Re: Help please!

[MichaelD55@xxxxxxx]

Carmel Smith

Many schools in the US have peer counseling classes where students learn to 
be responsible to assist others. The rules are generally consistent that 
child abuse must be shared with the adult who runs the peer counseling class. 
Some high school students have responsibility to work with younger students. 
Child abuse is detected and reported.

The peer counseling class also provides a forum where students can work 
together to understand the incidence of violence, sexual assault, criminal 
activity, substance abuse, suicide, pregnancy, etc., within the peer group on 
their campus. I am most impressed with the results. The active role takes the 
issues well beyond the stage of theory.

Try http://www.peer.ca/helping.html to see some of what exists. 

Michael Durfee
Los Angeles

In a message dated 9/19/00 6:55:28 AM, carmels@one.net.au writes:

<< I am a mature age student in the last year of a Community Welfare Diploma 
Course and part of my fieldwork assignment is to develop small programs to 
bring awareness to the local high school children (12 to 18 years) of the 
prevalence of abuse in the home, school and dating areas. I have very little 
idea of just how to go about it in order to present the knowledge without 
promoting bogey-men and monsters. Any ideas or suggestions would be most 
welcome. You all seem to be at the place where I want to go i.e. working in 
the field, and since this is a requirement of my course I must complete it. 
Please help. Many thanks. 

Carmel Smith 

Australia. 

carmels@one.net.au