The PEERs
The PEERs are paid undergraduate (and co-term) peer educators that Prevent harms, Educate about holistic health and well-being, Empower our community, and Refer students to campus resources. They are trained in the fundamentals of public health as it relates to the following topic areas: substance use, sexual citizenship, and health promotion.
More About the PEERS Program
The PEERs program is a collaboration between the Office of Substance Use Programs, Education and Resources (SUPER) and the SHARE Education Team, with support from Well-being at Stanford. PEERs promote an integrated model of health and well-being that recognizes these topics do not exist within a vacuum of one another. They are educators who can speak to the nuances of where topics overlap and diverge and how they directly relate to the student experience.
For background, the ASSU passed a resolution in 2020 supporting ongoing prevention education for all students. Simultaneously, students and ResEd professional staff have asked for continuing education opportunities in their residences. The PEERs program aims to meet the health and wellbeing education needs of our community in an evidence-based manner, in partnership with ResEd.
Please reach out to us at peerprogram@stanford.edu with questions.
What Does Being a PEER Entail?
PEERs receive ongoing intensive training from both SUPER and the SHARE Education teams as well as other campus partners across departments who specialize in topics related to health and wellbeing.
PEERs conduct outreach education programs and workshops across undergraduate campus neighborhoods on topics involving alcohol/drug use, sexual citizenship, and health promotion. They specialize in population level public health initiatives rather than one on one support.
PEERs are active members of the wellness community and table on campus to promote awareness on public health issues. PEERs work about 5 paid hours a week.
PEERs and 5-Sure on Foot collaborate for Fentanyl Awareness Day.
How Do I Become a PEER?
The only pre-requisite to apply to be a PEER is a passion for the health and wellbeing of your peers and a desire to learn about public health. If selected, you would engage in 32 hours of training in fundamentals and ongoing in-service trainings throughout the academic year. The role commitment is for one academic year with the possibility of continuing on in subsequent academic years.
What Does a Typical Week Look Like Working As a PEER?
A typical week for a PEER includes attending weekly team meetings and being out in community neighborhoods conducting outreach education programs and tabling for national awareness weeks. PEERs also gather at times to put together resource materials and kits for various events.
Each week, PEERs will spend time with their professional supervisors, each other, and with lead student PEER mentors.
How do I request a PEER led workshop/training?
Any student organization, house/dorm, is able to request a PEER led workshop. Fill out the workshop request form here. Please note that submitting this form generates a request and we will then confirm a time once we have confirmed facilitators. It is important that you put the correct contact information in your request form as we will communicate with you based on that information.
Available Workshops
Check back regularly as our PEERs get trained on more workshop topics and content!
SHARE: Sexual Citizenship Content
- CoCo - Consent and Communication
SUPER: Substance Use Content
- Bring your own PEER - Risk reducing strategies for alcohol use and bystander intervention basics
- PEER led Narcan Trainings (standing weekly pop up training open to ANYONE on campus or by request)
- Note: Narcan training is already available through a collaboration between the Stanford Co-Op project and the SUPER office. So far 700+ Stanford Community members have been trained on how to administer Narcan in the event of an overdose. This winter, we will expand our ability to offer Narcan Training by training our PEERs to facilitate this training as well.