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© 2020 - Catholic Charities USA - Charities at Work
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This podcast provides content about the programs and mission of the Catholic Charities ministry in the United States. Content can be used for educational purposes and enrichment of Catholic Charities staff and volunteers.
27 Episodes
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The five-year (2022–2024) CCUSA Healthy Housing Initiative coordinates permanent housing placement, case management and social services of Catholic Charities agencies with primary care and behavioral health services of Catholic health systems to reduce chronic homelessness. Since 1941, Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada (CCSN) has been a source of community support for the region’s most vulnerable community members. CCSN provides food, shelter and comprehensive services, recognizing that each person is created in the image and likeness of God and that God’s compassion transforms lives.CCSN operates 16 programs, providing support to more than 4,500 people daily. It runs the largest Meals on Wheels program and emergency shelter services in Southern Nevada. Programs include a homeless shelter, food pantry, immigration services and more. The Healthy Housing Initiative has been a solid fit for CCSN, complementing its services and collaborative approach to meeting the needs of those most vulnerable in Southern Nevada.
The CCUSA Healthy Housing Initiative coordinates permanent housing placement, case management and social services of Catholic Charities with primary care and behavioral health of Catholic Health to reduce chronic homelessness. Catholic Charities of Eastern Washington (CCEW) operates affordable housing communities to ensure that every person has a supportive, inclusive, and sustainable home where they will thrive and live to their highest potential. CCEW affirms the right to housing and dignity of all people through developing and managing affordable, supportive housing communities and work to create sustainable communities through excellence in development, operations, and community partnerships.
CCUSA’s Healthy Housing Initiative (HHI) pilot program seeks to help people experiencing homelessness acquire stable housing, food security and behavioral health services while in transition. Providence’s Mission to care for the poor and vulnerable in communities it serves dates back more than 160 years. Today, among other programs, Providence offers wraparound health services to support individuals in recovery who are taking part in Catholic Charities HHI, an excellent example of partnering with local supportive ministries to serve people in need without duplicating scarce resources. The importance of listening to and incorporating the wisdom of communities served when working to improve social determinants of health was stressed.
CCUSA’s Healthy Housing Initiative pilot program seeks to help people experiencing homelessness acquire stable housing, food security and behavioral health services while in transition. The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) is the only federal agency with the sole mission of preventing and ending homelessness. Made up of 19 federal agencies, USICH works across federal, state and local governments, as well as the private sector, to help communities create partnerships, use resources in the most efficient and effective ways, and employ evidence-based best practices to solve chronic homelessness.
Vice President of Affordable Housing Curtis Johnson speaks with Sr. Mary Haddad, the President & CEO of the Catholic Health Association about Affordable Housing.
Di Novella discusses how her faith, family experience, and education inspired her to serve others, especially families and youth. She is passionate about the work of social justice, which she sees as integrally connected to faith in Jesus. She often says that Jesus was the first social worker. Fundamentally, the work is about supporting people so they can live according to their God-given dignity. It might mean offering financial education or even providing a tattoo removal service so former gang members can change their lifestyle. Di Novella looks forward to leading Catholic Charities and continuing the ministries of service, advocacy and convening. To read more about Catholic Charities Diocese of Monterey, click here.
Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Washington provided workforce development and job training programs throughout the pandemic, providing on-line courses in many cases, so that clients could continue to work toward full-time employment and self-sufficiency despite the challenges of COVID-19 shut downs. Maria Camila Garzon relates how she enrolled in and completed the banking program, which helped her find employment at a bank.
Saint Kateri Tekakwitha is the first Native American to be declared a saint by the Catholic Church. She was born in 1656 and converted to Catholicism at age 19. Saint Kateri was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on October 21, 2012. She is the patron saint of the environment and ecology. Deacon Kipfstuhl explains why St. Kateri influences his work. Charities USA, the magazine of CCUSA, devoted a whole issue to care for the environment and each other, and you can read it here.
