Health Promotion and Outreach Services

What is Peer Education?

Peer education is a dynamic approach to health promotion rooted in the fact that students naturally look to their peers for trusted information and advice. As a Peer Educator, you bridge the gap between administration and the student body, translating evidence-based health data into accessible, relatable content. Utilizing harm reduction strategies, peer education focuses on encouraging healthy lifestyles and reducing high-risk behaviors in a non-judgmental way.

Why Become a Peer Educator?

• National Certification: Every HOPS Peer Educator completes the nationally recognized Certified Peer Educator (CPE) training from the BACCHUS affiliates of NASPA, a powerful credential for your resume.
• Professional Skill Building: Gain hands-on experience in public speaking, independent health research, event programming, and collaborative teamwork.
• Digital Marketing Experience: Sharpen your creative skills by managing official campus social media accounts and designing diverse digital content (videos, infographics, flyers).
• Measurable Personal Growth: Set and achieve custom SMART goals each semester to directly advance your continuing education and career skills.
• Make a Tangible Impact: Play a vital role in shaping a safer, healthier, and more empathetic culture across the NCF campus community.

Mission Statement

The Healthy Outreach and Prevention Services (HOPS) campus organization is a student-first program where a team of Peer Educators works with the campus Health Promotion Coordinator to dedicate their time to improving the well-being of the NCF community. By using a wellness model that incorporates physical, mental, social, emotional, and intellectual health, the Peer Educators design accessible evidence-based programs to help students make informed decisions about their health.

Vision Statement

To create a healthy, informed, and accessible campus community where every student is empowered to prioritize their physical, mental, social, emotional, and intellectual well-being.

Our Goals

• Promote holistic wellness by providing accessible, evidence-based health education and programming for the NCF community.
• Foster an accessible and supportive campus environment that encourages healthy decision-making and personal growth.
• Empower students through peer-led outreach, education, and advocacy focused on wellness and prevention.
• Increase awareness of campus and community health resources to improve student well-being and engagement.
• Encourage collaboration among students, faculty, and staff to build a culture of health, prevention, and support across campus.

Programs & Education

• Updated Forms: Access Program Request Forms at the following link: https://ncf.iad1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1Hz3AbOXrUNROpE
• What to Expect: Programs are one hour long, interactive, led by our trained peer educators, and include at least one engaging activity.
• Who Can Request? Any student organization, professor, or on-campus group is welcome to request a program.
• Advance Notice: All tabling requests must be submitted at least two weeks in advance of the event date. 

Event Requests (Tabling)

• How to Request: To have the peer educators table at your event, please reach out to us directly via email.
• Advance Notice: All tabling requests must be submitted at least two weeks in advance of the event date.

Overview of the Peer Education Role

• Peer Educators gain the vital knowledge and skills needed to deliver essential health and wellness information directly to their fellow students.
• Professional Certification: Students receive NASPA BACCHUS CPE (Certified Peer Educator) Training. This is a lifelong credential that provides hands-on experience in public health, public speaking, leadership, and community advocacy.
• Because students relate deeply to their peers, this model drastically increases the credibility, trust, and impact of the information shared.
• Peer Education effectively equips students with the practical tools necessary to spark positive, lasting behavior changes across campus.
• Our programs cover health and harm reduction in alignment with our comprehensive wellness model, focusing on five key pillars: intellectual, social, physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

Position Functions & Responsibilities

• Programming & Facilitation: Facilitate educational presentations, programs, and events on various health and wellness topics by request, by design, interest, need, and as designated by the Health Promotion and Outreach Coordinator.
• Content Creation & Marketing: Manage HOPS social media accounts and create digital content (educational videos, infographics, flyers, posts) to engage NCF students online.
• Research & Development: Engage in independent research on current health topics, trends, and resources to assist in developing educational displays and campus-wide campaigns.
• Operations & Supply Care: Assist in the daily distribution, inventory, marketing, and outreach of campus harm reduction supplies.
• Collaboration & Alignment: Participate in mandatory training workshops and weekly staff meetings. Work as a cohesive team and represent the foundational values of HWS.
• Professionalism & Compliance: Maintain strict student confidentiality, fulfill Confidential Mandated Reporting duties, and delegate complex issues to appropriate professional staff. 
• Growth: Complete one self-driven SMART goal per semester to increase professional skills and knowledge.

Desired Qualifications & Skills

Desired Qualifications:

• Previous leadership or programming experience.
• Strong interest in health/wellness.
• Ability to role-model health promotion values.

Desired Skills:

• Strong organizational skills and sharp attention to detail.
• Ability to work collaboratively and effectively within a team.
• Initiative in idea generation, creativity, and project follow-through.
• Excellent verbal, written, and public speaking skills.
• Aptitude for social marketing and digital content creation.
• A designer to learn and gain professional growth experience.

For additional information, questions, or to submit your application, please contact [email protected] or [email protected].

AOD Training

• Alcohol and Other Drug training is required for students hosting Wall Parties or COUPs.
• Training must be requested two weeks in advance and can be requested through the Health Promotion and Outreach Coordinator Booking Link.
• Training is one hour long and given by the Health Promotion and Outreach Coordinator.

Contact Information

Health Promotion Coordinator and Peer Educator office details:

• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• Instagram Link Instagram 
• Location: W Peterson room 2115
• Phone number: 941.487.9294
• Book sessions/consultations: Request a meeting with our health promotion and outreach specialist to talk about any health topics.

The Drug-Free Schools and Communities Amendments of 1989 and the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 require institutions of higher education to distribute the following information on an annual basis. Please take a moment to read this notification and click on the relevant links. The notification contains information about the following:

• 1. Standards of Conduct
• 2. Legal Sanctions and Penalties
• 3. Health Risks
• 4. Resources
• 5. Discipline
• 6. Appendix

View The Information Here