Community Support Services, Inc.

Twenty Years at a glance

CSS celebrated its 20th anniversary this year. While it seems these years have gone by quickly, a lot has changed for many people.  In 1994, CSS provided residential and supported employment services to two adults and a two week summer day camp program to twelve children.  In 2014, CSS provided residential services to 83 individuals, day and supported employment services to 145 adults, CSLA services to 51 people, special educational services to 15 students, and a wide range of wrap around services to 78 children.  In 1994, CSS employed six full time staff; in 2014, over 400 staff are employed by CSS.  CSS rented its first home in 1994, and used space in a church basement for summer camp services.  By the end of 2014, CSS owns over 50 residences, 90 vans, and a resource center.  Over these twenty years, we have seen children grow into adulthood, watched young adults progress into middle age, and supported all to be included as valued members of their community.

There are several critical factors in the growth and success of CSS.  Growth has been managed so that the infrastructure was developed to ensure quality of services continued as the highest priority.  Leadership of CSS remained constant and closely tied to the issues important to those with developmental disabilities in Montgomery County. Funding was secured for each person to ensure resources were adequate to meet his/her needs, and private fund raising was utilized for important “extras” to enhance quality of life.     

Since its inception, specific needs of individuals and their families have been identified and met by CSS. CSS developed and implemented models of services which were highly individualized and enabled children and adults with unique or complex needs to be supported in the community.  Individuals succeeded in moving from restrictive institutional settings to community homes with one housemate, found productive work or activities, participated in recreational and social activities with peers, and were included as fully as possible  in community life.  CSS developed new services or expanded existing models of service based on each person’s request for services and his or her individual needs.

CSS has focused on developing and maintaining partnerships with advocates, family members, government agencies, private foundations, professionals with specific expertise in the field, and generic community resources. As the community based service delivery system was being developed, institutions closing, and out of state placements eliminated, CSS offered viable service models for people with intensive needs. CSS developed relationships with the Developmental Disabilities Administration, Montgomery County Public Schools, the Systems Reform Initiative, child welfare, Montgomery County Department of Aging and Disability Services, Department of Housing, private foundations such as the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, other private nonprofit organizations, and local businesses and companies willing to employ individuals. CSS has recruited professionals in the fields of psychology, psychiatry, counseling, music therapy, art therapy, and speech/language therapy to provide expert consultation and direct services.  These partners have assisted CSS in identifying needs and resources in the community, and CSS has effectively met the need.

CSS has prioritized the hiring of qualified support staff and compensating them fairly. In its first year, CSS employed less than 25 staff. Positions for direct support were designed to attract highly trained and motivated people, assigned job duties with additional responsibility, and compensated at a higher rate than was typical in the field. In FY 14, CSS employed over 400 people, and direct support positions continue to include additional responsibilities and higher compensation than the standard DSP in Montgomery County. The high quality and longevity of CSS direct support professionals enables CSS to serve individuals with more complex needs, complex plans of support, and highly individualized packages of service. 

CSS developed the administrative flexibility to work with a wide range of governmental agencies, funding sources, and regulatory requirements in order to meet a specific person’s needs. CSS is largely dependent on government funding. In the beginning, CSS received funding from the Developmental Disabilities Administration, Montgomery County, and private pay.  Over the past twenty years, CSS developed the capacity, licenses, certifications, or met other requirements to receive funding from virtually all available sources for individuals with developmental disabilities.  CSS is currently funded by the Developmental Disabilities Administration, Maryland State Dept. of Education, Montgomery County Public Schools, Autism Waiver, respite services, Dept. of Aging and Disability services, private foundations, and private pay. CSS has been willing to begin a new service with one person, learn the system, and expand the service as others are identified with similar needs. Successful models have expanded, modifications have been made as rules change over time, and new sources identified when specific funding programs ended. The range of program requirements, billing procedures, and regulations associated with the variety of services operated by CSS has created challenges for payroll and billing, but has also created a balance across the organization.

CSS has a robust quality assurance plan.  We monitored quality regularly through objective measures that can be compared from year to year.  A measure of consumer satisfaction has remained consistent over the years.  Additionally, measures of program quality remain high and consistent regardless of service type or growth.  By monitoring and publishing results monthly, corrections are made quickly to handle growing pains, develop more infrastructure as required to support growth, and to re-examine services that require restructuring or additional supervision.  By continuing models with positive outcomes, building on success, trying new ideas and being open to change, CSS has made the individual adjustments as well as the agency wide modifications necessary to go the distance. 

As CSS begins its next twenty years, we know that new challenges will arise, new individuals will request that their needs be met, and new employees will be hired to meet the need. It will continue to be important that we remain open to innovations, find workarounds for changes that negatively impact our mission, and identify resources in our community with which to continue our work. The role of family members and advocates will continue to be critical in order to preserve the positive gains made thus far in the community movement, and to further the mission with determined and unified action.    

CSS faces 2015 knowing it has a vital role in the lives of Montgomery County people with significant developmental disabilities. A key goal moving forward continues to be the development and preservation of a strong support system, which enables each individual to participate fully in community life. The challenges for the future will evolve and shape our responses; however, new obstacles will not deter our progress or direction. 

CSS has the commitment, determination and expertise to face challenges head-on. United by a determination to build a more inclusive community, while supporting the self-directed life goals of each individual, CSS is prepared for the next twenty years, and beyond. 

Sincerely,