This program is for youth who are 6 years and older, adults, military veterans, and older adults who have been diagnosed with a serious mental illness.

Compeer Model, a community-based program, is designed to minimize participant's feelings of loneliness; encourage them to become active members in their communities and schools; and help them improve their quality of life.

Results of one quasi-experimental study from the program developers demonstrated that participants in the program experienced significant increases in social support at the end of the 1-year program; however, there were no significant effects on subjective well-being or on psychiatric symptoms. Among those program responders who experienced an increase in social support of more than one standard deviation from their baseline score, these participants had significant increases in their subjective well-being and reductions in psychiatric symptoms from baseline to 12 months.

Compeer Model is implemented by affiliates of the parent company, Compeer, Inc. Participants are referred to Compeer by a professional mental health provider, and volunteers from the community are matched with participants in order to foster the development of healthy friendships. This program is intended to be used as an adjunct to traditional mental health services, and ongoing psychotherapy is a requirement of the program. Volunteers spend time with participants by engaging in fun, social activities. The Compeer Model helps participants in the following ways:

• Meet a basic need – Engaging in healthy friendships and belonging to a community are basic human rights related to social justice;
• Social supports build confidence – Volunteers encourage participants to expand their experiences and increase the different activities they do as a way of building self-esteem and self-confidence;
• Isolation decreases and self-worth increases – Mutual friendships help participants become more outgoing and sociable, which can increase feelings of self-worth and empowerment;
• Clients re-engage in the community – Interacting with people outside of the treatment context and diversifying social networks can increase integration into the community.

Matches are made between volunteers and participants based on factors such as hobbies, areas of interest, location, and age. Volunteers may spend time with participants in person, virtually, or over the telephone. Examples of activities that matches may do together include going out to eat, playing games, attending a community event, or talking a walk.

Affiliates may expand on the one-to-one matching program by offering other programs based on the needs of the community. Other programs offered may include the following: school-based mentoring program; community-based group-mentoring program; mental health education; social engagement activities; and niche group-support programs for veterans, women experiencing postpartum, adults seeking higher education, and individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Compeer, Inc., was created in 1973, and there are currently 40 Compeer affiliate locations, in the United States, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom, that have trained over 2,000 volunteers.

Training is mandatory, and Compeer, Inc., provides start-up training for affiliates. The affiliates, then, train community volunteers to work with participants. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old and are not required to have any particular background or experience. Start-up training with a Compeer consultant by telephone or webinar, quarterly webinars, and a training manual and DVD are included in the annual license fee. Attendance at a 2- to 3-day, off-site regional conference is also required. Please contact Compeer for more information about starting an affiliate program using details in the Contact section.

Considerations for implementing this program include forming an advisory committee to help manage the program; creating and submitting a proposal to Compeer, Inc.; establishing funding sources and obtaining a starting budget; hiring suitable part- and full-time staff; attaining approval from, signing a licensing agreement for, and providing a start-up fee to Compeer, Inc.; recruiting community volunteers; acquiring participant buy-in; finding suitable locations for activities; and paying an annual license fee.

The Clearinghouse can help address these considerations. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu

If you are interested in implementing Compeer Model, the Clearinghouse is interested in helping you!
Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu

Volunteers spend 4 hours per month for 1 year with participants.

A starting budget of $40,000 is required. In addition, a start-up fee of $1,800 and an annual license fee of $500 are necessary. The cost of program materials and costs mentioned in the Training section are included in the annual license fee. Other costs will vary.

To move Compeer Model to the Effective category on the Clearinghouse Continuum of Evidence at least one external evaluation in a diverse sample must be conducted that demonstrates sustained, positive outcomes. This study must be conducted independently of the program developer.  

The Clearinghouse can help you develop an evaluation plan to ensure the program components are meeting your goals. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu

Contact the Clearinghouse with any questions regarding this program.
Phone: 1-877-382-9185 Email: Clearinghouse@psu.edu

You may also contact Compeer, Inc., by mail 1179 Kenmore Avenue, Buffalo NY, 14217, phone 1-800-836-0475, email info@compeerbuffalo.org, or visit https://compeer.org/contact-us/

https://compeer.org/