| Name of Organization: | Compeer Buffalo |
| Position Title: | Support Mental Wellness- Be a Friend with Compeer |
| Service Commitment Details: | 4 hours/month |
| Position Location: | community based |
| Start Date: | Thursday, Jul. 8, 2021 |
| Position Description: | We believe that mental wellness starts with friendship. Think about it. How often do you call upon your friends to get a bite to eat or a cup of coffee? Maybe you go see a movie, watch a game, take a walk, or chat on the phone to feel connected and supported. Whether celebrating or working through a stressful situation, your friend makes a meaningful difference. You can be that friend for someone experiencing a mental health challenge. In the Compeer program, our participants come to us because they are looking for social connections. Living with a mental illness, like depression or anxiety, has impacted their ability to maintain a meaningful non-familial relationship and in many cases has led to feelings of isolation and loneliness. Compeer friends are matched in a 1-to-1 friendship with a child (age 6-17), adult (age 18-59) or older adult (age 60+). A Compeer friend helps them socially, by being a positive role model, helping raise self-esteem, increasing social and communication skills, and encouraging independence. Visits with your friend are held through phone, virtual, and in person. Each match has varying circumstances and comfort level with spending time in person due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Compeer volunteers are expected to maintain a routine with their friend, communicating and visiting each week. We serve all of Erie County, a majority of our clients live in the City of Buffalo (though we do have clients who live in the suburbs). While we utilize geography as one point of consideration for matching, most of our volunteers are matched with a client who lives outside of the volunteer's zipcode. To get started, or learn more, schedule a 15-minute inquiry call with the Director of Volunteer Engagement. You may schedule here: https://calendly.com/compeerlisa/volunteer-interest. |
| Required Qualifications: | Compeer volunteers must be a minimum age of 18. Through the application and screening process you will complete a series of background checks, an interview, reference checks, and an orientation. Background checks clear of history involving violent, sexual, or fraudulent crimes; ability to meet with your friend 4 hours per month; ability to provide transportation for your friend for in person visits (proof of driver's license and auto insurance is documented during screening). |
| Preferred Qualifications: | Ideally, volunteers will commit 1-year of service to this program, though we know this is not always possible. If you are not sure you have 1-year to commit, but are interested, please give us a call and we will identify a role that would be the best fit for your circumstances. |
| How to Apply: | To get the screening process started, please complete our online application at https://compeerbuffalo.org/contribute/volunteer/ |
| Contact: | Lisa Johnson, Director of Volunteer Engagement |
| Website: | http://www.compeerbuffalo.org |
