Bunny receives community service award

The Compeer Story

In 1965, our founder, Bernice Skirboll, was in a near-fatal auto accident that left her hospitalized for 2 months. Over the course of her recuperation, friends and loved ones were an incredible source of support, and she realized that they were instrumental in her return to health. She also realized that not everyone has the support that she was so fortunate to have. From this experience, she was inspired to make a difference with her life by creating Compeer. Started in 1973, with just 12 volunteers, Compeer now has 2,000 volunteers in 40 locations in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia. We have grown tremendously over the years, but our purpose has remained the same: to help bring the healing power of friendship to support those living with mental health challenges.

Our Purpose

The Compeer model is based on the understanding that a supportive and caring friend can have a positive influence on an individual’s mental health. We support mental wellness by connecting someone living with a mental health challenge with a caring friend who has similar interests. Compeer’s community-based programs serve youth aged six years and up, adults, older adults and veterans, through volunteer mentoring and supportive friendship programs. Our programs are measured annually, and consistently show improvements in an individual’s self-esteem, social skills, community engagement, and overall quality of life.

Our Support to Affiliates

colorful hands in a circle

Compeer, Inc. provides leadership to it’s community-based affiliates throughout the United States, Australia, United Kingdom, and Canada, and we are always looking to grow into new regions and countries. We support our affiliates through start-up training, program expertise, monthly newsletters, an affiliate-to-affiliate peer support network, virtual educational offerings, branding, and marketing tools.

Through our time-tested best practice model, and evidence-based practices of supportive friendship and mentoring, Compeer, Inc. creates programs to meet the diverse needs of communities that want to positively impact the lives of individuals and families living with mental health challenges. We offer a low cost, effective solution to communities looking to support mental wellness.
promoting mental wellness
through meaningful friendship
promoting mental health

Key Milestones

1973

Mental Health Association in Rochester, NY establishes the Adopt-A-Patient program to enable formerly institutionalized patients to live successfully in the community. 

1976

Bernice Skirboll is hired as Executive Director and develops Adopt-A-Patient into a community-based mental health support program. 

1977

 Adopt-A-Patient becomes Compeer, a word meaning  ‘companion’ and ‘peer’. 

1982

The National Institute of Mental Health selects Compeer as a national model and provides funding  to encourage replication throughout the nation. 

Compeer receives the Presidential Recognition Award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human  Services. 

Compeer is featured on Good Morning America. 

1983

The first Compeer National Conference, funded by a NIMH grant, is held and results in the startup  of 18 affiliates. 

1984

President Reagan gives Compeer a Presidential Volunteer Action Award Citation.

1986

Compeer Montreal becomes the first Canadian affiliate. 

recruitment campaign

1989

President George Bush presents the Presidential Volunteer Service Award to Compeer. 

1991

NBC Nightly News reports on Compeer in a special feature segment. 

1992

Newsweek runs a Special Report on Compeer titled “The Power of Friendship”. 

Compeer establishes its first program in Europe, in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. 

1996

Compeer establishes its first affiliate in Oceania, in Sydney, Australia. 

1998

Bernice Skirboll presents the Compeer model at the first Conference on Mental Health held at the White House in Washington, DC. 

2001

Compeer regional representatives develop a list of best practices to serve as benchmarks for future program development.  

2003

Bernice Skirboll presents the Compeer program at the World Federation on Mental Health Conference in Melbourne, Australia. 

fishing together at the river

2005

An American Psychological Association task force highlights the Compeer Model as a best practices model for recovery for people with serious mental illness. 

2006

Compeer: Recovery Through the Healing Power of Friends  by Bernice Skirboll is published, showcasing the impact of Compeer affiliates worldwide. 

2007

Compeer Sydney receives the National Australia Bank Volunteer Award, a national recognition for best practices in volunteering. 

2008

Boston University publishes the results of a 7-year research study on the efficacy of adult Compeer relationships finding that participants receive numerous  benefits and that there are minimal drawbacks to the program. 

Compeer youth programs in Kansas are named Gold Star programs by Kansas Mentors. This award is given to mentoring partners who maintain standards that ensure a high-quality mentoring experience. 

2010

Compeer begins pilot CompeerCORPS program to serve vets living with mental illness. 

2012

Compeer for Seniors, an older adult service of Compeer Greater Buffalo, wins the 2012 Eli Lilly Reintegration Award for Social Support.

2013

The Award-winning Compeer Model is included in the SAMHSA  

National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices (NREPP). 

2016

Compeer International and Compeer Buffalo merge. Buffalo, NY is now the headquarters of Compeer International.

2018

Compeer International establishes its first affiliate in England through a partnership with Jewish Alliance on Mental Illness. 

2019

Compeer International is awarded a $1.8M grant from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, supporting 12 affiliates. 

2020

Compeer International awarded a $500,000 grant from AMERICORPS VISTA, supporting 12 locations. 

Compeer International launched a new logo and brand guidelines.

2021

Compeer International is awarded a $1.2M grant from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, supporting 10 affiliates. 

2023

Celebrating Compeer’s 50th anniversary!
compeer 50th anniversary logo
Copyright © 2023

Compeer’s Purpose: Promoting good mental health through meaningful friendships.

 

Values:  Respect • Trust • Hope • Support • Empowerment

 

Compeer recruits, screens, and matches trained volunteers and mentors in one-to-one supportive friendship relationships with children, adults, military veterans and seniors who are striving for good mental health.

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