ABSTRACT
Peer advocacy also is a “grassroots” phenomenon, much like the early history of the American military. The minutemen farmers threw down their implements, picked up muskets, took up a cause, and applied themselves to dealing with the problems of their times and to making a difference. Peer health education also has been implemented from a public health perspective and prevention programs have ranged from macrolevel environment approaches to microlevel programs at the school or individual level. The social influences model promotes understanding about the social pressures from peers, mass media, adults, and other sources to smoke; teaches skills to resist those pressures; and corrects misperceptions about the extent of and social norms for smoking. Varenhorst distinguished peer ministry from peer helping, but explains that peer helping is included in peer ministry. She noted that in peer ministry the emphasis is on faith development and renewal, and learning how to understand and share one’s faith with others.
