SHAG (Sexual Health Awareness Group)

What is SHAG?

The Sexual Health Awareness Group (SHAG) is a peer education program from Health Education comprised of Brown students who promote sexual health on campus through workshops, a confidential e-mail Q&A response service (shag@brown.edu), and other outreach projects.

SHAG is also on Facebook!

How do I schedule a SHAG program?

SHAG is available to present sexual health workshops to Brown students. All workshops are fun, informative and interactive and address a range of pertinent sexual health issues including safer sex, STIs, and protection methods. Choose from the following formats:

Sex Jeopardy
Think you’re a sexpert? Looking to learn more about safer sex? This competitive game provides you with information on contraception and STI protection that will help you make healthy choices.

Sexual Health Express
This hands-on interactive workshop gives students the opportunity to learn about safer sex methods by moving between "stations" where they explore a method through discussion and experiments.

Sexual Health Bingo
This isn’t Grandma’s bingo! This bingo game provides a fun way to learn more about safer sex, STIs, and contraception.

E-mail shag@brown.edu or naomi_ninneman@brown.edu for more information or to schedule a program.

Can I really ask SHAG anything?

Yes! SHAG is now offering personalized, confidential answers to students' sexual health and safer sex questions via text. Responses from our trained peer educators within 24 hours! E-mail shag@brown.edu from your brown e-mail (because this service is just for Brown students) to get the SHAG texting number or look for our posters around campus.

Brown students are also encouraged to e-mail shag@brown.edu with sexual health concerns or questions. Responses are promised within 1 week during the semester. This is a confidential service.

What is the role of a SHAG peer educator?

Peer Educators are trained in current sexual health knowledge and effective approaches to sexual health education. You will have the opportunity to learn valuable facilitation skills, develop expertise in a range of sexual health topics, and serve as an advocate for sexual health at Brown. Peer Educators facilitate workshops in conjunction with Health Education staff and also participate in sexual health outreach projects through Health Education (like tables on the green and materials development and distribution). Workshops and outreaches are designed to:

• Promote dialogue about healthy sexuality and safer sex. 
• Increase understanding of sexual health and safer sex. 
• Model an open and honest approach to sexual health discussions. 
• Be inclusive of the diverse student body at Brown, recognizing the range of sexual health issues, sexual and gender identities, and varied levels of sexual health knowledge.

Educators are expected to facilitate two to three workshops per semester. There are monthly meetings to discuss programs, get ongoing training, and plan special projects. And, because this can be a challenging and personal topic, there are also debriefing sessions with Health Education staff and other squad members and once a semester self-evaluation discussions.

Is there training?

Yes!  There is both an initial training, at the beginning of the fall semester, and ongoing training covering topics including:

• Effective Facilitation Strategies
• Addressing Diverse Audiences
• Anatomy & Physiology
• Protection Methods
• Sexually Transmitted Infections
• Healthy Relationships/Communication/Consent
• Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity
• Media & Society – Their influences on our experience of sexuality
• Body Image & Sexuality

How do I join?

SHAG is currently accepting applications for the Spring 2013 peer education group. To apply, complete the application (download the SHAG 2013 peer educator information sheet and application here: PDF or Word) and submit it by Thursday, January 10, 2013. To find out more about SHAG, you can contact Naomi Ninneman, Health Educator, at 401-863-3521 or naomi_ninneman@brown.edu, or e-mail the peer educators at shag@brown.edu.

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