What is a Peer Health Advocate
Health Advocates (HAs) are students living in the residence halls that are trained on various health issues including colds and flu, first aid, substance use/abuse, sexual health, stress management, etc. They have supplies for minor health concerns, such as bandages, ice packs, common over-the-counter medicines, thermometers, and condoms, and they serve as a resource and referral agent in addressing your health and wellness needs. In addition to serving the health needs of individual students, HAs plan and implement at least one wellness program every semester in their residence hall, create monthly health bulletin boards and maintain active communication with the Hall Staff to address health and wellness issues specific to their residence hall.
For students who are seeking health education and resources from their Health Advocate, know that your conversations with HAs are private. Unless an individual is a threat to themselves or others, Health Advocates maintain confidentiality.
What supplies can I get from the Peer Health Advocate?
Free to Students:
- Hand sanitizer
- Band Aids (large and small)
- Kerlix
- Athletic tape/Coban
- Alcohol prep pads
- Bacitracin zinc ointment
- Tylenol
- Ibuprofen
- Cough drops
- Benadryl
- Tums
- Condoms
- Lubricant
For Purchase:
- ACE Bandages – $5
- Ice Packs (reusable) – $5
- Pregnancy Test Kit – $10
- Emergency contraception – $20
- Thermometer – $5
- Hydrocortisone cream – $5
- Cepacol throat lozenges – $5
How do I contact my Peer Health Advocate?
Throughout the academic year, you can find posters in the residence halls and health center indicating each Health Advocate’s hall and room number. In addition, each HA posts weekly open door hours in their residence hall.
Do HAs have special training?
Health Advocates at UW Oshkosh attend two weeks of training before the fall semester starts, as well as monthly meetings and lectures to stay current with college health. Some of the topics they are trained in include sexual health, first aid, cold/flu, stress management, and other behavioral health issues.