Peer Education
Due to the lack of comprehensive sex education in Tennessee schools, PPTNM has peer education programs that empower youth to be the resources for their peers.
Research indicates that teens receive most of their information from other teens, but unfortunately much of this information is inaccurate and can contribute to inadequate health care and risky behaviors. Due to the high rates of STIs and teenage pregnancies in the United States, peer education programs are necessary to help America's youth obtain accurate sexual health knowledge and engage in fewer risk behaviors. Studies have shown that people are more likely to hear and personalize messages, and thus to change their attitudes and behaviors, if they believe the messenger is similar to them and faces the same concerns and pressures.[1, 2]
At PPTNM we have:
-
Sexperts, for college age
-
FYI Teens, for High School age East Tennesseans
-
PG-13 Players, for High School age Middle Tennesseans
-
Just Us, for High School age West Tennesseans
1.Sloane BC, Zimmer CG. The power of peer health education. Journal of American College Health 1993; 41:241-245.
2.Milburn K. A critical review of peer education with young people with special reference to sexual health. Health Education Research 1995; 10:407-420.