Wednesday, August 25, 1999
Mental health clients find pals in program
BY JENNY CALLISON
Enquirer Contributor
LEBANON — Gini Haffner and Sandy Weisenberger have a special friendship.
Matched five years ago as “Personal Pals” through a program called “Compeer,” the two have built a relationship of mutual support and respect.
|
AUCTION SET
|
Warren County Compeer is funded by the Warren County United Way and a grant from the Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati.
Increasing costs, however, have led the organization to plan its first fund-raising function.
A silent auction of work by area artists will take place 7 p.m. Oct. 2 at the Historic Court House, 300 E. Silver St. in Lebanon.
For information about the Compeer program or the auction, call 459-9551 or (800) 478-3505.
|
Compeer, or “compassionate peer,” is a program of the Mental Health Association of Greater Cincinnati. It matches community volunteers in supportive friendships with adults receiving mental health treatment.
When Ms. Haffner of Lebanon volunteered to be a Personal Pal, she was matched with Ms. Weisenberger of Franklin. The two usually get together twice a week to share activities of mutual interest, and to visit.
Monday morning, Ms. Haffner chatted with her friend in the snack bar of Lebanon's Countryside YMCA.
“We meet here once a week,” she said. “I conduct a water program for mental health clients, and Sandy participates in it.”
Said Ms. Weisenberger: “Tomorrow we're going to Der Dutchman Restaurant (in Waynesville) for breakfast. Sometimes we take other (Compeer) couples with us.”
The two enjoy shopping, crafts and walking.
“But I think our favorite thing to do is to go out to eat,” Ms. Haffner said.
Compeer coordinator Rosalyn Dadas said volunteers need no special skills.
“It's as simple as being a friend,” she said, adding that a volunteer's friendship can offset the loneliness and isolation that often accompany mental illness.
Warren County Compeer has 13 volunteers who socialize with mental health clients. Requirements are few: you must be over 18, be patient and sensitive to mentally ill people and complete a three-hour training program.
The organization runs background checks on both prospective volunteers and participating clients. Clients, referred by case workers or therapists, must be in compliance with their treatment programs.
“We are in desperate need of volunteers. Some clients have been on the waiting list for years,” Ms. Dadas said.
Tristate smoking, deaths top averages
Hate group targets Anderson
Hundreds of vets' graves overgrown
Kings Island closes second ride
Road work an obstacle to Riverfest
Votruba decries NKU's funding
Judge halts voucher program
Most Americans oppose full school vouchers
What's Your Opinion: Questions of fairness
Chief: Fire response was earlier
Ex-guard beats felony rap involving girl
GET TO IT
Jurisdiction argued in Justin hearing
Ross teens start school on sad note
Storms knock down trees, power lines
Birth control options
Contraceptive for males is still in works
Most common contraceptive methods
Buddhist monks perform for world peace
If you go: 'Mystical Music and Dance of Tibet'
McKechnie working on new show at Playhouse
'Blue's Clues' host very much alive
Agencies doing own pot testing
Bell fighting area-code change
Boone Co. citizens get a say in police study
Deputy city manager no longer 'interim'
Escapee from county jail to do more time
Forest Park paper ends run
Gravelrama ready to roll
Judge to say whether historic building may be torn down
Kenton proposal: Regulate sex-oriented businesses
Ky. GOP gains ground
Marchers protest Ohio death penalty
Mason to double size of park
Mental health clients find pals in program
Middletown mall burden, experts say
Mostly white jury chosen for Miami U. trial
Officer hurt in scrape with teen
Schools opt to build new rather than renovate old
Sewer fight shifts to site test
Six hurt in blast near Germantown
TRISTATE DIGEST
Union Twp. to pay for aerial map
Video seller pleads no contest
Video store is investigated
Warren to fight Deerfield over water, sewer plan
