NCJ Number
192244
Journal
Youth Studies Australia Volume: 20 Issue: 4 Dated: December 2001 Pages: 40-47
Editor(s)
Sheila Allison
Date Published
December 2001
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This paper discusses the youth consultant roles of peer supporter, educator, and researcher and the areas of overlap and degrees of difference.
Abstract
In the human services fields, youth consultants are becoming much more prevalent. Youth consultants ensure that young people’s needs and interests guide the agenda of a service or project. However, their role descriptions and borders are not clearly defined. This paper focuses on the three different specific roles that youth consultants perform, peer supporter, peer educator, and peer researcher and the areas of overlap and degrees of differences between them. The paper presents role descriptions for each of the three specific youth consultant roles. The role descriptions are discussed and include: (1) relationship factors; (2) confidentiality; (3) personal sharing; (4) personal safety; (5) resource knowledge; (6) information flow; (7) experience in the topic or issues; (8) agenda or focus; (9) values; (10) advocacy; (11) mentoring and modeling; and (12) training. The paper acknowledged the borders between specific youth consultant roles and agrees they are impressionable. They should be viewed as zones that identify the core focus and margins of a role. This will assist youth consultants in orienting to each role, identify when they are stepping into border zones, determine whether this is appropriate, and take the most advisable course(s) of action. References