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HEALTHCARE EDUCATION HEALTHCARE EDUCATION HEALTHCARE EDUCATION

Empowering Teens to Tackle Health Education

In 2009, the Berrin sisters started a not- graders each year. Our partnership with raised my awareness for the issues in our
for-profit organization to help South 58 schools, both public and independent community. From that point on, I made it
private schools, has revolutionized my goal to provide people with reliable
Florida high school students redefine what
health education in Miami-Dade County, information and resources to deal with seri-
it means to be “HIP”. The Health
and we hope to continue to grow ous issues.
Information Project (HIP) is changing throughout the state - and nation. Several years after Risa founded HIP,
high-school health education by empower- To become a HIP educator, juniors and her sister Valerie joined as Director of
ing students to be the teachers. seniors must participate in an extensive Operations to champion a cause both sis-
interview process. Once selected, they ters are passionate about:
attend trainings throughout the year on
Health education is crucial for every- public speaking, classroom management Having worked in the New York City
one, but especially high school students and how to address difficult conversa- public school system, while studying at
who are experiencing the last develop- tions in a frank, non-judgmental way. Barnard College – Columbia University, I
mental milestones before becoming Students are the ones leading bi-monthly
adults. Open communication about the discussions, providing their peers with was aware of the many physical and emo-
physical, cognitive, emotional and social practical health information, facilitating tional health needs of the students and the
changes that 14-18 year olds experience discussions about critical health topics lack of resources in their schools and com-
is fundamental. and connecting other students to vital munities. This experience left no doubt in
Society’s lack of education and open health resources at their schools and in my mind that I would go on to join my sis-
discussion on critical health issues such (l-r) Valerie and Risa Berrin their communities.
as suicide, anxiety, obesity, abuse and teens to tackle the health crises of their ter in her efforts to make health education
depression creates a mental health stig- generation by recruiting and training Risa Berrin, Founder & more approachable.
ma which can lead to discrimination, them to be peer educators at their own Executive Director of HIP,
reluctance towards treatment or lack of schools. In this environment, students Throughout my time at University of HIP is determined to ensure every stu-
understanding. Over 10 years ago, we are more comfortable opening up about Miami School of Law, I taught health edu- dent in the US is healthy - both physical-
realized this was a missing link in health personal issues and discussing with cation to female juveniles who were incar- ly and emotionally. Our goal is to create
education, and knew we had to take peers in a judgment-free zone. cerated and worked as a court-appointed high school campuses that are safe, sup-
action. With that in mind, The Health HIP currently trains 1,700 11th and special advocate for children who are mis- portive and inclusive.
Information Project (HIP) was born. We 12th graders to serve as peer health edu- treated, abandoned and neglected. The
work tirelessly every day to empower exposure to abuse, drugs and mental health To learn more, please visit behip.org.
cators, teaching more than 34,000 ninth

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22 August 2019 southfloridahospitalnews.com South Florida Hospital News