Dr. Littleton Awarded Instructional Development Grant

Dr. Mary Ann Littleton, Associate Professor in the Department of Community and Behavioral Health in the East Tennessee State University College of Public Health, has been awarded an Instructional Development Grant for training materials to continue to provide Certified Peer Educator Training.

Personal and Community Wellness was approved as a new course within the undergraduate Community Health Program on March 6, 2017. This course incorporates a nationally certified peer educator training program developed by BACCHUS and now offered through the NASPA (Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education). Founded originally by students as a response to the need for alcohol awareness and abuse prevention, the BACCHUS mission has been to support student leadership in promoting health and safety and saving students' lives since 1975.

Through the program, 27 students and trainers have become Certified Peer Educators and in the fall, the new course will be offered within the undergraduate public health program. Student evaluations of the course speak to the practical hands-on knowledge and skills taught that have far-reaching effects both personally and professionally for public health and interprofessional students. Undergraduates in social work, psychology, health sciences, and other fields besides public health have benefited from taking the course.

Dr. Littleton plans to add motivational interviewing skills, knowledge, and tools to the course through an in-depth program covering these relevant public health skills.  Additionally, Master of Public Health students have requested more in-depth information and training on motivational interviewing, and Dr. Littleton will incorporate these materials into graduate community health courses.

The BACCHUS Initiative Certified Peer Educator training is a national certification program. It represents an innovative approach to educating students with practical skills and knowledge but also has an important impact on personal, peer and community wellness. Students indicated the course has increased self-confidence in their communication abilities.