The Compeer Program serving Chester County promotes maximum recovery by people recovering from mental illness through matching them in one-to-one friendship relationships with caring, trained adult volunteers. Compeer's parent organization, the Mental Health Association of Southeastern PA, provides advocacy, education and direct services throughout the five-county region. It also operates Compeer in Bucks and Philadelphia counties.

Description:
Men and women, you can give the gift of your friendship all year long, while getting to know someone who will appreciate you. Compeer volunteering is all about hanging out with your friend and sharing good times together. As a one-to-one friendship volunteer you get paired up with another adult of the same gender. Your friend is engaged in ongoing recovery from mental illness, is in active treatment and lives nearby in your own community. You meet at flexible times of mutual convenience, for activities of shared interest. You both commit to seeing each other face-to-face at least four hours each month and having weekly phone or email contacts in between. All Compeer matches are based on the friend's and the volunteer's preferences.

History:
Chester County Compeer was founded in 1999 by the Mental Health Association of Southeastern PA with funding from Chester County government and private donations. Started in 1973 in Rochester NY, the International Affiliation of Compeer Programs has 100 locations in the USA, Canada and Australia. Compeer's parent organization, the Mental Health Association, has been around since 1951.

Contact person: Rob Chisholm, Compeer Director, (phone), (email)
Office fax number: (610) 429-1099

Address:

307 North Walnut Street West Chester, PA 19380-2623 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.compeerchesco.org

Directions:

The Compeer office is located at 307 North Walnut Street in West Chester, PA, two blocks north of the Post Office, on the right side. #307 is the right half of the second double house beyond East Washington Street. On street parking is easy, but we have a 4-space lot you can use if there is space.   Nearest Bus Stop: SEPTA/Gay & Walnut Streets, 5 minute walk For maps or information, please see http://www.septa.com/

Miscellaneous Information

Are court referrals welcomed?
	No