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Compeer

Making Friends. Changing Lives.

Of Johnson County Iowa

Text Box: 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. Compeer volunteers 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 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

Compeer staff provides community and professional education about the program. We recruit, screen, train, and support volunteers. Clients referred to Compeer are interviewed to enhance the success of the friendship match.

The Compeer Program engages in

they extend their commitments past one year and spend more time than one hour weekly with their Compeer friends.

public relations activities, organizes training, and provides continuing support for volunteer-client relationships.