MISSION

The Parent Educator Program provides youth with the necessary health and substance abuse education to become healthy and productive members of the community.

WHAT IS THE PARENT EDUCATOR PROGRAM?

The Parent Educator Program, commonly known as PEP, is a project of the Center for Human Development. PEP trains parent volunteers to present health promotion curriculum to students in grades K-6. Based on the TRIBES process, PEP is designed to promote resiliency in children and reduce risk factors for adolescent drug use. The program has an explicit "no use" message for children.

In addition to PEP, the Parent Educator Program also sponsors the PEP•CHAMPS Tobacco Use Prevention Peer Leadership Program. The CHAMPS program consists of four lessons taught as a fee-for service by trained staff.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Parent volunteers or staff members are trained in a process which enables them to co-facilitate an interactive curriculum that promotes responsible decision making, resistance skills, self-esteem, and positive peer interaction among students.

WHAT DOES THE TRAINING INVOLVE?

The 21-hour training is conducted by certified PEP trainers. The course focuses on communication skills; group development; effective teaching strategies; classroom management; and basic tobacco, alcohol, and other drug information.

The experientially-based sessions are facilitated in the same process that volunteers will use with the students. In the San Francisco Bay Area, the course is conducted over a period of seven weeks or three full Saturdays. Trainings outside the Bay Area are generally conducted over three consecutive days. All of the participants must attend the entire training program to be certified to deliver the PEP curriculum in the classroom.

WHAT IS THE NECESSARY SCHOOL AND/OR COMMUNITY COMMITMENT?

Funding sources need to be identified to pay for the training of the volunteers and program fees. Classroom teachers and administrators must be willing to have facilitators teach 6 to 14 PEP lessons, depending on grade level and curriculum selected.

The school should select one or two PEP facilitators to volunteer as site coordinators and serve as liaisons between the PEP volunteers, the school, and CHD. Each coordinator will receive an implementation manual, training, and support.

WHO CAN VOLUNTEER?

Most PEP facilitators are parents who present the curriculum in their child's school. We welcome volunteers who wish to make a difference in their local schools and communities. Previous teaching experience is not a requirement. Volunteers should have good rapport with children and a commitment to tobacco, alcohol, and other drug prevention. Many volunteers are employed and use release time from work to volunteer.

WHY PARENT EDUCATORS?

Parent Educators act as positive role models! Research shows that ". . . it is more effective for well-trained parents to teach drug education curricula in kindergarten through grade six. . . than it is for teachers or outside authorities to do so" (Not Schools Alone, California Department of Education).