Kristen Frame serves as Mental Health America of Licking County’s (MHALC) Compeer Coordinator. Compeer is a social integration and wellness program, which matches people who are experiencing mental illness with volunteers who are there as a friend, companion and confidante. Friendship is an important and supportive component in helping someone through mental illness.

Ms. Frame was honored as a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) 100 Pioneers for Smoking Cessation project in 2009 and as one of 25 Pioneers in 2010.

Kristen graduated from Denison University and has spent most of her career working with not-for profit organizations in Ohio, Massachusetts and Washington, DC.

Kristen is a certified Peer Support Specialist, and a certified Mental Health Recovery Educator.  She serves on the editorial board of the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) and was recently named a State Health Promotion Policy Expert and a participant in the SAMHSA Leadership Academy to Address Disparities in Health Care.

She serves on the Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission Consumer Advisory Board, where she received the Gold Presidential Volunteer Service Award. She is also a board member of Ohio Empowerment Coalition, (the Ohio state consumer advocacy organization); and Tobacco Free Ohio Alliance.

She is a member of many professional and social justice organizations, including: National Association of Peer Specialists; National Mental Health America; Ohio Center for Advocacy Training and Support (OCATS); Of 1 Mind; Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA); American Association of People with Disabilities; International Network of Women with Disabilities; SOPHE; Suicide Prevention Coalition; Licking County Wellness Coalition; Licking County Tobacco Alliance; National Coalition for LGBT Health, BRAVO, Stonewall Columbus; Equality Ohio, Human Right Coalition, National Youth Advocacy Coalition and other state-wide and national tobacco control organizations.