About Us:

Juliette Pegueros
Without Juliette, there would be no Community Homes and Services (CHAS). She was a co-founder, co-designer, a wonderful teacher, leader, and a driving force. Juliette passed away in 2002. We continue to draw inspiration from her remarkable work and we are proud to be a part of her legacy..


Chas Abate (Associate Executive Director)
Chas has been a leader and an innovator within the developmental service community for 5 decades, specializing in positive behavioral support, staff training and development, and building community. His work is known for being unique, versatile, genuine, and profound. 

Gail Abate
Gail has been connected to developmental services her entire life as a family member, a nurse, a licensed care provider, an advocate and activist, an administrator, and a valuable personal resource for many. Gail is both a visionary and a “hands on” practitioner of exceptional services. She does not simply provide care. She cares!

Rickina Williams (Associate Executive Director)
Rickina began with CH&S in 1999. Rickina not only “gets it”, she has consistently taken it to new levels.  It is her commitment, creativity, personality, and leadership that makes it all work and that makes it all real.

Carolyn Walker (Associate Executive Director)
When Juliette Pegueros and the Abates founded CH&S, among their very top priorities was to recruit Carolyn Walker. Of the many decisions that have been made along the way, this one proved to be just about the best. There is no job title that could really sum up or capture the scope of Carolyn’s impact upon the day to day operations of CH&S. She does it all. Really!  

Xavier Polk PhD.
Dr. Polk received his Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Child and Developmental Psychology from the University of Kansas, completing a pre-doctoral internship at Brown University’s Child Development Center in 1982. His areas of specialty are in applied behavior analysis, developmental disabilities, and the treatment of maladaptive behaviors.

His work as a Licensed Psychologist brought him to several State Institutions within the United States before founding his reputable, community-based consulting agency, Behavior Systems Analysis, in 1994.

Dr. Polk’s holistic treatment approach recognizes problematic behavior as a complex interplay among physical, mental, and social experiences; and emphasizes prevention, intervention, and teaching strategies that are practical and relevant.

Dr. Polk’s deep involvement and clinical presence from the beginning has been among the most important factors contributing to the success of Community Homes and Services.

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