Dreams with Open Arms

to become a peer advocate

 You must be between the ages of 13-19 years old You are interested in learning about these issues and in helping others No previous training or experience is required A minimum of 6 months commitment is required Peer Advocates will attend an interactive training (approximately 16 hours) offered in the beginning of each semester. In addition, twice-monthly meetings and in-service trainings will be provided. How to apply: Request at dreamsfirstatl@gmail.com and fill out the application and return it All applications will be reviewed and references will be checked All applicants will be interviewed prior to the start of training Criminal background checks will be conducted Note: Completion of the interview and/or training is not a guarantee of acceptance into the Peer Advocacy program.

peer advocates


  • Leaders
  • Communicators
  • Organizers
  • Representatives

peer advocates program


Peer Advocates is a peer-helping program for young people ages 13-19 who want to strengthen their communication and helping skills to provide support to others and service to their  community. The Peer Advocate program is based on a simple premise: within every community, an informal “helping network” exists.  Young people with problems naturally seek out other young people whom they trust.  They seek them out for advice, for assistance, or just for a sympathetic ear.  The Peer Advocate program uses this existing helping network by providing training to young people who are identified by their peers as already helping.  It gives them the skills they need to provide help more effectively to young people who seek them out. 

Peer Advocates benefits from being involved in the program, whether their involvement is helping one to one, assisting with other programs, or volunteering for community projects.  Peer Advocates find that the skills they learn and practice in working with others are beneficial with friends, teachers, employers, and family.  They make new friends in the program and break down some of the barriers that exist in any community.  Peer Advocates also experience that special feeling that comes from helping someone else and knowing that they have made a difference.

Program director


Chad Cornick has worked in the social service field for 20 years and possesses extensive experience working with at at-risk young people.  Mr. Cornick believes that we as a society can make positive differences in the lives of young people.  Mr. Cornick received his AS in Health and Human Services at Essex County College and his BS in Organizational Management at Nyack College.












step up & be Safe 


Every day almost 25,000 young people age 15-24 get a STD. Teen Pregnancy is 57 pregnancies per 1,000 teen girls (age 15-19); some 614,000 teen pregnancies. Condoms are the most effective way to prevent STD's for people who are sexually active.  Step Up & Be Safe Campaign mission is to increase awareness of the use of condoms within our community. Step Up & Be Safe (SUBS) is a youth-led grassroots movement to make the U.S. a sexually healthy nation. Each year, SUBS members give out condoms in their communities, educate their peers about sexual and reproductive health, and understand the policies that affect young people’s health and lives. This is a mobilize effort that's currently working in three states, GA, NC & SC. We go into at-risk communities spread awareness about inintedened pregranacies, STD's and HIV.

 
 

"Giving the Gift of Independence through Education, Enrichment, Exposure and Empowerment"