Youth lay health advising, a form of support or helping, is an important potential resource for preventive intervention. This article describes a case study of a youth lay health advising program designed to provide high school students with support and guidance to handle challenges and concerns related to their health and quality of life. First, the planning, program development, and implementation of the approach are described. Second, a rapid formative evaluation presents quantitative and qualitative information on adolescent issues faced, the types and content of interactions, and peer helper satisfaction with the program. Third, the strengths and challenges of the peer helping program and the role of youth as lay health advisors are discussed. The article concludes with a discussion of the implications for practitioners on this approach to building the capacity of adolescents as lay advisors for community health.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
1. Dryfoos J: Adolescents At-Risk: Prevalence and Prevention. New York, Oxford University Press, 1990.
2.
2. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Healthy People 2000: National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Objectives (DHHS Publication No. PHS 91-50213). Washington, DC, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1990.
3.
3. Rosenberg M, Mercy J: Assaultive violence, in Rosenberg M, Fenley M (eds.): Violence in America: A Public Health Approach. New York, Oxford University Press, 1991.
4.
4. Prothow-Stith D, Weissman M: Deadly Consequences. New York, Harper-Collins, 1991.
5.
5. U.S. Public Health Service: Reducing Teenage Pregnancy Increases Life Options for Youth. Prevention Report. Washington, DC, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1994.
6.
6. Trussell J: Teenage pregnancy in the United States. Fam Plann Perspect20:262-272, 1988.
7.
7. Alan Guttmacher Institute: Sex and America's Teenagers. New York, Alan Guttmacher Institute, 1994.
8.
8. U.S. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment: Adolescent Health-Volume 1: Summary and Policy Options (OTA-H-468). Washington, DC, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1991.
9.
9. Hawkins D, Catalano R, & Associates: Communities That Care. San Francisco, Jossey-Bass, 1992.
10.
10. Santelli J, Beilenson P: Risk factors for adolescent sexual behavior, fertility, and sexually transmitted diseases. J School Health62:271-279, 1992.
11.
11. Beam N, Tessaro I: The lay health advisor model in theory and practice: An example of an agency-based program. Fam Community Health17(3):70-79, 1994.
12.
12. Meister J, Warrick L, Zapien J, Wood A: Using lay health workers: Case study of a community-based prenatal intervention. J Community Health17(1):37-51, 1992.
13.
13. Eng E, Young R: Lay health advisors as community change agents. Fam Community Health15:24-40,1992.
14.
14. Eng E, Hatch J: Networking between agencies and Black churches: The lay health advisor model. Prevention in Human Services10(1):123-146, 1991.
15.
15. Service C, Salber EJ (eds.): Community Health Education: The Lay Health Advisor Approach. Durham, NC, Health Care Systems, 1979.
16.
16. Israel B: Social networks and social support: Implications for natural helper and community level interventions. Health Educ Q12(1):65-80, 1985.
17.
17. Klingman A, Hochdorf Z: Coping with distress and self harm: The impact of a primary prevention program among adolescents. Journal of Adolescence16:121-140, 1993.
18.
18. Kim S, McLeod J, Rader D, Johnston G: An evaluation of prototype school-based peer helping program. J Drug Educ22:37-53, 1992.
19.
19. Diver-Stamnes A: Assessing the effectiveness of an inner-city high school peer counseling program. Urban Education26:269-284, 1991.
20.
20. Silver E, Coupey S, Bauman L, Doctors S: Effects of a peer counseling training intervention on psychological functioning of adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Research7:110-128, 1992.
21.
21. Klepp K, Halper A, Perry C: The efficacy of peer leaders in drug abuse prevention. J Sch Health56:407-411, 1986.
22.
22. Schondel C, Boehm K, Rose J, Marlowe A: Adolescent volunteers: An untapped resource in the delivery of adolescent preventive health care. Youth & Society27:123-135, 1995.
23.
23. Robinson S, Morrow S, Kigin T, Lindeman M: Peer counselors in a high school setting: Evaluation of training and impact on students. School Counselor39:35-40, 1991.
24.
24. Henriksen E: A peer helping program for the middle school. Canadian Journal of Counseling25:12-18, 1991.
25.
25. Sloane B, Zimmer C: The power of peer health education. J Am Coll Health41:241-245, 1993.
26.
26. Wintre M, Crowley J: The adolescent self-concept: A functional determinant of consultant preference. Journal of Youth and Adolescence22:369-383, 1993.
27.
27. Yaccarino E: Alcohol abuse information and support systems through the college student affairs and student peer counseling perspectives. Journal of Alcohol and Drug Education40:13-18, 1995.
28.
28. Forster-Harrison E: Peer helping in the elementary and middle grades: A developmental perspective. Elementary School Guidance & Counseling30:94-104, 1995.
29.
29. Riessman F, Carroll D: Redefining Self-Help: Policy and Practice. San Francisco, Jossey-Bass Inc., 1995.
30.
30. Carkhuff R: Helping and Human Relations: A Primer for Lay and Professional Helpers. New York, Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, 1969.
31.
31. Borck L, Fawcett S: Training counseling and problem-solving skills with university students. Am J Community Psychol10:225-237, 1982.
32.
32. Paine A, Suarez-Balcazar Y, Fawcett SB, Borck-Jameson L: Supportive transactions: Their measurement and enhancement in two mutual-aid groups. Journal of Community Psychology20:163-180, 1992.
33.
33. Allen N: A case study of a successful health advocate program. Journal of College Health41:293-295, 1993.
34.
34. Croll N, Jurs E, Kennedy S: Total quality assurance and peer education. Journal of College Health41:247-249, 1993.
35.
35. Corn KL, Moore DD: Reaching for the S.T.A.R.S.-Students teaching and reaching students: A two-faceted peer facilitating program at Greenfield-Central High School. School Counselor40:68-72, 1992.
36.
36. Paine-Andrews A, Vincent M, Fawcett S, Campuzano M, Harris K, Lewis R, Williams E, Fisher J: Replicating a community initiative for preventing adolescent pregnancy: From South Carolina to Kansas. Family and Community Health19:14-30, 1996.
37.
37. Fawcett SB, Lewis RK, Paine-Andrews A, Francisco VT, Richter KP, Williams EL, Copple B: Evaluating community coalitions for prevention of substance abuse: The case of Project Freedom. Health Educ Q in press.
38.
38. Paine-Andrews A, Fawcett S, Richter K, Berkley J, Williams E, Lopez C: Community coalitions to prevent adolescent substance abuse: The case of the "Project Freedom" replication initiative. Journal of Prevention & Intervention in the Community14:81-99, 1996.
39.
39. Andreasen A: Marketing Social Change: Changing Behavior to Promote Health, Social Development, and the Environment. San Francisco, Jossey-Bass, 1995.
