Eating Disorder Peer Education Program
for Student Volunteers

Many college students struggle with disordered eating and body image concerns. While there are fewer students who suffer from full-blown eating disorders, both disordered eating and body image issues as well as eating disorders need to be addressed on college campuses. 

You Can Help!

Please consider applying to become a peer educator in the Eating Disorder Peer Education Program (EPEP). EPEP peer educators are UI students who are trained to provide information about disordered eating, eating disorders, and referral resources to the UI campus community. As part of your role, you will also be asked to challenge existing stereotypes and media messages about our bodies. You will receive training for your outreach work as well as supervision from professional staff with expertise in the prevention and treatment of eating disorders on campus. You will collaborate with other students as a part of a peer educator team that works alongside professional staff.

Program Expectations

This program runs over two semesters, with the possibility of extending your time after the first year. Fall 2012 is the training semester. Spring 2013 is the outreach semester. As part of the EPEP team and in collaboration with professional staff, you are expected to plan and deliver programs and events for various student groups on campus to raise awareness about the topic. The training seminars in the fall are mandatory, spring outreach work is more flexible and scheduled around your availability. Click on this link to fill out an EPEP application 

Benefits

You will learn about the role of a peer educator, different types of programming, disordered eating, body image, and eating disorder concerns, campus referrals for students affected by those concerns, and the impact of social factors and media on body image and eating disorders. You will learn skills to address individuals and groups about eating disorders. You will practice leadership, presentation, teamwork, and communication skills.

Training

The purpose of the training is to build a solid foundation for EPEP outreach work during Spring 2013. Ten weekly seminars (90 minutes each) provide a role induction to being a peer educator and basic information about eating disorders and campus referrals. Weekly seminars start in mid-September and go through the end of the fall semester. Attendance is mandatory in order to gain necessary skills and build an outreach team. There will be some required readings for the seminar as well as handouts and information provided by guest presenters. For Spring 2013, there will be flexible hours for programming (some of them in the evening) with a minimum of one volunteer hour expected per week.

  • Seminar Dates for Fall 2012:
    • Every Monday from 9:30-11am, starting on September 17
  • Location: Group Room, University Counseling Service, 3223 Westlawn S.
  • Application deadline is September 14

For questions, please contact the facilitator of the program, Eva Schoen, Ph.D., at eva-schoen@uiowa.edu or 319-335-7294.