The Teen Prevention Education Program (Teen PEP) utilizes peer-to-peer education to increase students’ knowledge, attitudes, skills, and behaviors associated with healthy decision-making.

The program model is designed to:

• Offer stakeholder teams effective resources and strategies to create a culture of positive peer pressure where responsible sexual decisions are valued

• Provide faculty advisors with increased knowledge and abilities to effectively teach sexual health to students in an atmosphere of mutual respect

• Give peer educators the information, communication skills, and confidence to be effective sexual health advocates and leaders among their peers

• Equip students with the knowledge, skills, and motivation to avoid STIs, HIV, and unintended pregnancy

• Provide parents/guardians with the knowledge and skills to appropriately discuss sex and sexuality with their children.

OVERVIEW

Teen PEP is implemented in high schools as a course for-credit that meets daily (or the equivalent) and in organizations as an afterschool program. Carefully selected junior and/or senior students are enrolled in the Teen PEP course and provided with educational training that addresses a range of topics related to sexual health. The peer educators, in turn, conduct a series of structured workshops with groups of younger peers, faculty, and parents.

Teen PEP is a voluntary program that is implemented across New Jersey and North Carolina. The program was developed in 1995 through a collaboration of the Center for Supportive Schools, HiTOPS, Inc., and the primary sponsor, the New Jersey Department of Health.