THE MAGAZINE OF CATHOLIC CHARITIES USA

FALL 2013

VOLUME 40

NUMBER 4

SOCIAL VENTURE

BOOT CAMP

ANNUAL GATHERING

HIGHLIGHTS

FLOODS

IN COLORADO

MILITARY FAMILIES & VETERANS

REACHING OUT TO

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LAST ISSUE: SUMMER 2013

Reaching Out to Military Families and Veterans

On each Memorial Day of my youth, my parents took me and my siblings to the cemetery near our home to attend a short ceremony in honor of the people who had served in our military and died defending our freedom. There was a speech, a gun salute, and a bugler who played Taps, but the part of the ceremony that impacted me most was when the war mothers spoke a few words about the sons they had lost in Korea and Vietnam. When they were nished, they gently tossed owers into the canal that cut through the cemetery. We all stood and watched as the owers oated away, a melancholy symbol of the young men whose lives had slipped away from their loved ones. At that ceremony, I rst began to understand the sacrices made in war. I understood more of the sacrices of war through my uncle. He eagerly enlisted at age 17 to ght the enemy in World War II, and luckily survived, but he came home with tuberculosis, a cigarette habit, and a moral injury that would never let his soul rest. In the melee of his prison camps liberation, he shot and killed a German guardjust a boy, and it tormented him ever after. He wore the boys dogtags for years until they became too worn away to wear. Life went badly for my uncle after the war. He married and had two boys, but his marriage failed, and his children became estranged from him. He turned to alcohol and a lonely, solitary life. If it werent for the night job he managed to keep at a railyard, he would have been homeless. He developed emphysema and cirrhosis of the liver and died at age 64. I wish my uncle had had some supportive services to help him. I wish someone had helped him overcome the guilt he felt. I wish someone had helped him turn away from drinking and reconnect with his family. The outcome of his life may have been very dierent, but as it was, he suered alone, his life a sacrice for freedom just as were the lives of the war mothers sons, just as were the losses suered by parents, spouses, and children. Sacrices will always have to be made to defend freedom, but with greater support from individuals, families, communities, and our nation as a whole, the sacrices of those who serve should not have to be so many and so great. n

Contents
Features
7 8 13 Reaching Out to Military Families and Veterans Understanding Service in the Military Perspectives from Three Catholic Charities Leaders Who Served Seven Years of Growing Hope for Homeless Veterans St. Leo Campus, Catholic Charities, Chicago 15  Female Vets Blossom in a New Life The Lotus Project for Female Veterans, Catholic Charities, Galveston-Houston 16 17 Caring for the Heart and Mind Mental Health Services for Veterans, Catholic Charities, Rockville Centre  A Friend for Children in Military Families  aithful Friends, Catholic Charities of Tennessee F

Charities USA (ISSN 0364-0760) is published by Catholic Charities USA. Address all correspondence to the Managing Editor. 2013 Catholic Charities USA, Alexandria, Virginia. Editorial and Business Office 2050 Ballenger Avenue, Suite 400 Alexandria, VA 22314 tel: 703-549-1390 fax: 703-549-4183 www.CatholicCharitiesUSA.org info@CatholicCharitiesUSA.org Publisher Rev. Larry Snyder Managing Editor Ruth Liljenquist Sr. Creative Director Sheena Lefaye Crews Contributing Writers Patricia Cole Ruth Liljenquist Editorial Committee Jean Beil Candy Hill Kristan Schlichte Jane Stenson

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18 Ready, Vet, Go! Supportive Services for Veteran Families, Catholic Charities, Camden 22  The Archdiocese of the Military Services A Welcoming Community for Catholic Service Members

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26  Building Bridges to Opportunity Catholic Charities USAs 2013 Annual Gathering 30  Getting Your Social Venture in Shape CCUSA Launches Social Venture Boot Camp at Notre Dame

Departments
5 34 36 Presidents Column Disaster Response CCUSA Update Providing Help. Creating Hope.

Catholic Charities USA is the national office for one of the nations largest social service networks. Member agencies and institutions nationwide provide vital social services to over 10 million people in need, regardless of their religious, social, or economic backgrounds. Catholic Charities USA supports and enhances the work of its members by providing networking opportunities, national advocacy, program development, training and consulting, and financial benefits. Donate Now: 1-800-919-9338

38 NewsNotes

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Ruth Liljenquist, Managing Editor

To comment on this issue, please write to Ruth Liljenquist at rliljenquist@CatholicCharitiesUSA.org.

Column
Presidents

hen I worked at Catholic Charities in St. Paul and Minneapolis, I often visited our drop-in shelters and resource centers, where many of the Twin Cities homeless people would come for shelter, a warm meal, health care, and other services. During my visits, I had the opportunity to speak with the people there and learn of their circumstances.

