Welcome to the H.O.P.E. (Health, Outreach, Promotion, Education) & Wellness Center. My name is Cathy Nguyen, and I am the Health Educator at SHCS. Some of you may ask...What is a Health Educator and what do they do? Well, the answer is simple...Health educators work to help individuals and groups of people improve their health. They begin by diagnosing the health needs of a group or an individual.

Health educators inform people about the causes and prevention of these health problems or needs. Then they design programs to help the individuals and groups to meet their needs. These programs may require the health educator to teach classes and make presentations, design pamphlets, counsel individuals, and organize community events or groups. Some of you may remember seeing me on campus doing a classroom presentation or on the campus providing education at special events.

The Health educator offers information, counseling, support, resources, and/or referral services for:

• Alcohol and other drugs
• Contraception
• Dating and domestic violence
• Eating disorders
• HIV and other sexually transmitted infections
• Nutrition and fitness
• Relationships
• Sexual assault and rape
• Sexual harassment
• Sexual health
• Smoking cessation
• Stress management
• And other health issues