Peer Education Programs

Current Programs:

Massachusetts

Program:

Massachusetts Partnership for Correctional Health (MPCH)

Organization:

Massachusetts DOH/DOC-funded program

Contact:

Claudia Gonzales, (508) 735-2451, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Location:

Program offered in 17 male facilities and one female facility.

Duration:

2000 - Present

Objective:

To increase education within inmates and staff and incentivize participants to get HIV/HCV testing, while also delivering HCV treatment.

Structure:

This program is a two-part program in which peer educators must first attend a seven-week Health Awareness training before they can participate in the 12-week Peer Education training. Health Awareness training teaches basic information regarding HIV, HCV (treatment, education, access), MRSA, TB, and risk-reduction (needle sharing, safer sex, tattooing, razor sharing, fighting). This class trains about 15-20 students at a time and offers 5 days of “good time” after successful completion. The peer education class trains inmates that have completed the health awareness course and have at least one year in their sentence, making them eligible for an additional 7.5 days of “good time.” The first six weeks of Peer Education training focuses on retraining material learned in the Health Awareness course. The final six weeks focus on presentation skills and practice. Both courses are taught in English and Spanish with an MPCH staff member present.

Evaluation:

N/A

New Mexico

Program:

New Mexico Peer Education Project (NMPEP)

Organization:

Project ECHO, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center

Contact:

Saul Hernandez, (505) 206-7892, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For more info:

Watch a video, read an overview, or view past presentation slides here and here. 

Location:

Program operates at seven sites throughout New Mexico.

Duration:

2009 – Present

Objective:

To present facts, explore values, and develop skills that protect against common infection and diseases. To work with prison inmates in order to increase knowledge about HCV, HIV, STDs, Staph/MRSA, diabetes, tuberculosis, and addiction. Inmates are trained to identify and find ways to reduce risky behaviors, to improve their communication skills and become skilled health educators for their incarcerated peers in the prison setting.

Structure:

Adapted from Wall Talk: A Training Manual for Texas Department of Criminal Justice Peer Health Educators, NM PEP’s manual is aimed at providing inmates with a 40-hour intensive training on key health topics, basic health literacy and facilitation skills. Each session trains about 12-15 inmates, who then become health educators and resource experts for their incarcerated peers, eligible to teach 10-hour health education sessions presented for other inmates at their location. Peer health educators receive on-going follow-up and training to continue skill and knowledge-building, and to discuss and problem-solve issues, concerns or barriers the peer educators are encountering. Additionally, peer educators participate in monthly videoconferences with Project ECHO staff, content experts, and peer educators from other sites, which allows for sharing of new medical information, resource list building and discussions related to specific training question. Videoconferences provide opportunities for peer educators to collaborate and share teaching strategies.

Evaluation:

NM PEP utilizes questionnaires to measure knowledge, self-efficacy and behavioral intention given before and after 40-hour training. Knowledge questionnaires are administered before and after 10 hour classes led by peer educators. Qualitative data for focus groups and individual interviews are available.

Washington

Program:

Project SHIELD (Self-Help in Eliminating Life-Threatening Diseases)

Organization:

Hepatitis Education Project (WA DOC funded)

Contact:

Mandy Altman, (206) 732-0311, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Location:

Program held in one male facility and one female facility: Stafford Creek Correctional Center men’s facility and Washington Correction Center for Women.

Duration:

2012 - Present

Objective:

To train current inmates in prisons to talk to peers about risk/harm reduction in regards to hepatitis C and HIV in order to reduce transmission. The coourse simultaneously teaches communication skills and harm reduction skills, focusing on safer drug use, safer tattooing and safer sexual practices.

Structure:

This 12-hour training program focuses on small groups (4-12 inmates per training) utilizing 6 two-hour training sessions and is offered for two cycles every per facility year. Peer educators do not teach their own classes upon completion of the program; however, they are given certificates and are equipped with tools to facilitate educational discussions within their own social and familial networks.

Evaluation:

Project SHIELD utilizes qualitative feedback forms as well as pre and post surveys.

Past Programs:

California

Program:

Centerforce Peer Health Education Program (PHEP)

Organization:

Centerforce (community-based)

Contact:

Julie Lifshay, (415) 487-3056, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Website:

http://centerforce1.org/category/resources/education/hepatitis-peer-health-education-tools/

Location:

Program held in three institutions: San Quentin State Prison, Central California Women's Facility, and Valley State Prison for Women.

Duration:

2008-2013

Objective:

To develop a Hep C Peer Based Education program specifically for “people in prison by people in prison.” Several workshops were coordinated by peer educators and Centerforce staff to deliver information regarding Hep C prevention and management in correctional settings.

Structure:

Consisted of a small group of peer educators. PHEP utilized several education tools and games to facilitate workshops such as video and poster series, “Hepardy!” game, and Hepatitis Roulette.

Evaluation:

PHEP utilized some pre and post tests, along with yearly results.