The Reach teen peer-education program has provided HIV prevention to Marin youth for twenty-two years. Recognizing the unique influence young people have among their peers, we believe young people learn best from other young people. Through interactive presentations, condom promotion campaigns and social events, Reach engages youth in prevention activities that promote the message that HIV is preventable and empower teens to make healthy decisions regarding their sexual health.
Each year Reach recruits and trains 35 - 40 teen peer-educators from Marin high schools to conduct classroom presentations to 1,500 - 2000 middle and high school students. Because two-thirds of all new HIV infections occur among people of color, MAP makes every effort to attract students from schools with the most diverse student populations and to give prevention presentations in these schools.
Reach teen educators receive more than 40 hours of comprehensive education and skills-building training about HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, sexual/reproductive health, sexuality and cultural awareness, safer sex negotiation/refusal tactics and assertive communication. The students also learn about the connection between alcohol/drugs, sexual risk behaviors and HIV infection. In addition, peer-educators receive presentation and group facilitation skills training to effectively engage students and lead classroom discussions. Throughout the year, the peer-educators participate in weekly 3-hour meetings with the Program Coordinator for on-going learning and support, team building and event planning.
In addition to increasing knowledge and building skills, Reach aims to fight the stigma associated with HIV by raising awareness about the many factors including fear, homophobia and a sense of invulnerability that put teens at risk. Reach also improves young people’s understanding of and compassion for people living with HIV/AIDS. Reach educators often work in collaboration with presenters from MAP’s Positively Speaking speakers’ bureau. These trained speakers put a human face on the AIDS epidemic by sharing their personal stories of living with HIV/AIDS.
If you would like more information about participating in the Reach Program or its presentations, please call the Program Coordinator, Dawn Beggs, at 457-2487, ext. 117, or you can email her at dawn@marinaidsproject.org.
