About Peer 2 Peer
What is Peer 2 Peer?
The Peer 2 Peer program is designed to empower young people by training them as peer educators. Participants, primarily high school and middle school students, will attend a Peer 2 Peer training where they will learn valuable presentation skills and substance use prevention science. Once trained, students work with other peer educators and use what they learned to present this valuable information to younger students and community members. Science shows us that one of the most effective ways to learn information is through teaching. Every time peer educators present to their peers, they are not only teaching but also enhancing their own understanding of these topics!
Our History
Peer 2 Peer launched in 2019 with a mission to prevent youth substance use by reaching students through the people that influence them the most – their peers! Since its inception, the program has trained over 600 students and adult advisors, equipping them to deliver meaningful messages about health and well-being throughout their schools and neighborhoods.
What do students learn at the Peer Educator Training?
Groups of students who want to become peer educators will attend a free and fun all-day training alongside their adult advisor. During this training, students will:
- Learn to present on a variety of important topics, including prevention science, media literacy, coping mechanisms for stress and anxiety, and the effects of cannabis and tobacco use.
- Collaborate with other students from their school and the five-county region.
- Grow skills to develop confidence with public speaking!
What happens after the Peer 2 Peer Training?
The Peer 2 Peer experience doesn’t end with the training! Students will meet regularly with their Peer 2 Peer group and advisor throughout the school year. During these meetings, students will practice and plan which Peer 2 Peer presentations they will conduct to an audience in their community.
Registration & Upcoming Events
“There are currently no upcoming trainings for the 2025-2026 school year. Check back soon for our 2026-2027 school year training schedule!”
Role of a Peer 2 Peer Advisor
As an advisor, you’ll play a critical role in guiding your students through the Peer 2 Peer program. An advisor’s role is to:
- Identify students interested in becoming Peer Educators.
- Distribute permission forms, complete registration, and organize transportation (financial assistance available) to attend the Peer 2 Peer training with your students.
- Host meetings with your Peer 2 Peer students after the training to practice presentations and plan your presentation schedule.
- Track students’ progress by documenting their presentations on a point tracking sheet to help them become eligible for awards and recognition.
Who should be a Peer 2 Peer advisor?
An advisor can be any adult who is committed to watching their students succeed as Peer Educators. An advisor can expect to commit about 2-4 hours a month to work with their group throughout the year. Current Peer 2 Peer advisors include: Student Assistance Professionals, School Counselors, Youth Coalition Leaders, Health Class Teachers, and many other roles!
Advisor Resources
All advisor resources such as presentations, point tracking documents, and the advisor guide are in a Google folder. Click here to access the advisor folder. (Note: You may need to be signed into the Google account linked to your email to access)
Parent and Student Resources
Q&A
Peer 2 Peer is open to all middle and high school students in Whatcom, Skagit, San Juan, Island, and Snohomish County.
This opportunity gives students the chance to become leaders at their school, positively impact the environment they live in, and gain leadership experience they can list on resumes and college applications!
Peer 2 Peer trainings are held 2-3 times a year with one high school and one middle school training in the fall and one high school or middle school training in the winter. For more details, please check the registration and upcoming events page.
Peer 2 Peer is made possible by United General District 304 serving as the lead coordinating agency. Funding is provided from the North Sound Region Youth Cannabis and Commercial Tobacco Prevention Program, coordinated by Whatcom County Health and Community Services with funding from the Washington State Department of Health.
If you’d like to join Peer 2 Peer but don’t know who your school’s advisor is, or if you’d like more information please reach out to the program coordinator Olivia.