Many of the homeless were veterans, primarily of the Vietnam War. Because of injuries both physical and emotional, because of PTSD, depression, and substance abuse, their lives had spiraled down into chronic homelessness. It was heartbreaking to see. Their experiences in combat had so changed their lives that when they returned home from war, the life they came back to made no sense anymore. They felt disconnected from their families and had lost trust in people and the government, and the only place they felt safe was actually on the streets. Over the years, many of them had become so incapacitated by their war experiences, their mental health problems, and their substance abuse that they couldnt take advantage of the programs designed to help them. Its amazing that a war that ended 40 years ago is still impacting so many lives. One of the reasons is that at the time we didnt understand or respond very well to the trauma that many veterans experienced in the war. Since then, as a country, weve learned a lot about how we care for military families and veterans, especially those who serve on the frontlines of combat and suer from the invisible wounds of war. Today we have a greater awareness of what these brave men and women need to better adapt when they return from their deployments.

Many of the homeless were veterans, primarily of the Vietnam War. Because of injuries both physical and emotional, because of PTSD, depression, and substance abuse, their lives had spiraled down into chronic homelessness.
The military and the Department of Veterans Aairs have made great eorts to serve military families and veterans appropriately and eectively. Not only do they oer numerous programs and resources, but they also rely on organizations like Catholic Charities to provide vital community-based services, to military members and their families who have suered the stresses of multiple deployments in our countrys military engagements in the Middle East. As a network, we are grateful to be a part of our nations efforts to support military families and veterans. We are grateful that through our housing, employment assistance, emergency support, mental and behavioral health care, and other services, we can share in the responsibility of our entire nation to support those who have served our country in the military. n

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very Catholic Charities agency reaches out to people in need in its community. Among them are military families and veterans. Sometimes they are identified as such, other times not, but either way, we offer the same services that sustain and support every person or family in need, such as shelter, emergency financial assistance, basic needs assistance, benefits screening, case management, mental health services, and referrals to employment, housing, or educational programs. As a network, we also provide services specifically for veterans, most often transitional and permanent supportive housing and the services associated with these programs, such as case management, mental health care, substance abuse treatment, and employment assistance. We also have agencies working with military families to ease their transition to civilian life. Increasingly, we are reaching out to active duty military families. Historically, the Department of Defense has been the primary service provider for service members and their families. However, the high numbers of active duty military members, the increase in frequency and duration of deployments, base closures, and overall military reorganization have had a profound impact on the level and amount of services needed. Fundamental human services for military families are being increasingly offered by civilian providers and through contracts and consultation with the Department of Defense. Our nations long wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have taken a heavy toll on millions of service members and their families. As our network has grown more aware of this toll, we are working to strengthen our existing services to all military families and looking for new opportunities to support all those who have served, some of whom may have ongoing needs for years to come.

REACHING OUT TO

MILITARY FAMILIES & VETERANS

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Irene Ward

Patrick Raglow

Joe Buranosky

UNDERSTANDING SERVICE IN THE MILITARY

PERSPECTIVES FROM THREE CATHOLIC CHARITIES LEADERS WHO SERVED
The Catholic Charities network not only provides services to veterans, but does so with the gifts, skills, and experience of former members of the military, such as Irene Ward, executive vice president for Catholic Community Services of Western Washington; Patrick Raglow, executive director of Catholic Charities of Oklahoma City; and Joe Buranosky, executive director of Catholic Charities of Central Florida. They recently shared with Charities USA their perspectives on serving in the military, the needs of veterans, and how our network can be more responsive to military families and veterans.

rene Ward, Patrick Raglow, and Joe Buranosky had different experiences in the military, but each of them gained something that shaped their work as leaders of Catholic Charities agencies.

Irene enlisted in the Air Force and served for four years, rising to the rank of buck sergeant of communications. In her last year, she was stationed in Germany and at one point put in charge of the communications center for the base during a NATO exercise. There, she realized she could be a leader. The Air Force gave me experience and training, and said I could do it, and I did it. Patrick also served in the Air Force. During his 22 years, he observed how the Air Forces core valuesIntegrity First. Service before Self. Excellence in All We Do.fit in with his values as a Christian and a Catholic. He cherished the opportunity to experience the universality of the church, attending Mass around the world.

