Stories and Quotes
"My Caseworker is the Bomb!"
(16-year-old student client of our Intensive Support Program)
"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 provide like you."
(LICSW school social worker in reference to our Comprehensive Support and Stabilization Program)
"... thank you for the COMPASS Afterschool Program... my children have benefited greatly. This program has taught them more self-discipline and improved their studying and learning to respect authority as well as their peers. But most importantly their grades have improved substantially..."
(parent of an After School Action Program student)
"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)
"My family has been involved with COMPASS for a few months now. Since we've been involved this program has taught us how to effectively communicate with respect for each other, [to] understand that everyone has boundaries, [that] planning things out makes a much happier household, [and] bridging the gap between the school and the children leads to a successful outcome. It is my plan to stay with them for as long as we can."
(from a quote about us on Guidestar)
"Margy's confidence, hard work, and faith in this family have surely translated to Brooke and her mother. Faith in people's ability to make change for themselves is an extremely powerful force... "
(DCF worker about family referred to our Comprehensive Support and Stabilization Program)
"Your staff went above and beyond the call of duty. [Family Specialists] Joanne and Emily helped my daughter and I make many positive changes to improve our lives and our family's well being."
(parent served by the Comprehensive Support and Stabilization Program)
"When my son... was having emotional difficulties in his early school years, COMPASS and its faculty were the only ones to really care about a child's education. They were devoted to giving these children an education by helping them overcome their problems. They are caring and loving people whom really came across to me as being there to truly help and not just for a paycheck. Thanks to COMPASS, my son has gone to college and become an outstanding young man. They even influenced him to follow a career path in helping other youths that may be headed down the wrong roads of life. They are amazing!"
(parent review of the COMPASS School on GreatSchools.org)
"They care so much they saw past what I saw. They saw my potential even when I didn't. They're good at helping kids build a strong
foundation for themselves."
(former student at the COMPASS School)
"Dear Eric, I wanted to thank you for Thursday; the boys really enjoyed themselves. It was sort of a hard week for them... thanks for making a big deal of Scott's report card; he really needed that approval, as well as the recognition that he did a good job. I hadn't seen him smile as much as I did on Thursday, he loved all of the attention... I am attaching photos of both boys so you can remember two boys' lives you made a difference in...
"
(parent of children served by the Comprehensive Support and Stabilization Program)
"Thank You, thank you, very, very much. I hope some one can bless you as you blessed me. No one in my life has ever helped me like you have. You've given me and my daughter a chance to get ahead in life."
(family served by the Comprehensive Support and Stabilization Program)
"ISP = hope. This program allows our students to succeed by understanding [their] needs. ISP develops a trusting relationship which then grows into a mentoring relationship. I love this program."
(Assistant Headmaster at English High School, in reference to our Intensive Support Program)
"I feel the degree of help, concern, and personal attention I received was truly extraordinary and so very helpful... I will always appreciate the excellent guidance I received in not only recognizing my grandson's problems, but how best to deal with them and the resources I could call upon."
(grandmother of child served by the Comprehensive Support and Stabilization Program)
Ascer
Ascer was at the COMPASS School in October, 1995 when he learned of his brother's death, the result of a violent encounter in Mattapan. This incident and the
circumstances under which Ascer learned of his brothers death, reading of it in The Boston Herald, put all our theories about violence
prevention to the test.
At COMPASS he focused on...
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"ISP is the flower of the future."
(15-year-old student client of our Intensive Support Program)
Pedro
Both Pedro and his older brother graduated with us, and his family has
been very active with the school by cooking for various events, reaching out to
parents and attending all of our functions. Pedro graduated in June 2009.
In June 2007 Pedro was awarded a scholarship to travel to England as part of a youth ambassador group called "People...
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Adilson
Adilson Gomes Centeio came to us in May, 2003, as a troubled young man who spoke only Cape Verdean Creole and a little Portuguese.
Due to misunderstood behaviors and a misdiagnosed illness, he spent nearly two years in a hospital for mentally ill patients. Adilson left the hospital
in the care of the Department of Mental Health (DMH),...
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Juan
Juan attended the COMPASS school and graduated in June 2009, where he impressed with his engaging, warm personality.
In his senior year, Juan showed an uncommon enthusiasm for Culinary Arts, and it was in the kitchen that Juan proved to himself and others that his dream
to have a career in the food industry was a dream no more. Juan expects...
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Adam
Adam exemplifies a person's ability to overcome challenges and has thrived in his growth as a student at COMPASS. As one of our few STEP 5 students (the highest honor at COMPASS), Adam has become a student leader, mastered the Culinary Arts Classroom, and participated in a job placement, as well as being an active member within his...
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"ISP has good therapy."
(17-year-old student client of our Intensive Support Program)
"ISP is awesome. They have been instrumental in improving the achievement of my students. ISP offers support for my students that extends beyond the school day. They are a bright spot in my students' days."
(Special Education teacher at English High School, in reference to our Intensive Support 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...
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"I am writing this letter to commend the Intensive Support Program staff. Several of my patients are followed at ISP and I feel the program has had a positive impact on each of them. My patients have developed strong relationships with the staff and as a result are doing much better in the school environment. At the Teen Health Center we are committed to ensuring that our patients stay healthy both physically and mentally. We are only able to accomplish this because of strong partnerships with programs like ISP. ISP has been partnering with the Teen Health Center since first coming to English High. For me personally, it has been an honor and a privilege to have worked with ISP over the last year and a half. Thank you all for your continued commitment to our teens."
(Program Manager Teen Health Center in reference to our Intensive Support Program)
"I liked reading and history most. 'The Outsiders' was one of my favorite books. I also liked going to Washington DC and Gettysburg. We went to Holocaust Museum, the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington. I got to see part of history."
(student at the COMPASS School)
"ISP kept me from losing my hair, and kept one of my students from being suspended every day!"
(Special Education teacher at English High School, in reference to our Intensive Support Program)
"I found it easy to get used to things here. I just kept doing what I had to do. You just have to do your best and make it work."
(student at the COMPASS School)
"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)
"ISP was like family when my family wasn't there for me. I trusted my Caseworker: she was the only one I trusted, and I talked to her and took her advice, even when it didn't look like I was listening."
(Former Intensive Support Program Student, now 20 years old)
"... I have attended the parents meetings (from) which I have learned a great deal about the program. Programs like COMPASS mean higher quality students which will become successful adults; COMPASS means inner city children will have a greater chance to learn and have a choice in getting a good education... "
(parent of an After School Action Program student)
"Over the years I have collaborated with ISP on many occasions. They have consistently played a major part in the student support team and in helping students achieve their goals. For many of their participants they are much more than an in-school support system; they are a family. I always look forward to visiting their space and observing the good work they do. Thanks ISP for all you do!!"
(LICSW Teen Parent Social Worker, in reference to our Intensive Support Program)
"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)
"My best experience since I came to COMPASS... was in the kitchen, working for the COMPASS Café. I learned a lot about all the steps to prepare and serve food and I got paid for it. We had to take turns at all the different positions. I liked to cook but I didn't like being a waiter. Chris helped a lot. He knew how to explain things, from how to chop vegetables to where the ingredients came from and how to measure things. There was a whole system..."
(student at the COMPASS School)
Anastashia ('Staya')
Anastasia has been a longtime COMPASS student.
Like most of our students Staya comes from a troubled background. But now upon graduation she looks forward to a bright future, thanks
to her own hard work and perseverance and our staff's insistence that everyone can overcome their circumstances, along with
our wrap-around services philosophy.
Her recent accomplishments include being awarded the John P.Santry...
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phone: (857) 220-2333
