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By Ami Albernaz
Last month, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth became host
of the state's sole chapter of Compeer International, a program
that matches trained volunteers in one-to-one relationships with
children, adolescents and adults with mental illnesses.
The launching of the UMass chapter was made possible through a
$35,000 Faith in Action grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
UMass Dartmouth applied for the grant in conjunction with southeastern
Massachusetts' faith organizations and agencies serving people with
mental illness. The program is being implemented as a one-credit
experiential learning course through the university's psychology
department, and will later be expanded throughout the university
and to the outside community.
"There's a lot of wonderful young energy on campus that could be
harnessed through this program," says Christine Frizzell, Ed.D.,
director of the UMD Counseling Center. She says that participating
in the program could greatly benefit students enrolled in a wide
array of disciplines, from pre-med or law to social work to criminal
justice. "The police are often on the front line in dealing with
community mental health issues, and most do not have nearly enough
experience," she says.
Frizzell helped establish the Compeer chapter with Sharon Sousa,
Ed.D., R.N., UMD professor of nursing and a psychologist. Both previously
worked at the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, where they
first learned about Compeer. Upon arrival at UMD, they thought the
university community, with its diverse range of ages, interests
and community links, would be an ideal site for a chapter.
Compeer volunteers each receive three hours of training before
they are assigned partners, to whom they are asked to commit four
hours monthly for one year. Compeer participants are eligible to
receive discounted passes for movies, bowling and other sports and
recreation events. Frizzell emphasizes that the program is meant
to foster friendships, not client-therapist-type relationships.
"We discourage over-involvement," she says. "That could lead to
burning out, and then to disappointing someone who's had a lot of
disappointment in their lives."
Studies of the program have shown benefits for Compeer participants,
Frizzell says. She says patients have demonstrated more independence,
more compliance with therapy and medication, and improved self-esteem
and communication skills. Studies have also indicated that the program
has helped save mental health dollars, by reducing the use of inpatient
and emergency services.
"We knew it made infinite sense, both for volunteers and patients,
to have this program," Sousa says.
She adds that one goal of starting the UMass Dartmouth chapter
is for volunteers to become better-informed voters, particularly
on issues pertaining to mental health programs, through their Compeer
partnerships. "Hopefully the program will make people aware that
mental illness can happen to anyone," Sousa says.
Compeer was founded in Rochester, NY in 1973. The National Institute
of Mental Health later designated Compeer a model program, and funded
branches throughout the United States. Today, Compeer International
comprises 100 affiliate groups in the United States, Canada and
Australia. The program has received a number of mental health and
community service awards, and has been recognized by the American
Psychological Association.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is the country's largest philanthropy
devoted to health care. The Foundation's Faith in Action grants
have provided start-up funds for interfaith volunteer programs for
more than a decade.
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