Joe served for four years in the Navy and then another 26 years in the Marine Corps, spending most of his career in logistics, but also serving as an instructor, trainer, and squadron commander. He valued the brotherhood and belonging he felt and was inspired by the corps sense of honor and courage and the commitment to a cause greater than yourself. With over 50 years of collective experience in the military, these three leaders explained some things Catholic Charities agencies should understand about serving in the military to better help them serve military families and veterans.  There is no one single military experience. Not all veterans were warriors, said Patrick. You have to look at

veterans as individuals who served in the military and had distinct experiences. Ones experience can vary, depending on his or her service, branch, and specialization, the time period served, the war(s) served in, and other factors. Further, the concept of the military as a whole is misleading. There really is no military, said Patrick. There are five servicesthe Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the Marine Corps, and the Coast Guardand each has a distinct mission and culture.  Serving in the military often makes people feel separated from civilian society and even from their families. There is a degree of separation for anyone who has

served, which makes reintegration a challenge. The military makes you over, gives you a new identity and experiences that are difficult to translate to the civilian world, said Patrick. In addition, Joe added, people in the military spend a lot of time away from home and because of that there is a greater potential for problems in relationships with spouses, family members, or significant others. There is a lot of separation, even when the person is not deployed. Troops are put in situations that demand a lot emotionally, and that creates distance and lost connections with family. The common experience of the military is separation.

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Reintegration challenges are often the result of inadequate translation and life skills. When veterans return home and look for work, they often have a hard time describing what they did in the military and articulating how it is applicable to the job at hand. Its not just because of their specialized work in the military, but also because of the unique structure of each service and the specialized language used.

HOW CATHOLIC CHARITIES AGENCIES CAN BETTER SERVE VETERANS

VA have come a long way in addressing mental health issues, but there is still much progress to be made. Civilians often think that the military has been good at taking care of people. I didnt feel that, said Irene. Back in the 1970s, we didnt have good mental health services. They werent recognized as important. The results of that mistaken view are evident today in the veterans programs run by Catholic Community Services of Western Washington. We are serving people from wars along the continuum whose mental health issues were left untreated. Today things are better. There are more resources available, an awful lot of training, and we talk a lot about suicide prevention and buddy care, said Patrick. But cultures take a long time to change. The leadership of the military is doing a lot about mental health, and people feel they can access mental health services, but the practical application is not so good. Its slow to take hold and has to be reinforced continually. n

Further, It can be harder to feel welcome in broader society because of the things youve seen and done, said Joe. Ive heard stories from older vets who witnessed a lot of inhumanity and experienced the horrendous brutality of war. Their experiences had so changed them that they felt a sense of loss and isolation from the community. T  he strong service and readiness culture in the military can make it hard for people to ask for help when they need it. Theyve learned to be self-reliant, to be ready to help and serve others, so its hard to ask for help because they feel they should be the ones helping, said Irene. In addition, when it comes to mental health, they may be reluctant to ask for mental health services because of how it might affect their careers. Troops are encouraged to tough it out, added Joe. Emotional issues or problems at home are swept under the rug. The military in many ways has not always done well in addressing mental health issues.

R  eintegration challenges are often the result of inadequate translation and life skills. When veterans return home and look for work, they often have a hard time describing what they did in the military and articulating how it is applicable to the job at hand. Its not just because of their specialized work in the military, but also because of the unique structure of each service and the specialized language used. Each of the services is quite tribal, with ways of doing things that are obscure to the casual observer, said Patrick. Veterans often need a translator to make what they did understandable to the civilian world; when they cant translate, it compounds their difficulty in reintegrating. In addition, very young veterans who went right from their parents homes into the military havent had the experience of taking care of themselves. If theyve spent a lot of time in the field, theyve been taken care of by the military, said Joe. When they get home, they lose structure, lose comrades, and some of them

dont really know what to do. And if theyve had trauma or seen combat, they may have mental health issues, which can lead to chemical dependence and homelessness. It doesnt help that recent veterans have come home to a weak economy, where many of the jobs available do not pay well and seem trivial compared to the jobs veterans have been doing in the military. That being said, the military could do a better job in the discharge process of connecting veterans to services, said Irene. The militarys focus is on people being battle ready, not so much on what happens after people are discharged, so there is a big chasm between outplacement services received by a person exiting the military and what they might actually need. The military should give out more information about the VAs services and other community-based services to people at discharge, rather than just assume they will be okay.  Military culture change around mental health is slow. The military and the

Based on their experience in the military and in working with veterans, Joe, Patrick, and Irene have some good suggestions to help Catholic Charities agencies better serve veterans:
L  earn what they did in the service. What they did really impacts what they do afterwards, said Joe. Find out what skills they have and find a way to translate those skills for civilian employers. H  elp veterans talk about their experiences. Talking about their experiences can help veterans move past the feeling of isolation or separation from others, said Patrick. B  e understanding with chronically challenged veterans. I sometimes struggle with veterans and their demands on our systems. I want to call them back to the success they had in the military, said Patrick. But I have to remember that not everyone had the same experience I had in the military. The key is finding a way to be appropriately responsive while encouraging them to make positive steps in their lives. T  rain direct staff people on military culture and peoples general experience in the military. The military is a very unique environment, and staff members need to be attuned and sensitive to issues that arise from environment, said Irene. There are training courses available through the VA, online social work courses, and books that can educate staff about service in the military. T  ake the time to find out what resources in the community are available to veterans. There are a lot of resources for veterans, a lot of people who want to help veterans, but they often cant find them, said Patrick. Catholic Charities agencies can always provide services, but they may find greater success acting as a conduit and linking veterans to the available resources. Doing so will benefit veterans while preserving agency resources. S  eek partnerships with the VA if offering veteran programs is a good fit for your agency. There are a lot of collaborative opportunities and funding available, said Irene. For example, a number of agencies have recently been awarded VA grants to provide services to veterans through the Supportive Services for Veteran Families program. n

