Margaret Nicholson
Director
(857) 220-2333, x310
She made sure that I had the right tools to help me heal myself.
"I would like to say thank you for assigning me to my [family specialist], 'Vickie.' Words cannot express the gratitude I have for her and her services... Vickie has taught me patience, perseverance, and the ability to have hope; all of which I lacked [previously]... I would like to take the time to address the serious impact she has made in my life.
I had extreme difficulty controlling my emotions, especially with the problem that was occurring in my home. Countless therapists have visited my family... I can assure you that the (previous) Band-Aid tactics had not healed my wound... With Vickie, not only have we accomplished many of our goals... but I have become a better person in the process. Vickie worked quickly to get to know me and to help me deal with my inner conflicts. She did not put her sole focus on healing my family - she made sure that I had the right tools to help me heal myself... I have learned patience; not just with others, but with myself. I have learned perseverance... I have learned that I cannot give up hope, and to always remind myself that my past does not define me... I am thankful for the guidance and hope that I can move past my troubles with the tools that she has given me."
(excerpts from a message from a grateful CSS parent)
It is gratifying to deal with a service provider like you.
"I have had the pleasure of working with [a COMPASS family specialist who worked with a 6th grade student at a middle school site]. I have been impressed by his consistent contact with us at school with regard to his client. The relationship has become important to the student and clearly [the COMPASS caseworker] has provided a 'voice' that the student and the mother are able to listen to and understand. He provides encouragement balanced with a realistic dose of what the consequences are for the student. He has been particularly helpful in dealing with the mother who has what appears to be a... mistrust for school personnel. ...I have dealt with many services over my years in the school system. It is gratifying to deal with a service provider like you."
(LICSW school social worker in reference to our Comprehensive Support and Stabilization Program)
Thank you for being there when we needed you.
"I wanna thank you for helping me and my family. Thank you for being there when we needed you. Also helping us know that we can love and care for each other and not be afraid. And for helping me to take compliments and for being proud for my self. ... thanks a lot for everything you done. And making me laugh and making everyone else happy. I will keep your advice in my head and use it more often."
(from a mother receiving services through the Comprehensive Support and Stabilization Program)
A Note of Thanks
I worked with Leigh on a complex case and I wanted to take the opportunity to let you know the amazing work she does. I'm sure you have heard from Leigh how tough working with teens can be, and she has gone above and beyond with helping this family when they are in crisis. Leigh is great with keeping in communication with the Department and in helping come up with great safety plans during wellness meetings and family sessions. Leigh is a saint when it comes to this case! I have such high respect for her as a person and the type of work she does with families. Whenever a social worker or supervisor here in my office asks who is a strong clinician, I always recommend Leigh. I appreciate all of her hard work and enjoy working with her.
Written by South Shore area social worker
Your insight, wisdom and sense of humor have been very much appreciated.
"Dear [CSS Family Specialist] Joanne,
We can't thank you enough for all that you have done for Amber and us. Your insight, wisdom and sense of humor have been very much appreciated. Surely you have gone beyond the 'call of duty' - we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. And though the past few years have been difficult there is one silver lining – we have met people like you. And the world is a better place because you are in it. With our deepest thanks and love..."
(family served by the Comprehensive Support and Stabilization Program)
A Parent's Gratitude Letter
"I'm wiritng you to acknowledge and recognize the dedication, wisdom and earnestness of two COMPASS employees, Mundo and Steve, and to thank COMPASS for its support of our family last year. Words cannot begin to describe the tremendous gratitude I feel toward Mundo and Steve for their help working with our teenage son, A. It was a very difficult and dark period for our family.
Mundo and Steve went above and beyond in their support of us, and did so with compassion and a sense of humor. Their guidance was insightful and greatly appreciated during a time when we were trying to help and redirect A. I am not sure where he would be today if not for their efforts.
Today, A. is an honor student at R. Military Academy, a boarding high school. This a far cry from where he was one year ago: he was removed from our home at the request of his CHINS probation officer and placed in foster care due to his outbursts of anger and violence in our home.
I have always believed the adage that it 'takes a village to raise a child' for I know I am not the keeper of all wisdom. I am grateful that Mundo and Steve were a part of that village, and thank COMPASS for its Comprehensive Support and Stabilization Services and the good work it does throughout the community.
Enclosed is a donation to your organization: a tribute to the word of Mundo and Steve."
It has been a pleasure working with Brian and seeing the improvements in Lamar...
"I feel that Lamar has made good progress since being followed by Brian (COMPASS Family Specialist). Lamar is beginning to see that he must take responsibility for his actions and that he must be held accountable for his actions. It would be wonderful if Lamar could continue seeing Brian for a longer period of time. ...I feel that with more time, Lamar will be better able to make the right decisions about what is right and what is wrong with more independence. It has been a pleasure working with Brian and seeing the improvements in Lamar's ability to make better decisions in general."
(Mattapan middle school E.S.D. teacher of student served by our Comprehensive Support and Stabilization Program)
The Brighter Path
Comprehensive Support & Stabilization Case Worker Steve B. was recently honored with a commendation letter from Massachusetts Senator John Kerry. The commendation came as a result of a letter sent to Governor Deval Patrick by a grateful mother, Gale F., whose family Steve had worked with. In addition to her kind letter, Gale created and dedicated a painting to Steve, shown here along with Senator Kerry's commendation. Her letter to Governor Patrick follows:
Dear Governor Deval Patrick,
I know you are working hard on the concerns and the future of the Massachusetts residents. I know that balancing the budget has to be done. I have faith that you will keep in mind that the future is with our children.
... my request will not cost much. I would like to request 3 state employees to be recognized for their excellent professional family support over the past 18+ months. Their support has made it possible for me to keep myself together through an extremely difficult period in my life. Their jobs are rarely recognized when they are done right but often noticed when something goes wrong. My story starts with my 15 yr. old son's poor attendance at school. The F. High School and... myself had a CHINS placed on my son. He... was found to be a good kid that was headed in the wrong direction.
In the past 15 months, I have injured both shoulders and badly torn rotator cuffs while at work. I came down with a blood infection, for which I had to have therapy to stand and walk again. I have just had the 2nd operation on my shoulders. My mother expired from bladder cancer and 10 days later my sister-in-law expired from a chronic pancreas problem. I have guardianship of my 3 grandchildren, a girl 12 yrs. old and twin boys 11 yrs. old. The twins are developmentally behind with autism. Their parents are going through a divorce plus other problems. My husband has been out of work for 3+ years. Any one of these problems can be hard on a family. The following 3 employees have helped my children with counseling, school support, rides to work for my son, a 2+ months hospital stay, getting through 2 funerals and the past holidays. They have been always available to me and have been called upon throughout this time...
One of these workers, Steve B., a family clinician at COMPASS' Community Stabilization & Support Program, supported my son through school problems, rides to work, counseling, etc. He has mentored my son. He has been a much needed positive [role] model to my son. Steve has been helpful through all the previous named problems. On top of that, Steve arranged time for my granddaughter to be with a female COMPASS employee. He helped get the twins into an Autism program to help with school vacation days.
I truthfully believe if [this] person was not part of my life over the past 18+ months, my children would have paid a price for the problems around them. I have a great need to thank these people. I hope you can see it fit to honor this request for a letter of recognition to these invaluable employees. God bless you all...
Gale F.
