Category | News

Wealth of health for students

Published on February 8, 2007 by The Sentinel

    The Wellness Center is offering two new services to all KSU students: one-on-one dietary counseling and training of select students to be certified peer educators on health and safety matters. The Wellness Center is an extension of the Wellstar Health and Human Services College.  On Thursday, Feb. 1, the Wellness Center held an open house to introduce the two new staff members who will run these programs. Students trecked over slush on the sidewalks as the temperature hovered around freezing and enjoyed hot chocolate, bagels and strawberries dipped in a fountain of chocolate. Students had the opportunity to talk with the staff about all of their programs, and enjoy a relaxing chair massage.  

The peer training program will be ran by Dacia Davis, an experienced health educator who will be conducting  the training for 16 peer educators beginning in March.  

  Once trained, these students will be certified peer educators, ready to give classes and participate in new student orientations.   Peer educators will lead sessions on topics including stress and weight management, sexual assault and alcohol abuse. The training will be built around games and other activities and not around long lectures. Davis has extensive experience working in public health and education.  

    Kelly Schriver is a dietitian who is now providing the dietary counseling requested by individual students. She said that so far, much of her counseling has been related to weight loss. But she has also begun helping students, particularly those who are away from home for the first time, plan and prepare healthier foods. Trying to eat healthy meals when you have to prepare the meals yourself is not easy. Learning what foods to buy and how to cook them are not part of the college curriculum, but now there is a place and person who can help. Schriver also works with students who have specific health needs such as managing diabetes. She works with each case individually.     The Wellness Center is now located in the same building as the Recreation Center but on the opposite side. The new location provides more space than the prior location in the Student Center. According to Sherry Grable, the Wellness Center director, there has been very little decrease in the number of students taking advantage of the Center’s many services. The Wellness Center continues to offer outreach programs in the Student Center throughout the year.

    If you are interested in becoming a peer educator, contact Davis at 770-499-3296. The deadline for applying is Friday, Feb. 9. To set up an appointment with Schriver, call the Wellness Center at 770-423-6394.