College, Community Connections partner on peer advocate program
MALONE – Community Connections of Franklin County and North Country Community College
are teaming up to provide peer advocate training to students at the college.
The college’s Human Services Department has developed a new, three-credit Peer Advocate
Practicum course. Qualified students in any program can earn college credit, gain
valuable real-world experience working with students in need, and secure eligibility
to become a state-certified peer advocate upon completion of the course.
“This is the true definition of community partnership,” said Kathleen Dowd-Maloney,
chair of the college’s Human Services Department. “We are so excited to work with
Community Connections and offer additional support to our students as well as help
students enrolled in the class to become even more employable, experienced and recognized.”
Students in the program will be supervised and trained by NCCC and Community Connections
of Franklin County. Lee Rivers, Executive Director, will offer the necessary resources,
support and guidance to students who receive the training.
“We are excited for the opportunity to partner with NCCC on this initiative,” Rivers
said. “It is our goal to offer additional assistance to college students in need to
ensure they are successful in obtaining their degree; and to assist some college students
to gain knowledge and front line experience in Peer Services, thus helping them be
successful in their future careers. I would like to thank Kathleen Dowd-Maloney, the
Senate Committee and the Board of Trustees for seeing the benefit of this initiative
and approving it.”
The Peer Advocate Practicum is open to students who are at least in their second semester
and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
For more information on program qualifications and responsibilities, contact Kathleen
Dowd-Maloney at kdowd@nccc.edu.