Peer Assistance and Leadership (PAL) Program. Program Summary.

This document describes the Peer Assistance and Leadership (PAL) Program, a peer helping program developed by the Austin Independent School District in Austin, Texas. It explains how selected high school students are trained to work as peer facilitators with younger students either on their own campus or from feeder junior high or elementary schools. The basic goal of the PAL program is given as helping the younger students to have a more positive and productive school experience and to make more responsible and informed decisions. Activities in which PAL students participate are listed, including outreach programs in the communities which deal with teenage sexuality, suicide, and drug and alcohol abuse. It is noted that PAL students provide younger students with individual and group peer support, discussion sessions, and tutorial assistance. The history of the PAL program since its beginning in 1980 is briefly reviewed, PAL student training is described, and results of evaluations of the PAL program are discussed which attest to its success. The role of the PAL Advisory Committee, a volunteer organization of outstanding former PAL students, is discussed and future uses of PAL as a model program are considered. (NB)