Compass Program

Practice Philosophy 

Compass services are intended to be short-term, intensive, clinically focused and home based. The focus is to address the immediate challenges and risks. Compass providers will ensure youth have access to safe, stable, and appropriate living environments, youth will avoid coming into custody or out of home care and improve family functioning by actively addressing risk factors and barriers.

Supports and Services

Emergency Crisis Response:

• 24/7 crisis response system
• Staff provide crisis intervention and/or coordination services needed by the youth and family.
• Create and implement individualized crisis plan

Assessment and Case Planning:

• Screening and assessment for diagnosis and risk level using evidence-based practices and tools.
• Create and implement individualized treatment plan

Case Management:

• Care coordination with school, mental health providers, family, justice system and more
• Assistance accessing additional community supports, connections, and resources
• Make referrals to other service providers as needed

Family Preservation Services:

• Education on normal adolescent development and behavior
• Work with youth and family to identify and mitigate root causes for potential disruption, mediation, conflict resolution skill building, identifying resources needed to keep family together, and individual and family counseling with the intended outcome of elimination the need for youth to enter state custody
• Facilitate parenting support and/or family meetings
• Support to strengthen attunement and regulation skills
• Support to strengthen conflict resolution and verbal de-escalation skills

Access to Health Care:

• Support and assistance in the coordination of activities necessary to obtain access to health care services.
• Assisting with enrolling/re-enrolling in Medicaid

Eligibility Criteria

Services are primarily provided to youth (and their families, including foster and adoptive) who are at risk of removal/disruption from their homes or for youth who are returning home following out-of-home care.

Youth ages 12-23 (inclusive) who are involved with or at risk of involvement with DCF in the following situations are eligible for services:

• Justice Involved Youth
• Runaway Youth
• Homeless Youth
• Pregnant and Parenting Youth
• At Risk Youth

Contacts