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UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA TEEN HEALTH CENTER AWARDED GRANT FROM DAVE MATHEWS' BAMA WORKS

Depression and suicide, body image and eating disorders, alcohol and drug use, and sexually-transmitted infections - these are the tough issues that teenagers have to deal with in today's society. But thanks to a grant from BAMA Works, the philanthropic organization founded by the Dave Mathews Band, help is available to area teenagers through the University of Virginia's Teen Health Center's Education Program.

"Teens not only need more information to help themselves, they want more information with which to help their friends," said Dyan Aretakis, director of the Teen Center. "Who are middle and high school students more likely to listen to and learn from? Often it is a trained peer educator with whom they share empathy, emotions and experience."

The $10,000 BAMA grant will help the Teen Center expand the scope and reach of its peer-education program, as well as other educational programs. Forty students from Albemarle and Monticello High Schools and St. Anne's Belfield School have been trained or are receiving training to be peer health and wellness educators, Aretakis said. Under the direction of Mary Sullivan, peer educator program coordinator at the Teen Center, the peer educators receive accurate information about relevant health topics and learn about available community resources that provide professional assistance.

Peer education is remarkable in several ways, Aretakis said. "First, there may be opportunities for a well-trained peer to become a leader and role model, which in turn boosts an individuals' self-esteem and confidence. Second, the peer educator reaps benefits from the new information and the leadership role and usually 'practices what he preaches.'"

The Teen Health Center, whose mission is to provide basic health care services to community teens as well as outreach programs for teens, parents and youth-serving professionals, was founded in 1991. The range of medical services includes sports physicals, prenatal care and family planning, asthma evaluation and management, and obesity assessment and treatment.

February 19, 2003