Our Stories: Success made personal
“Compeer friendships have a significant, lasting, positive effect on
social inclusion and social support…for mental health consumers.”
Boston University study findings, 2008
“Before I was matched with my Compeer friend, I was an insecure woman with a
defeatist attitude. I didn’t like myself much and felt that I was an outcast…
My Compeer friend was the person who helped me become the person I never
thought I could be…She was so compassionate and amazing. She was able to
accept me for who I was. The friendship we shared was a life changing
experience for me that allowed me to evolve into the confident woman I am today.”
Bonnie had been a high school English teacher for many years when she met Kate,
Making friends.
Changing lives.
then ten and in the fifth grade at a special school for emotionally
disturbed children. Largely due to their Compeer friendship, Kate progressed
A time-honored concept, friendship,
through special education class in a public school to mainstreamed high
school classes to graduating cum laude from a community college. Now in
makes the likelihood of recovery
her twenties, Kate holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from S.U.N.Y. at
Geneseo. Bonnie says, “Ours is a wonderful story of… mutual growth and understanding
…of two people meeting…and having their lives equally enriched.”
through community connections real.
Compeer relationships impact
communities, individuals, and families.
R
PROGRAM
Serving New York for over 35 years.
For locations and contact information for individual programs in New York State,
visit the Compeer, Inc. Web site at www.compeer.org, click on Locations.
R
PROGRAM
Compeer New York State Coalition
259 Monroe Avenue I Rochester, New York 14607
1.800.836.0475 (toll free) I 585.546.8280 I www.compeer.org
A value-added prevention and recovery model program
Compeer New York
Cost Containment & Cost Effectiveness
is a coalition of 21 affiliate
programs across the state,
serving adults and youth
by providing emotionally
supportive friendships and
mentoring relationships.
Started in New York State
more than 35 years ago and
guided by a simple premise —
that the support of friends is
healing—Compeer has grown
into an international,
non-profit organization
matching referred individuals
in mental health therapy
with volunteers in intentional
friendships. As part of the
mental health recovery
process, Compeer adds value
to the New York State mental
health delivery system with
affiliate locations throughout
the state providing a variety
of creative, flexible, and
community-based programs.
Compeer programs in New York State serve nearly 5,000 people annually with over 83,000 hours of volunteer
time. Based on the value of volunteer time in NYS, volunteers contribute over $2 million per year toward
mental health recovery through Compeer (Independent Sector research, www.independentsector.org).
33% of Compeer consumers report a decrease in crisis intervention use (2007 Compeer Inc. Annual Survey).
At $1,275.00 per match / year, Compeer adds value to the New York State mental health delivery system.
Impact on the Community
Compeer services are preventative and
restorative. The following two charts
indicate the overall average of consumer
improvement from their perspective, as
well as that of the volunteer, mental health
professional, and additionally for youth,
parent/guardian (2007 Compeer, Inc.
Annual Survey). Survey participants were
asked how the consumer had changed
during the course of their friendship.
The Compeer New York
Coalition At a Glance
ADULT OUTCOMES
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Crisis service
decreased
Positive
change in
employment
status
Follows
medication/
treatment
plan
Feels less
lonely or
isolated
Improved
personal
health choices
Better
self-esteem
Improved
school
functioning
Improved
interactions
with others
Future
oriented
Improved
personal
health choices
Better
self-esteem
21 programs serving the counties of Albany,
Allegany, Broome, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Columbia, Dutchess, Erie, Herkimer, Livingston,
Monroe, Montgomery, Nassau, Niagara, Oneida, Orange, Rensselaer, Rockland, Schenectady, Steuben,
Sullivan, Ulster, Westchester
Adult Services
Community volunteers matched with professionally referred adults in 1:1 friendships to meet weekly and
assist with community integration
Youth Mentoring
Community volunteers matched with professionally referred youth in 1:1 relationships to address issues
surrounding success in school and the community
mental illness achieve a significant
Youth: Community Connections for Youth, Intensive Mentoring, Lunch Buddies, Mentoring Children of
Prisoners, Skillbuilders
increase in social support and
Excellence of the Compeer Model
personal well-being as a result of
The Compeer model, which incorporates best practices, is nationally recognized.
