ABSTRACT
To assure that high standards will be met and maintained, national guidelines need to be reviewed, with peer helpers and peer program professionals fully understand them in order to skillfully implement these guidelines. Included will be the need to ensure that each peer helper knows his or her limits and further knows how to ask for assistance and make a referral. In addition, referral sources must be identified and procedures outlined regarding the appropriate helpees and types of assistance needed. A variety of interpersonal helping behaviors assumed by nonprofessionals who undertake a helping role with others, including one-to-one helping relationships, group leadership, discussion leadership, tutoring and all activities of an interpersonal helping or assisting nature. Students often communicate their problems to their peers rather than to parents, administrators or counselors. In our society, peer influence may be the strongest single motivational force in a student’s life.
