History

Compeer Rochester, Inc. (www.rochester.compeer.org) is a nonprofit organization the mission of which is to improve the quality of life and assist in the rehabilitation and support of adults and youth in Monroe County who are striving for mental wellness and in need of an emotionally supportive relationship. Through community education and the facilitation and management of goal-directed, mentoring relationships, our programs help people live happier, more productive lives and increase the social capital of our community.

Compeer began in 1973 as “Adopt-a-Patient” at the Rochester PsychiatricCenter. The program served adults struggling with mental illness by providing a “friend” who would visit the patient on a regular basis. Compeer began to serve youth in 1978. In 1980, Compeer began expanding throughout New York State and in 1982, ‘Compeer International’ was established to promote the Compeer model nationally. In 2006, Compeer International became Compeer, Inc. and the Rochester affiliate became Compeer Rochester, Inc. There are currently 80 programs in 27 states, Canada and Australia.

The Rochester program serves as a proven "best practices" model throughout the United States. Public & Private Ventures, a nonprofit organization funded by the U.S. Department of Education and Mentoring Policy, selected Compeer’s youth program as one of the sixteen most effective youth mentoring programs nationwide. In 1997, Compeer was selected to be a partner with ‘Connect America,’ a steering committee for the 1997 Presidential Summit, as well as ‘America's Promise—The Alliance For Youth,’ a national nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of our nation's at-risk youth. In 1999, the Compeer Youth Replication Program was developed.

Boston University's Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation conducted a two-year (2002-2003) research project of the Utica, NY, Elmira, NY and Rochester NY Compeer Adult Programs to evaluate the benefits of volunteer and peer support for people with long-term mental illness. The results of this third party evaluation from both the quantitative and qualitative perspectives suggest “…Compeer friendships have a significant, lasting, positive effect on social inclusion and social support…for mental health consumers.  Consumers developed higher self-esteem, more satisfaction with the friendships in their lives, and a greater sense of belonging.”  The Compeer model of intentional friendship as an adjunct to ‘treatment-as-usual’ appears to be an effective way of increasing social support for people with serious mental illness with community volunteers. (McCorkle, Rogers, et al, Increasing Social Support for Individuals with Serious Mental Illness: Evaluating the Compeer Model of Intentional Friendship, Community Ment Health J, DOI 10.1007/s10597-008-9137-8).

In May, 2005, Compeer was listed (on p.25-26) in a best-practices publication of the American Psychological Association, “Training Grid Outlining Best Practices for Recovery and Improved Outcomes for People with Serious Mental Illness.” (Document is available at www.apa.org/practice/grid.html). This resource is intended to assist providers in identifying appropriate interventions for their settings and those they serve, identifying needed advanced clinical training initiatives, and obtaining access to those clinicians and researchers who have developed, implemented, and/or studied the outcomes of the interventions and instruments described.

Other recognition and awards include the Presidential Volunteer Action Award (President Bush); the Presidential Volunteer Action Award Citation (President Reagan); the Distinguished Volunteer Award (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services); the Presidential Volunteer Service Award; the first Eleanor Roosevelt Community Service Award (New York State); the Certification of Significant Achievement (American Psychiatric Association); the Natural Support System Award (New York State Office of Mental Health); and the Points of Light (four awards). Compeer has been featured on the CBS Morning News and NBC Nightly News, as well as in Newsweek, Family Circle, and  Psychology Today.