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington recognized how the pandemic made it difficult for people to overcome socioeconomic barriers, especially for people of color and non-English speaking individuals. Catholic Charities responded by adapting its network of educational and training programs to the challenges created by the pandemic. Training and ESOL classes were offered online. Catholic Charities also collaborated with companies like Baker DC and Bank of America. The online classes have been so successful that they will continue to be part of Catholic Charities' programs. Catholic Charities also looks forward to working with other companies and organizations that want to help people find meaningful employment.
Sister Luann Brown talks about her experience supporting asylum seekers. Some of her activities included sorting clothes, delivering meals, and helping migrants navigate the airport as they move to their final destinations. As a mental health counselor, Sister Luann was able to help a woman dealing with anxiety caused by her journey.
Catholic Charities of Omaha provides mental health services for students and their families in 21 Catholic schools. The services help people with depression, anxiety and behavioral issues, among other things. Catholic Charities also provides crisis intervention and professional development for the faculties of the schools. Joan Huss, senior director of program services at Catholic Charities of Omaha, tells the story of a young woman (anonymous) who was contemplating suicide but decided against it after receiving the support of the program. The young woman is flourishing at school and extracurricular activities.
Sarah Hendley, director of Federal Grants and Special Projects for CCUSA, talks about the value volunteers bring to the Catholic Charities ministry. She notes that there are tangible and intangible benefits: the former being the equivalent of almost $28 per hour of volunteer service and the latter being the one-on-one attention volunteers give to clients. Volunteers come from all walks of life, areas of expertise, and age groups. They might be from a local parish or part of the AmeriCorps program. What they have in common is a desire to serve their neighbors in need and contribute to the common good.
Topics include Catholic Charities recommendations for consideration to guide the 117th Congress' policy priorities, such as confronting the deep connection between racism and poverty particularly in relation to housing, lending, education and employment; climate change, economic security; religious liberty and the protection of all human life. You can read all the recommendations here. Priorities for COVID-19 relief include ensuring resources to promote family and worker stability; supporting the health care safety net; maintaining the longstanding, bipartisan support for the Hyde Amendment policy; extending the moratorium on evictions and foreclosures; and support for local governments and charities.
Sister Sharlet Ann Wagner, founding director of the Newcomer Network, discusses the first months of operation and the deeper, faith-based reasons for working with immigrants. To learn more about the Newcomer Network, click here.
One area in northern Maine served by Catholic Charities Maine is Aroostook County on the Canadian border. Like many communities across the United States experiencing shutdowns to fight the spread of the novel coronavirus, Aroostook County has many people in need of food. Distributions of food have continued but without the regular volunteers - mostly senior citizens - who are staying home. Since the U.S./Canadian border is also closed, border patrol agents in the area have stepped up to volunteer to fill the need and help their neighbors get good, nutritious food.
Jane Stenson, vice president for food and nutrition and poverty reduction strategies at Catholic Charities USA, discusses how the national office and local agencies in the Catholic Charities ministry provided food to people affected by the pandemic. Stenson talks about positive developments like creating pantries at senior centers, challenges like lack of refrigeration, and lessons learned.
The CCUSA Healthy Housing Initiative and Ascension Health partnership in Detroit, Michigan
The episode contrasts the normal response of Catholic Charities to disasters with the response during the pandemic. Topics include the role of Catholic Charities USA, the national office for the Catholic Charities ministry in the United States; communication needs; assessment; immediate response; and ongoing engagement. Resources for local agencies are also mentioned: the disaster page on the CCUSA website, the CCUSA COVID-19 resource center, and a chart entitled "What happens during a disaster." Individuals and families are encouraged to have a plan in place in case of a disaster and to contact their local agency for more information and resources. Follow us: Facebook (@catholiccharitiesusa), LinkedIn, Twitter (@CCharitiesUSA), and Instagram (@ccharitiesusa).
The Safe Streets program of Catholic Charities Baltimore is making a difference in the lives of people they serve, helping them to choose a path that rejects violence and embraces actions and thoughts that uplift the person and the community.
Kevin Creamer talks about the commitment Catholic Charities of Baltimore has made to try to make a difference in predominately African American neighborhoods that are poor and without resources by being present, listening, and being accountable to the residents. Creamer also discusses how the Catholic faith, which highlights the human dignity of every human being, undergirds the work for racial justice.
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