listening ear to those who sometimes just need someone to hear them out,” Small said.
The Peer Helper program is active throughout all Baldwin County Schools through the Jennifer Claire Moore Foundation, whose mission is to create a space that supports students’ well-being. The FHS Peer Helper program serves as that outlet for students to talk to peers about any problems, thoughts or feelings they have experienced.
