Student Health Advocates

Who They Are

Student Health Advocates (often called peer educators) are students who have skills to lead programs/small discussions on sexual health, stress management, alcohol and other drug education, body image, and nutrition to groups of students in classrooms, fraternities/sororities, organizations, athletic teams, and residence halls. In addition, Student Health Advocates critically examine their environment for social injustice that affects community health.

ADAwGS:

Substance misuse and abuse (alcohol, nicotine, and illicit drugs) negatively impact the entire campus community. Recent student surveys conducted at Rutgers indicate that 2/3's of students who socialize with alcohol have 3 or fewer drinks, and 1 in 5 don't drink at all. Social Marketing Students are trained to talk with students about making informed and responsible decisions, addressing such issues as:

• Conflict management;
• Facts and myths about alcohol, nicotine, over-the-counter and illicit drugs;
• Understanding the relationship between alcohol and sexual contact;
• Issues related to women and alcohol;
• "RU Sure?" - An interactive program exploring alcohol-related decisions;
• "For Smokers Only" - An informational packet to help students quit smoking.

Nutrition Advocates:

Nutrition Health Advocate Training is a one-year volunteer training experience to inform and advocate for nutritional health on campus and in the community. Trained student Nutrition Advocates continue their advocacy in subsequent years with the Department of Health Education.

Volunteer student Nutrition Advocates create programs and advocacy projects to increase students' skills and options for healthful eating choices. NA programs include:

• Eat Right, Get Fit;
• Eating Healthy on Campus;
• Mood and Food;
• Where's the Beef?;
• Who Wants to be a Nutritionaire - Basic nutrition and food safty info;
• Love Your Body.

Sexual Health Advocates:

Students are trained in a two-semester, 7-credit academic training course with a 40-hour CASE component to advise and inform peers and to become a catalyst for change related to sexual health, sexually trasmitted infections, contraception, safer sex, sexual assault, LGBTC issues, relationships, body image, and others, all within a social justice context.

The Sexual Health Advocacy Program helps students make informed, responsible decisions regarding their relationships, body image, and sexual health, in part by training Sexual Health Advocates to provide educational workshops to residence halls, academic classes, and student organizations. SHA program titles include:

• Exploring the Options: Contraception and Safer Sex;
• ABC's of SIT's: Sexually Transmitted Infections and Safer Sex;
• A Little Respect: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Issues;
• The Party - Breaking It Down: The Connection Between Sexuality, Alcohol, and Other Drug Use;
• Relationships 101: Sexuality, Relationships, and Communication;
• Beauty and the Booty: Body Image and Sexuality.

Complete an application online here or in person at the Department of Health Education, Hurtado Health Center, 3rd Floor, 11 Bishop Place, CAC.

Questions? Call Francesca Maresca at (732) 932-7402 x 273.

SHADES:

SHADES Theater (Student Health Advocates Developing Educational Scenarios) is an interactive student improv theater troupe. Students create and perform scenes dealing with real life issues about sexual health, violence, relationships, racism, homophobia, etc. Performances include an open discussion between actors (remaining in character) and the audience. It is a safe place to talk openly about issues that are often hard to talk about. Scenes or a full show may be performed for groups as small as 20. For information on scheduling a performance or to audition, call us at (732) 932-7402 x 273.

How to Become an Advocate

Visit the department on the third floor of Hurtado Helath Center, CAC, or fill out an application online. We urge students to take Individual and Community Change to prepare for training.