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Comprehensive Support & Stabilization (CSS)

Helping families in crisis in real time

Currently, we contract with the 18 area offices of the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF) to provide a comprehensive service to children and families involved in the child welfare system. COMPASS Family Specialists and Clinicians work to develop, support and strengthen the skills that families need to provide a safe and supportive environment for their children.

COMPASS serves as a liaison between the families and the public school, social service, and/or juvenile justice systems – and meets with clients and their families several times a week in the home and in the community.

Comprehensive Support and Stabilization (CSS) is responsive to the individual, evolving needs of the client and family. With the diversity of our staff, CSS is able to serve families whose primary languages include English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, Cape Verdean Creole, Vietnamese, Czech, and Portuguese.

Program Information (PDF)
Worcester Program Information (PDF)

What Makes COMPASS Unique?

  • COMPASS has considerable court experience in addressing both status offenses (CRA) and criminal offenses, maintaining communication with appropriate personnel, and accompanying families on court appearances.
  • Parents are assisted in developing better parenting techniques, including: communication skills, safety planning, behavior modification plans, problem solving, and stress and time management.
  • Parents are assisted in accessing community resources and empowered to use the existing resources to their fullest potential. Given the historical, time-limited nature of our services, fostering connections to the community through securing geographically-specific services has been crucial in COMPASS’ successful discharge planning.

CSS Contacts

Margy Nicholson
Director of Community Services
Email Margy
(617) 719-1571

Louise Pacheco
Assistant Director of Community Services
Email Louise
(781) 424-1878

Takia Fields-Palmer
Clinical Director
Email Takia
(617) 388-1665


Worcester Satellite Office: 35 Harvard St. Worcester, MA 01609

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