NAPPP Training Institutes

National Peer Helpers Conference
February 15 - 17, 2012
Perdido Beach Resort, Orange Beach, Alabama

NAPPP and the Jennifer Claire Moore Foundation are proud to host the 2nd Annual National Peer Helpers Conference in Orange Beach, Alabama, February 15th - 17th, 2012.

The National Peer Helpers Conference provides training, education and information to educators, counselors, mental health professionals and others who wish to establish or enhance a peer-to-peer support program. Peer Helper/Peer Leader programs help appropriately trained youth assist their peers with the stresses of day-to-day life, including bullying/cyber-bullying, depression, dropout, suicide and other issues. Strategies employed by peer programs include mentoring, tutoring, mediation, awareness campaigns, and more. Learn from experienced educators and leaders who have established and led a variety of successful peer programs.

What you will learn - choose the track and sessions that meet your needs: Peer Helping 101 track (beginner) - Building a Peer Program from the Ground Up - Learn how to start, implement and maintain a peer helping program applying NAPPP's Standards and Ethics (Participants in the Alabama State Department of Education Peer Helper Implementation training in September/October 2011 have already received this training.) Peer Helping 201-A track (experienced) - Becoming a Trainer of Peer Helpers - Learn how to develop an engaged peer program by training peer helpers in communication, confidentiality, team-building, group process and more, based on NAPPP Programmatic Standards. Peer Helping 201-B track (experienced) - Teaching Complex Skills. Learn strategies for developing peer helpers' skills in intervention, tutoring, service learning and more, based on NAPPP Programmatic Standards. Numerous interactive breakout sessions for both beginner and experienced elementary, middle and high school levels; topics include bullying prevention, group project implementation, health initiatives, mediation, grant writing, marketing, and more.

Conference registration (includes meals, materials and one year of NAPPP membership, excludes lodging): $199 through 12/14/11 (register today!), $300 beginning 12/15/11.

Hotel rate - $99 per room per night. The beachfront resort is 45 minutes from Pensacola Regional Airport (PNS). For reservations under the Jennifer Claire Moore Foundation room block, contact the Perdido Beach Resort at 800-634-8001.

See details and register online at www.jennifermoorefoundation.com.

Jointly sponsored by the National Association of Peer Program Professionals and the Jennifer Claire Moore Foundation. Graduate Credit available. Continuing Education credit pending. Upon course completion, participants will be eligible to apply for the Certified Peer Program Educator (CPPE) individual designation, ($35 w/annual renewal of $20). CPPEs are eligible to apply for Certified Peer Program (CPP) designation for their programs ($100 w/annual renewal of $50). Please see the link below to register and for specific conference details.

Register here



June 14-17, 2011
Indianapolis, IN
The institute had components intended for peer program professionals who are responsible for training peer helpers, peer program evaluation, or training other adult peer program professionals.

"Sue did a terrific job at the Advisor’s Training I attended at Indianapolis last summer." (Steve Klinger)

"It was a great privilege for me to participate in the NAPPP Indianapolis Training Institute held in June. Firstly it was wonderful to find out more about the USA and to connect with people thousands of miles from where I live who are also passionate about peer work. It was also fantastic for me to draw from the wisdom of Sue Routson and Randy Black and the materials that have been developed over time by the NAPPP network.

Some stand out insights for me were; identifying where the gaps are in the peer program work we do in Australia, mapping out clearly where we go to next and identifying and celebrating the strengths of how we run peer work programs in Australia (know your strengths and promote this).

There was much learning and sharing and plenty of gems to bring home. Some nuggets from Randy Black’s session were the importance of aligning your peer work program’s missions and goals with your organisations missions and goals. Interestingly my organisation has changed its name and mission and goals to align better with the umbrella organisation under which it sits. It’s very timely for me to also make changes to the Peer Skills mission and goals.

I enjoyed Randy Black's process during the Evaluation session of sharing “nuggets” from each section he introduced us to. Last week when I was running training up in the Torres Strait for workers who will train young people in islands across the region, we adapted this idea as “sharing your pearls” to share learning from each section. The Torres Strait has a long association with the pearl shell and pearling industries. One small example of how important it is to make peer work training relevant and culturally appropriate for the group you are working with.

I really appreciated Sue Routson's commitment to providing peer work opportunities for young people over such a long period of time and the detailed work that has gone into preparing and supporting young people involved in the role of helping others. I was feeling a little overwhelmed by the training resources/reading and the work I had on my plate on my return. Sue’s response was (a question really) “How do you eat an elephant?” the answer being “one bite at a time”. This useful thought has gone through my head many times since my return in the last couple of months. It works for me and I'm even passing it onto others."
Francesca Lejeune, Peer Skills Manager, UnitingCare Community, Queensland, Australia




National Peer Helpers Conference: Opportunities for Establishing or Expanding a Peer Program was held in February 2011 in Orange Beach, AL, sponsored by the Jennifer Moore Foundation and National Association of Peer Program Professionals

More than 60 participants from four states took part in the conference. Frances Holk-Jones, founder of the Jennifer Claire Moore Foundation, said the foundation established peer helper programs in 14 Baldwin County schools, with plans to add two more schools to the list soon. "We've always had such great visions of what our phrase is, 'helping the youth cope with day-to-day life issues,' so this all part of our vision," Holk-Jones said. "We're just thrilled that it's growing by leaps and bounds. It's a shame that we're needed, but we're not just crisis intervention. We are also day-to-day life issues. Whether it's an issue that someone has a fight with a boyfriend or their parents are divorcing or someone’s losing a job. It's all of those day-to-day issues that the youth of America do deal with."



"We're so excited about expanding the whole program, but the reason that participants came here is that Baldwin County schools and teachers are the poster child," Holk-Jones said.