Mission and Values

Helping People Reach Their Full Potential

As a parent, guardian or caretaker, you have a dream for your loved ones–that they lead full and successful lives. When a loved one has developmental disabilities, you might think your dream needs to change to a simple wish for the person to be healthy and safe.

At CSS, we believe that people with developmental disabilities should have the same opportunity as anyone else to maximize the potential of their lives. We work hard every day to help empower them to make their own decisions, integrate into their communities and reach their full potential.

It’s Personal for Our Family

Our company has been rooted in this philosophy since its founding in 1993. That’s because Dan Swickard is more than the president and co-founder of our company. Dan is a former special education teacher–and the brother of Donna, who had Down syndrome.

CSS is the direct result of Dan’s personal commitment to find the best living situation and support services for his sister. Dan couldn’t find a caring and professional environment he trusted for Donna. That’s when he decided to create an organization dedicated to empowering people with developmental disabilities.

Donna passed away in 2010, but her memory lives in the passion of our organization. Dan’s family, including his son, Chris, who currently serves as President, shares this devotion. This passion also drives co-founder, Randy Nipps, and is lived everyday by the entire staff of CSS.

A Higher Level of Caring

CSS trusted in communities throughout Ohio as provider of housing and support services to people with disabilities. We have a long history of empowering individuals, by working in partnership with their families or guardians to be responsive to their loved one’s specific needs.

The care we provide at a variety of fully equipped residential settings (from assisted living to skilled care), along with supported living services (in the individual’s own home), allows our residents to live life to the fullest as a part of their communities.

We’re committed to helping the people we serve strengthen their skills and increase their ability to make decisions on their own. We enable our residents and non-residents to become more self-sufficient by training for a vocation, working on behavioral issues or helping with job placement. Then, once employment is found, our staff provides transportation, as needed.

Headquartered in Newark, Ohio, CSS currently operates in 17 counties throughout the state: Allen, Clark, Champaign, Cuyahoga, Franklin, Geauga, Lake, Licking, Madison, Mahoning, Medina, Montgomery, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, Tuscarawas and Wayne Counties. We also operate two adult day programs – the James Street Center in Newark and the HOPE Center in Tuscarawas County.

Our Mission

At Consumer Support Services, Inc. we believe in providing support for all individuals with developmental and other disabilities to maximize their ability to exercise their choices and preferences. CSS is committed to helping each individual achieve as much independence as possible. The focus of CSS is to protect the individual’s rights, independence, and safety; which facilitates the increase of skills, competencies, and opportunities to make choices. These core values enable the individual to maintain and strengthen valued family and other personal relationships.

Our Commitment Drives Better Services

We hire people who are smart, passionate and curious. Our success comes from great teamwork and exceptional individual effort. CSS has a culture of continuous improvement designed to challenge our people foster their professional development and empower them to learn from one another. In order to foster this culture, we have all employees commit to our core values.

CSS Employee Code of Commitment

• Treat others with respect.
• Acknowledge that others are human beings first. Give them their due dignity.
• Equality among all. Do not play favorites or show bias when dealing with others.
• Trust others. Do not monitor every aspect and moment of the working day. Let them know that you trust them to do their jobs effectively.
• Reward exceptional performances: Acknowledge and appreciate every extra effort that others take.
• Praise in public, punish in private.
• All communication should be conveyed with respect and dignity. A loud voice will only make them tune out to the message.
• Empathize with their personal problems without getting too involved in their personal lives.
• It takes a special person to be a mentor to people they work with. Encourage others positive aspects and help them eliminate their weaker traits.
• Get suggestions and opinions from others. Ask others for better ways to go about work and newer methods to improve productivity.
• Group dynamics: Together Everyone Achieves More
• It’s a diverse world: Respect the cultural and social differences of others.
• Disseminate Information; Keep the Team in the loop. Inform them of all decisions that will affect and be affected by their work.
• No “I” only “We”.
• Be proactive, not reactive: Take control of events and happenings. Don’t wait for things to happen before you decide your course of action.
• Admit your mistakes: It’s hard to swallow pride and admit that you’re wrong to others. Doing so will not only make them admire you more, but also make it easier for them to admit their own mistakes.
• Avoid the gossip grapevine: Do not support or join in gossip about others.
• Practice what you preach: Lead by example.
• If at first you don’t succeed, try, and try again: Do not let failure get you down. Use your challenges as stepping stones to success.
• Be approachable: Let others know they can come to you with any issue and that you will give them both your time and a fair hearing.
• Forgive and forget: Do not bear personal grudges against others.