being matched in a Compeer
-American Psychological Association best practices recognition (2005)
-Congressional Record tribute from the honorable Louise Slaughter, House of Representatives (2003)
-Eli Lilly Reintegration Award for social integration (2002)
-Most Effective Youth Mentoring Program – 1 of 16, from a field of 700, selected by Public/Private Ventures,
which is funded by the Department of Education and Mentoring Policy Council (1999)
-Cultural Competency Best Practices Award -- Monroe County Office of Mental Health (1999)
-Points of Light Foundation chooses Compeer as a Connect America Partner (1997)
-Presidential Volunteer Service Award (1989)
-Eleanor Roosevelt Community Service Award – the first awarded in NYS (1984)
-Presidential Volunteer Action Award Citation (1984)
-American Psychiatric Association Certification of Significant Achievement Award (1983)
-US Department of Health and Human Services Presidential Recognition Award (1982)
-The National Institute of Mental Health awards Compeer a national Dissemination Grant (1982)
”
mentoring relationship.
Increasing Social Support for Individuals
with Serious Mental Illness: Evaluating
the Compeer Model of Intentional
Friendship, Brian H. McCorkle, E. Sally
Rogers, Erin C. Dunn, Asya Lyass and
Yu Mui Wan, Boston University Center
for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, 2008
“Over the past 35 years
Compeer volunteers have
enabled hundreds of
people to live independently as mentally and
emotionally healthy
Friendship & Wellness
Compeer reaches into the community to involve people on an individual basis.
As a strength-based recovery-oriented model, Compeer provides one-to-one
support while contributing to stigma reduction, suicide prevention, empowerment,
and overall personal well-being. Committed to wellness, Compeer integrates
activities such as nutrition classes, peer education, stress reduction techniques,
and exercise into its programs. The Compeer Health and Friendship Walk is a
statewide Compeer initiative.
Compeer New York is supported by the New York State Office of Mental Health,
the Division of Community Services, Family Support Services, Office of Children
& Family Services, the Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention, and
local governments.
YOUTH OUTCOMES
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Adult: Compeer Calling, Compeer RN, E-Buddies, Elder Program, Friends for a Day, Pen Pals, Skillbuilders,
Supportive Partners for Recovery
“
in the Community
Funders
Program Enhancements
People being treated for serious
COMPEER
Additional funders include the United Way, youth bureaus, local foundations, private
donors, and mental health centers. Supportive corporations with regional appeal
include HSBC Bank, PAETEC, Buffalo Sabres Foundation and Alumni Association,
M&T Bank, Time Warner, and Dunkin Donuts.
Fundraising events by individual programs achieve additional funding for — and
awareness of — Compeer throughout local communities.
Collaborators
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
Mental Health Association/America (MHA)
New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (NYAPRS)
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Universities and colleges
Veterans outreach action groups
Western New York Peer Networking Group (WNYPNG)
YMCA
Evidence-Based Programs
Compeer incorporates evidence-based programs into its model.
Across Ages
Functional Behavioral Approach
Second Step
Wellness Self Management Training
Tools for Evaluation
Best Practices Evaluation
Compeer, Inc. Annual Survey
Rochester Evaluation of Asset Development Tool (READY Tool)
citizens across our
globe. I am proud to
support Compeer who provides both affordable and effective methods for improving the
quality of life for our neighbors confronting
mental illness.”
- Louise Slaughter, U.S. Congresswoman
“COMPEER has essential
attributes needed for
people with mental illnesses
to live meaningful lives in the
community like everyone
else. It is relatively low cost
and utilizes natural rather than paid
staff supports; creates opportunities for
equal and reciprocal rather than hierarchical
relationships; activity takes place in the
community rather than the agency; and the
interactions can combat negative beliefs,
prejudice, and discrimination. COMPEER
was possibly ahead of its time when it was
founded more than 35 years ago. The current
and future emphasis on recovery and
community integrations means ‘COMPEER's
time has come.’ ”
-Mark Salzer, Ph.D., Director, UPENN
Collaborative on Community Integration