Charities at Work

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.