Compeer Buffalo Raises $120,000 for Mental Health Programs

BUFFALO, NY — A nonprofit that runs a mental health mentoring program for middle and high school students needs your help.

Compeer Buffalo has launched a fundraiser to keep the program going in two local school districts. As school districts face budget cuts and challenges, Compeer Buffalo is trying to raise $120,000 for this school year so the mental health mentoring program can continue.

“Our school program is for middle and high school students who are struggling with mental health issues. We work with up to five districts, that’s the size of our program, and we serve about twenty to thirty students per school that we’re in,” said Lisa Johnson, Compeer Buffalo’s chief strategy officer.

Although funding has already been secured in Lake Shore’s budget for this school year, Compeer Buffalo is currently trying to raise $120,000 to keep the program in the Maryvale and Cheektowaga Central School Districts.

Mentoring supports struggling students.

“There are great staff in the schools with their social workers, but the demand and the need is much greater than the number of staff they have,” Johnson said.

And that’s where Compeer comes in. Johnson says the students, who primarily study social work, work with middle and high school students one-on-one and in small groups to build their confidence and self-esteem.

“Help them overcome the challenges they face at that time by using an evidence-based program called the affirmative action program. That way they can build trusting relationships that will actually help save lives. We’ve had students come forward about their suicidal thoughts. They’ve talked to us about some really difficult challenges that they’re facing, and they’ve built a trusting relationship with one of our interns throughout the year,” Johnson said.

Johnson says the program also helps students improve their grades and more.

“Students have told us that they have learned to manage their anxiety. They have learned to interact even better with their peers because of the program,” Johnson said.

Compeer is also looking for volunteers to help with its community programs.