YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Compass Family and Community Services and Community Corrections Association announced they will reorganize their structures to operate under a single parent organization.
According to an announcement Tuesday, the boards of each Mahoning Valley organization have voted to combine resources to better meet the needs of their clients and communities.
“Merging under this structure means Compass and CCA continue to operate under their current names,” said Joe Caruso, CEO and president of Compass. “But we now share the strength and capacity that comes with being part of a larger organization.”
Compass was founded in 1908 and provides programs to care for people from infancy through their senior years with integrated behavioral health and social services. Founded in 1974, the CCA provides local alternative sentencing solutions for adults in the criminal justice system.
The realignment will not include relocation of the services. Both will continue to operate separate facilities without changes of programs or services offered. The announcement also states there are no plans to reduce staff or services.
“Compass and CCA have a long history of successful collaboration,” said Dave Stillwagon, CEO of CCA. “So we have experience that has demonstrated that greater alignment will lead to greater community outcomes.”
A new board will be formed composed of some members of each current board, and a new name will be created for the parent organization, which will be disclosed by Oct. 1. The organization will not be public facing as it is being created for legal, financial and management purposes.
Stillwagon will remain as the CEO of the CAA and assume the role of CEO of Compass from June 28 to Oct. 1 before becoming CEO of the parent organization once the reorganization is complete.
Caruso, who initiated the efforts that led to the decision to merge, will play an advisory role and transition to CEO of the new Mercy Health Behavioral Hospital under construction on Belmont Avenue.
“Earlier in its history, Compass provided adoption services, and my sister and I were adopted by our parents through Compass, which was previously known as Children’s and Family Services,” Caruso said. “I cannot convey how grateful I am for all that Compass has done for my life – and how much its sustainability and continued growth means to me.”
The current chairs of both boards said the move will help both organizations.
“Our services have evolved over the years to reflect changes in societal issues,” said Laura Weymer, chair of the Compass board. “Our decision to align our efforts under a single entity was driven by our careful consideration of the best interests of the Mahoning Valley.”Shannon Tirone, CCA board chair, said the decision was based on a recognition that many of the issues facing CCA clients are interconnected with those facing the community. “As our clients re-enter the community, workforce development and the availability of behavioral health services become paramount,” Tirone said.