C.A.L.M. Companions
C.A.L.M. Companions is a campus peer listener certification program at SGT University designed to create a supportive environment for students. The program's mission is to train students to provide peer listening, outreach, and general support to their fellow students, promoting mental health and well-being.
The program aims to achieve several key objectives, including:
- Building a trained group of diverse peer listeners.
- Promoting early support for students facing academic and personal stress.
- Destigmatizing help-seeking behaviors.
- Enhancing emotional literacy and active listening skills.
- Cultivating safe and welcoming spaces on campus.
The program's structure includes 50 hours of training, with 25 hours of in-person training over four days and 15 hours of supervised fieldwork. The curriculum covers five core modules, including foundations of peer support, communication skills, ethics, crisis response, and self-care.
Upon completion, certified peer listeners commit to an academic year of service, which includes monthly supervision sessions and conducting a minimum of 25 listening sessions per semester. The certification offers valuable skills in leadership, empathy, and communication, which are beneficial for career and higher education applications. It also provides opportunities for professional growth and recognition within the university community.