Health Advocates: Not just condoms and cough drops

College is a time of great transition when many students are navigating decisions related to their own health independently for the first time. To help students take responsibility for their own health and safety, identify options available to them, access resources, and make informed decisions, Boynton Health Service at the University of Minnesota trains students to serve as health resources in their residence halls, fraternities, and sororities. Health Advocates are certified in first aid and CPR, trained to respond to common health-related issues, and responsible for sharing information and health promotion strategies with students. After serving as Health Advocates, students are significantly more confident in their ability to provide care to other students, including providing mental health resources, explaining symptoms of a sexually transmitted infection, performing CPR, providing resources on nutrition, and recognizing the signs of depression. In 2010-2011, approximately 70 students served as Health Advocates in 11 residence halls and 28 Greek houses. University of Minnesota students made more than 1800 visits to Health Advocates. Besides providing crucial health resources for students, the Health Advocate program creates unique and vital opportunities for communication and collaboration between Boynton Health Service and University of Minnesota students and departments. This session will focus on training students to serve as health resources in University residences, supporting the University's student development outcomes through the Health Advocate program, the impact of the program on student health and safety, and frequently asked questions like how do you get away with dispensing over-the-counter meds?