Welcome to Compeer of Johnson County, Iowa

Compeer of Johnson County

Making Friends. Changing Lives.

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Spring Summer 2010 Newsletter

Compeer's Mission Statement:

The mission of the Compeer Program of Johnson County
is to reduce the loneliness and isolation of adults receiving
mental health treatment by developing structured friendships
with community volunteers.

Compeer of Johnson County is part of the only non-profit international network of affiliates which matches community volunteers in supportive one-to-one friendship relationships with people receiving mental health treatment. The Johnson County Compeer program was established in 2002 and has served over 70 individuals since then. We are always looking for compassionate caring adult 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 make a difference in lives, one at a time. By volunteering with Compeer to extend the hand of friendship you can help to restore some joy and hope to a life that is often challenging and lonely.

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.
You will select a friend who has interests similar to yours.
You and your new friend will spend time doing things together that both of you enjoy once a week for about an hour.

Making Friends~Changing Lives!

You will meet with your friend on a regular basis at mutually convenient times to share activities you both enjoy, such as movies, sports, going for walks in good weather, shopping or coffee and a chat or many of the free activities available in the Iowa City/Johnson County 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 will join thousands of other volunteers across the country 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.

Click here to Volunteer today!

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

How does Compeer work?

The Compeer Program matches community volunteers in intentional friendships with adults who are receiving mental health treatment. Participants are referred to the program by mental health professionals. Community volunteers, who are screened and trained, spend time with their friend for a minimum of one hour per week, or four hours per month, for at least a year. By volunteering with Compeer, people help provide rehabilitative social support, advocacy, and companionship to their friend. 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.

compeer logo Compeer of Johnson County serves only the adult population, so volunteers need to be at least 18 years of age. Volunteers and clients 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 professional who referred their new friend to the program before meeting the client they have selected. 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 volunteer is not expected to offer any sort of therapy or support that would not naturally occur in a friendship. You are an equal, not a teacher, therapist, or consultant.

The Compeer staff provides community and professional education about Compeer, recruits, screens, trains, andsupports 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 80 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 time, 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.

Health Care 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. It provides situations for you to learn so many things too.”

What a difference a friend makes!

This page was last updated on 08/11/2010.