GUELPH – The name has changed but the services are still the same at Compass Community Services.
Executive director Joanne Young Evans said in an interview that the former name, Family Counselling and Support Services for Guelph-Wellington, was often confused with other organizations in the community and didn’t reflect the work the agency provides.
“Someone once told me we were a hidden gem,” said Young Evans. “That’s not something to be proud of.”
She continued, “Compass was chosen to capture the reliable, trusted direction and support the agency brings to community members.”
“The bold new logo adopts the key element of the old logo — caring, connected hands — while representing the guidance and direction Compass provides for community members.”
Like points of a compass, the agency has grouped its work into four areas:
– therapy services includes community justice and mental health services like child witness programs, violence against women, and mental health services;
– developmental services includes services for people with developmental challenges;
– workplace wellness includes employee assistance programs; and
– telephone support includes the distress line and TeleConnect.
“We are recognized as a provider of quality programs and services,” she said.
“We are one of the critical organizations that offers this kind of support.”
Young Evans said the agency has received some 20,000 calls on its distress line and through the pandemic, has offered most of its other services via phone.
Compass often partners with the local school boards, acute care and primary care providers, and other community benefit agencies.
“This re-branding will remind people of all the services we offer,” she said.
Young Evans said she expects the fourth wave of the pandemic to be the mental health crisis that living in isolation has spawned.
“Children are not in school, people have lost jobs, relationships and marriages are in trouble. This has done incredible damage to mental health.
No overnight fix
“This is going to take two or three years to get over. It’s no overnight fix,” she said.
The phone numbers will stay the same and sites in Mount Forest, Fergus, and Guelph will continue as before.
But the new website is www.compasscs.org.
The change comes into effect June 1.
