Welcome to Compeer of Johnson County, Iowa

Compeer of Johnson County

Making Friends. Changing Lives.

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What is Compeer?

Compeer is the only non-profit international network of affiliates which matches community volunteers in supportive one-to-one friendship relationships with adults receiving mental health treatment.

The Johnson County Compeer program was established in 2002 and has served over 60 individuals since then. We are always looking for compassionate caring volunteers who want to make a positive difference in another person's life.

"Compeer" means companion, peer, or equal. It combines the words compassion and peer. Our volunteers are compassionate, caring people who want to help make a positive difference in another person's life.

Loneliness, failure, fear and loss of self-esteem are universal experiences of those who suffer from mental illnesses. A caring friend can help to restore some joy and hope to a life that is often empty of both. Compeer provides a fun flexible volunteer opportunity that fits into your current lifestyle. You can choose to spend time with someone your own age, or older, or younger than yourself.

Making Friends~Changing Lives

As a volunteer, you will meet with your friend on a regular basis at mutually convenient times to share activities you both enjoy such as movies, sports, shopping or coffee and a chat or many of the free activities available in the Iowa City area. Through the gift of your friendship, you will gain a sense of satisfaction and personal growth and have the opportunity to help another.

As a Compeer volunteer, you would join thousands of other volunteers who come from all walks of life, all races, all religions, and from both urban neighborhoods and rural communities. Training, ongoing education, and support are provided by the Compeer staff.

Volunteer today! Contact Karen Fox at kfox@meimhc.org or 338-7884X245

Who is Compeer?
The Compeer Program matches community volunteers in friendship relationships with adults who are receiving mental health treatment. Participants are referred to the program by mental health professionals. Community volunteers, who are trained and screened, visit their friend for a minimum of one hour per week, or four hours per month, for a year and provide rehabilitative social support, advocacy, educational and vocational mentoring. This friendship brings new access to the community for participants referred to us by their mental health professional. Ongoing training, supervision, and support are also provided to enhance the volunteer's experience.

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How Compeer Works
Compeer of Johnson County serves the adult population, so volunteers need to be at least 18 years of age. Volunteers are asked to make a commitment of four hours per month for at least one year. Many participants find that they enjoy their friendship so much that they extend their commitments past one year and spend more time than one hour weekly with their Compeer friends.

New volunteers receive three hours of training from Compeer staff and meet with the mental health professionals who referred their new friends to the program before meeting their new friend. Ongoing support is offered through quarterly discussion groups and frequent events that include supplemental training.

Mental health professionals who refer clients to Compeer, provide initial consultation with the volunteer and are available for backup support. Compeer is regarded as an adjunct to therapy. The Compeer volunteer supports their new friend's recovery while offering respite time to families.

The Compeer staff provides community and professional education about Compeer, recruits, screens, trains, and supports volunteers. Those referred to our program are interviewed to enhance the success of the friendship match. The Compeer Program engages in public relations activities, organizes training, provides continuing support for volunteer/client relationships, and seeks funding for special projects. The Johnson County Compeer Program is funded entirely by the efforts of our Advisory Board and Director. We seek on-going funding for this valuable program.

History of Compeer
The first Compeer Program was established in 1973 in Rochester, New York. In 1982, the National Institute of Mental Health chose Compeer as a model program and funded the development of similar programs throughout the nation. Today Compeer is a model mental health organization with 120 affiliates in the United States, Canada, and Australia. In 2008 volunteers provided 190,000 hours of friendship, advocacy, and support to 5,962 children and adults diagnosed with mental illnesses. Based on the value of volunteer worth, ($17.55/hr according to a Gallup Survey conducted by the Independent Sector in 2004), Compeer volunteers' time is worth millions of dollars.

Impacts of the Compeer Program
Compeer affiliates conduct annual surveys of consumers, therapists, and volunteers involved in the program. In a recent national Compeer survey, consumers indicated that since being matched with a Compeer volunteer, they have experienced improvement in the following areas:

75% have gained interpersonal trust
79% have improved self-esteem
82% have decreased loneliness
75% gained confidence in social situations
85% felt cared about
84% felt understood
78% improved self-confidence

In addition, 99% of referring therapists who responded were satisfied with the Compeer services provided to their clients, and 99% of responding volunteers were satisfied with Compeer.

Cost Containment
While health care cost containment continues to be an area of concern, Compeer has provided a creative solution to deteriorating support systems through utilization of volunteers. Compeer volunteer friendships have been shown to save mental health dollars and favorably alter utilization of other costly services. Mental health professionals indicate that since being matched with a Compeer volunteer, consumers have experienced a positive impact in the following areas: 70% in psychiatric hospitalization rate; 75% in use of emergency services; 78% in compliance with their treatment plans; and 69% in compliance with medications.

Compeer Recognition

Compeer has been recognized as a model mental health volunteer program and has been highlighted in print and electronic media including CBS Morning News, NBC Nightly News, Newsweek, Family Circle, and Psychology Today. In addition, the program has received the Presidential Recognition Award by the Department of Health and Human Services, the first Eleanor Roosevelt Community Service Award, the Presidential Volunteer Action Award, four Points of Light awards and recognition from the American Psychiatric Association.

What People are Saying

Companions
“When I am out with my companion I feel I am part of what is happening in a busy world and I am not alone. I see other people together and I no longer feel different because I am with my companion.”
Referring Mental Health Professionals
“This is a wonderful program that has really assisted my client to engage with another person other than mental health staff. The volunteer is very competent, aware and caring. I am grateful for her services and that of the Compeer Program.”
Volunteers
“I would recommend Compeer as a volunteer opportunity as it provides situations for you to learn so many things too.”

What a difference a friend makes!

This page was last updated on 06/11/2009.