Posted: January 15, 2020
HealthWorks, a peer health education outreach program in Health Promotion and Wellness, is currently recruiting student volunteers to become Peer Health Educators for the 2020 – 2021 academic year. The deadline for applications is March 15, 2020. Students from all majors are encouraged to apply.
HealthWorks peer educators work to address college health issues at Penn State, including stress, nutrition, physical activity, sleep, and sexual health.
Students have two different opportunities for promoting health among their peers:
- One-on-one wellness services for students - the one-on-one peer educators meet individually with students to provide free wellness services. The topics include stress and time management, physical activity, nutrition, sleep, sexual health and healthy relationships.
- Outreach and promotion through workshops and initiatives - the outreach and promotion peer educators plan and implement various health promotion initiatives and efforts to encourage healthy lifestyle choices among Penn State students. Examples of HealthWorks initiatives include writing for the Healthy Penn State blog and Instagram, hosting Eating Disorder Awareness and Love Your Body week, creating healthy cooking videos, conducting minority health outreach tables, facilitating workshops on different health topics and providing HIV test counseling.
Students who apply and are accepted will receive training through a 3-credit course offered through the Department of Biobehavioral Health in Fall 2020. The course is designed to train peer health educators on health issues and health promotion theories and strategies for college students.
Volunteering in HealthWorks helps prepare students for careers in public health, allied health fields, nursing, nutrition, medicine, advertising and public relations.
Learn more about HealthWorks and apply online at https://studentaffairs.psu.edu/health-wellness/healthy-living/volunteer-experiences-health-and-wellness/healthworks.
Questions e-mail promotinghealth@psu.edu or by phone at (814) 863-0461.