PEER Program

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Positive Experiences in Educational Relationships

PEER is a specialized class in every high school, for student leaders, that is designed to develop students’ peer mentoring skills and help teach them how to assist their peers emotionally, socially, and academically. The program takes advantage of the influence young people can have on one other to promote healthy changes in attitudes and behaviors. Peer groups focus on areas such as bullying, healthy relationships, substance use, mental health, suicide, special needs populations, violence prevention, and community outreach efforts.

Utilizing the natural teen network, specially selected, trained and supervised peer helpers provide outreach services to students who need assistance with individual or school problems. Peer groups may choose to focus on specific areas such as bullying, healthy relationships, crisis management, conflict resolution, substance use, mental health, suicide, special needs populations, child abuse, and community outreach efforts. Within this support role, peer helpers also act as liaisons between the school’s student body and the professional staff.  As positive role models, peer helpers develop and implement educational and awareness programs which address issues facing today’s students.  Through prevention and intervention approaches, the peer program functions as a supplemental resource for increasing overall effectiveness of student services within the school setting.  Peer helpers have ongoing supervision and are trained to immediately report any “high-risk” or life-threatening information to their adult supervisors. 

What is PEER?

  • Peer helpers are trained by school mental health team members 

  • Helpers are here to listen and help students find their own solutions

  • PEER is confidential.  However, if a student mentions hurting someone, self-harm, being hurt by someone else, or a current pregnancy, PEER helpers are required to alert the school staff to these issues.

  • PEER helpers do NOT give advice

 What is the Process?

  • Anyone may refer a student (students, school counselors, teachers, parents).

  • Students may request a PEER meeting through the counselors.

  • Counselor meets with the recommended student to see if he or she would like to meet with PEER.

  • If student agrees, a meeting is arranged with a PEER helper.

  • Meetings are held in private conference rooms in the counseling office.

Follow LCPS PEER on X @lcpspeer