Peer Helper Institute

JENNIFER CLAIRE MOORE FOUNDATION PARTNERS WITH NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PEER PROGRAM PROFESSIONALS

The Jennifer Claire Moore Foundation (JCMF) has established a strategic alliance with the National Association of Peer Program Professionals (NAPPP) to assure the Peer Helper programs adhere to strict standards and provide the best quality training possible to Jennifer Claire Moore Peer Program Educators.

Establishment and adherance to programmatic standards and ethics are at the heart of the work conducted by NAPPP and JCMF. Peer Helping programs that follow NAPPP Programmatic Standards and Ethics have been shown to be more effective in achieving outcome based measures when compared to peer programs which are focused on activities or events.

The program covers issues that affect the youth of today (i.e. parental divorce, weight issues, family sickness, death of a fellow student, depression, etc.) and Peer Helpers are trained how to listen, observe and help fellow students who may be struggling with problems.

Peer Helpers often become preventative agents who identify problems and encourage others to seek the necessary help from appropriate professionals.

Peer Helper programs for youth should be implemented and managed by Certified Peer Program Educators (CPPEs), who are teachers that have been trained to implement and oversee the Peer Helper program in their schools. To meet the training demand for CPPEs, the Foundation has partnered with NAPPP to present an annual national conference. The Foundation can also provide peer program consulting services for schools or organizations with training needs outside the conference.

JCMF Shared Vision: To create more caring youth communities through peer helping programs.

PURPOSE: Recognizing the expanding role of the peer program educator in schools and communities and the increasing importance of professional development, NAPPP has established a voluntary national certification program. This program identifies a certifiable level of experience and expertise in the administration and/or operation of peer programs. Individuals who attain these levels and who complete the certification process may then claim the designation, CPPE.

OBJECTIVES: Within the field of peer programs this certification program intends: to promote professional standards, practices and ethics; to encourage self-assessment by offering guidelines for achievement; to improve performance by encouraging participation in a continuing program of professional growth and development; to acknowledge a level of educational training essential for effective peer program administration and/or operations; to foster professional contributions to the field; to maximize the benefits received by the peer program community from the leadership provided by certified peer educators.

BASIC ELIGIBILITY

Peer educators who satisfy the following prerequisites may apply:

1. Bachelor's Degree, or higher, from an accredited institution.
2. Member in good standing of the National Association of Peer Program Professionals. (The applicant, who is not a current member of NAPPP may include an application to NAPPP with the appropriate fees, concurrently with the CPPE application.)
3. Completion of the Introductory Peer Helping Course and successful completion of the program assessment based on NAPPP Standards.
4. Pledge in writing to adhere to the NAPPP Programmatic Standards and Code of Ethics.

Note: Peer Educators who due to some extenuating individual circumstances do not satisfy all of the prerequisites may request an exemption in writing from the Professional Development Committee. Such an appeal in writing must accompany the application form. Each appeal will be reviewed on its own merit, but it should also be understood that an appeal does not guarantee a waiver of the prerequisites.

ABOUT NAPPP

NAPPP is dedicated to promoting excellence in peer programs. Its membership is adult professionals who are responsible for peer programs. Since peer programs currently exist in schools, social service agencies, faith communities, geographic communities, nursing homes and youth organizations, the NAPPP membership is composed of representatives from many populations. The largest representation of NAPPP members is from the K-12 school and higher education population.

With members throughout the world, NAPPP has become the pre-eminent international support organization for peer program professionals. It offers training opportunities, professional development, a newsletter, a professional journal, the Perspectives in Peer Programs, formerly the Peer Facilitator Quarterly. NAPPP has connections across the United States as well as in countries around the world.