Recent News!

Interview with Jennifer Rauhouse and Elizabeth Gonzales in Prevention Connection. In this 10-minute interview, we talk about the use of Developmental Assets in Peer Solutions' Stand and Serve program. Developmental Assets are a youth development model that "represent the relationships, opportunities, and personal qualities that young people need to avoid risks and to thrive."

Check out STAND & SERVE profiled in the March 2009 issue of the ADHS publication, Not Just A Minor Thing. The newsletter is posted quarterly on the Office of Prevention website under the Division of Behavioral Health Services.

STAND & SERVE participated in the March 2009 National Safe Place Week, a community awareness fair and concert organized by Tumbleweed Center For Youth Development. Check out the article here.

Congratulations STAND & SERVE members Shya Reeves from McClintock & Morgan Johnson & Laura Neff from Tempe High Schools for winning the 2009 City of Tempe Diversity Award!

Tempe Unity Walk Feb 7, 2009
STAND & SERVE members took part in the Tempe Unity Walk and coverage aired on Univision.

Highlights

Download our 2008 Top Ten Highlights!

Download our 2008-9 S&S Calendar of Events

Download our Peer Solutions Bio

Download our Central Corridor Initiative Overview

Awards

STAND & SERVE received the 2007 National Award for Outstanding Response to and Prevention of Sexual Violence from the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC). NSVRC presents national awards annually to individuals or organizations whose work goes above and beyond the normal scope of their daily work, offers promising practices and has had a significant national impact in raising awareness or promoting prevention of sexual violence.

Peer Solutions Founder & Executive Director Jennifer Rauhouse was chosen for the the 2006 Kris Bell Preventionist of the Year award for Arizona.

Peer Solutions has been asked by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help develop national sexual violence prevention guidelines. The Executive Director also participated in a panel for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) to review guidelines and identify trends in school-based prevention efforts.

North High's S&S Club received the 2005-2006 Creighton School District's ICARECORP Award for their work with elementary students at William T. Machan.

For six-years, STAND & SERVE has received the City of Tempe's Diversity Award, Top Teen Award, and Don Carlos Awards.

Presentations

STAND & SERVE's national recognition includes presenting the STAND & SERVE model for CDC regional trainings representing all states and territories in the summer of 2006.

STAND & SERVE was also recently presented at Missouri and Washington State Conferences and will be presented in 2007 for the state of New Jersey.

STAND & SERVE participants and staff recently presented at the Harvard School of Public Health in collaboration with the Massachusetts Department of Health and Jane Doe Inc.

Program Results

A sample of recent Pre-/Post- evaluation results from S&S participants (2005-2006) shows that the program improves youths' understanding of violence, their respect for others, and their ability to resolve conflict and help others.

Testimonials

What elementary & middle school participants say about S&S (May 2006)

• I act better and I know what to look for in friends and in life.
• I am a lot nicer to my sister.
• It made me feel wanted.
• I haven't cut myself. To not hate myself but to love myself.
• I am not as mean.
• I learned to be a responsible bystander.
• Makes me think more positively.
• I am more respectful of others.

What high school participants say about S&S (May 2006)

• I can better communicate with others. I'm more confident.
• It has made me more accepting of others.
• That's its good to do community service because it helps the whole community.
• It makes me feel important and that I can help people. It's a good feeling.
• I have learned to be more kind and appreciate life.
• It's changed how I see the world as well as improved my self value.
• I try to understand others culture and that there are issues underneath that they don't show.
• I like the way we talked about things that can harm your life, and how to avoid those signs of depression, substance abuse, and suicide.

What Peer Educators say about S&S (May 2006):

• I feel really good to contribute to positive social change because I believe that what we show the kids is going to have a positive change in their lives.
• I feel like I helped younger kids know more about what to do when they have problems. I feel like they actually learned and had fun.
• I felt that I got a lot out of helping kids and teaching them about drugs, depression and suicide.
• I feel that being a part of this organization, we were able to better children's lives in the future. We gave them the mind set and tools to be a contributor to society.
• I feel we taught these kids a lot about respect and how much violence hurts others so that now the kids will know how to prevent it.
• By teaching these kids about violence and why it was wrong, as well as how to prevent it, I think we helped these kids to go out and help put an end to it.
• Just by having the kids with us instead of on the streets, we prevent chances of violence. Also, they will be more considerate and peaceful from now on.

What parents have to say about the impact of S&S on their children (May 2006)

• My daughter respects herself more and is learning the ability to stand up for herself. She uses examples from S&S at home when there are problems instead of getting mad.
• My daughter has increased self-confidence and leadership skills, and a strong voice against injustice.
• My son is more open and willing to help others.
• My daughter learns right from wrong, and she thinks of others.
• My daughter is passionate about S&S and I like that.
• I know that my daughter is changing her attitude towards things, being more respectful and knowing how to do things differently.
• My daughter is very happy to be helping her community. This experience has wrought a positive change in her.
• My son is better able to deal with conflict by choosing other avenues. S&S taught him how to think more instead of just reacting.