Peer Education FAQs

• What are Healthy Devil peer educators?
• How do I become a peer educator?
• What are the expectations and responsibilities of a peer educator?
• I'd like the Healthy Devil peer educators to present to my group/dorm. What programs do you offer?
• What Healthy Devil peer education groups are there?

What are Healthy Devil peer educators?

Healthy Devils are peer educators at Duke University who focus on promoting a positive campus community that reflects the attitudes, behaviors, and values of a healthy lifestyle.

Healthy Devils are student outreach presenters and advocates who are selected, trained, and given ongoing supervision in a specific health topic area. Training includes skills based training (e.g. listening skills, referral skills and life balance) and additional specific topic training. Healthy Devils take part in creating, planning and implementing health awareness weeks/months and programs throughout the Duke community.

Healthy Devils are dynamic individuals who are ready to make a significant contribution to this campus. As a Healthy Devil peer educator, you believe in your ability to stimulate personal growth in yourself and others, and you recognize this talent as vital for a healthier student community. You understand that your contribution to this program will positively affect yourself and the peers you reach.

How do I become a peer educator?

The Healthy Devils recruit a new group of peer educators each fall. To become a peer educator, you must submit an application, interview with one of the group advisors, and then attend the required skills and topic training sessions. 

You can apply to be a peer educator three different ways:
1. Complete the online application.
2. E-mail Lindsey Bickers Bock at lindsey.bickers.bock@duke.edu to request an electronic application and then submit it to her via e-mail.
3. Pick up a hard copy application around campus and then submit the completed application to Lindsey Bickers Bock in the Substance Abuse Prevention and Health Promotion Center.

The Healthy Devils have completed recruitment of peer educators for the 2009-10 school year.  Students interested in becoming a peer health educator should contact Lindsey Bickers Bock, lindsey.bickers.bock@duke.edu, coordinator of the Healthy Devils Program.

What are the expectations and responsibilities of a peer educator?

1) Attend initial peer education training sessions.

The Fall 2009 peer education training conference was scheduled for two full days - on Saturday, September 12 and Sunday, September 13.
Attendance at both days of training sessions was mandatory for new peer educators.

2) Complete all required online training modules by Friday, October 2. 

Instructions for completing the training modules will be shared after students complete an application to join the Healthy Devils.  There are five training modules, which review the different health issues that the Healthy Devils address - sexual health, nutrition and body image issues, mental health issues, prospective health, and substance use. 

3) Attend all scheduled Healthy Devils general body meetings and peer education group meetings.

During the 2009-10 academic year, Healthy Devils general body meetings will be held on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 PM.
Only two absences per semester will be accepted. Notice of any absence should be submitted to the Healthy Devils president or the appropriate advisor at least 24 hours in advance.

4) Complete at least 35 volunteer hours per semester.

Semester volunteer hours include meetings, trainings, programs presented/observed, in-services, office hours, attendance at special events/speakers, research, attending applicable meetings, planning programs, conferences and other educational programs.  The majority of your volunteer hours will come from participating in your primary group's activities, but students can log hours for participating in any Healthy Devil activity.  If you feel like an event you attend qualifies, you can contact your advisor to determine whether those hours can be counted towards your 35 hour total.

5) Document volunteer hours online on a weekly basis, using online hours log.
6) Represent the Substance Abuse Prevention and Health Promotion Center, CAPS, the Women's Center, and the Center for Research on Prospective Health Care in a positive and accurate manner.

Students who cannot meet these expectations over the course of the year are expected to contact an advisor to discuss the situation.

I'd like the Healthy Devil peer educators to present to my group/dorm. What programs do you offer?

The Healthy Devil peer educators can do programs on a number of topics including:
     - alcohol. tobacco and other drugs
     - eating and body image concerns
     - mental health issues
     - nutrition
     - sexual health
     - stress management 

Custom programs can also be designed to meet the needs of your group. If you'd like to discuss a custom program further, contact Lindsey Bickers Bock at lindsey.bickers.bock@duke.edu or 668-0997.

What Healthy Devil peer education groups are there?

DELISH - Duke Educational Leaders in Sexual Health
ESTEEM - Educating Students to Eliminate Eating Misconceptions
MINDS - Mental Issues and Needs of Duke Students
STAR - Students for Tobacco and Alcohol Reform