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SEVEN YEARS OF GROWING HOPE FOR HOMELESS VETERANS

HOW WE SERVE MILITARY FAMILIES & VETERANS

The Catholic Charities network serves military families and veterans every day in nearly every program and service it provides, and often through programs designed specifically for this population. In the fall of 2013, Catholic Charities USA conducted an online survey to assess, among other things, the networks services to military families and veterans. The responses, received from 43 agencies in 30 states or territories, indicate the following: W  hile 67 Catholic Charities agencies reported serving roughly 60,790 veterans in the 2012 Annual Survey, this is likely an underestimation, as nearly all agencies (95 percent) indicated in the recent online survey that they serve veterans and military families in their programs, though they may not specifically track veteran status of clients. M  ore than a third of all agencies (36 percent) offer programs that are specifically tailored to the needs of veterans. The most common programs provide emergency financial assistance, housing counseling, permanent housing, and utilities assistance. M  ore than a third (36 percent) of agencies report that their staff have specialized training for meeting the needs of the veteran population, including PTSD and traumatic brain injury treatment, and VA benefit screening. C  atholic Charities agencies are actively building awareness for their veteran services by collaborating with government and nonprofit partners. Nearly half collaborate directly with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Among agencies that have a military base within their diocese, nearly two-thirds are actively collaborating with the base to raise awareness for their services. n

ST. LEO CAMPUS, CATHOLIC CHARITIES, CHICAGO

he garden is the best place to see how much St. Leo Campus for Veterans, operated by Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago, has become part of the community. Shrubs and trees that were spindly in 2007 have grown full and tall, and a statue of Christ hugging a soldier evokes the spirit of love and welcome Catholic Charities and its many partners envisioned for the first project of its type in the nation. It took years of collaboration, patience, problem-solving, and fundraising to create something new on the grounds of the shuttered St. Leo Parish on Chicagos South Side. Many times it seemed the dream would remain just an idea instead of reality. But today, nearly seven years after welcoming its first formerly homeless veteran, St. Leo Campus is thriving. It consists of a 141-unit residence with affordable studio apartments, a VA clinic, a separate residence for persons with physical disabilities, and the garden. It

houses veterans from the Cold War to present day conflicts. Currently, St. Leo Residence has a 10:1 male/ female ratio; the veterans range in age from 27 to 68; and the primary issues impacting self-sufficiency are: lack of stable employment, mental illness, and substance abuse. Once the veterans begin to participate in their service plan, it usually takes around six months for veterans to show positive signs of self-sufficiency, says Dr. Eddie Taylor, PhD, program director. With the help of the VA, we have been able to connect the veterans with appropriate treatment and additional resources. One major change at St. Leo was redefining the program from being transitional housing to permanent supportive housing. In the beginning, the vision was to have veterans stay up to two years then move out on their own. Catholic Charities learned that many of the residents have conditions that prevent this.

We have learned from our St. Leo experience to always be mindful of what the veterans need today, says Eileen Higgins, vice president of housing services. We are committed to our services making a real difference in the self-sufficiency of the veterans and that the services provide a path back to the pride and dignity they experienced as members of the military. Something that hasnt changed is the care and expertise on-site social service staff use to help residents. Catholic Charities Veterans Employment Program began at St. Leo and has expanded to another location. Like the VA clinic, the Veterans Employment Program is available to any veteran on the South Side, not just St. Leo residents. Who knows what will develop in the future at St. Leos, but with its strong commitment to serve those who have served our nation, it will continue to be a beacon of hope for veterans in need of another chance. n

Temporary Shelter 17

Employment Assistance 22

VA-Funded Programs 23

Source: Catholic Charities USA 2012 Annual Survey

Transitional Housing 28

Number of Agencies Providing Veteran-Specific and/or VA-Funded Programs

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 Legal Services Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of St. Louis provides legal assistance for lower income veterans through its Veterans Advocacy Program, part of the agencys Catholic Legal Assistance Ministry, which offers representation for impoverished families who do not have the means to afford an attorney. Emergency Assistance In early 2012, with a grant from the Texas Veterans Commission, Catholic Charities in Houston established the Veterans Assistance Program to help veterans in crisis. The program provides case management, job development, housing search, education guidance, food, furniture, and rent, mortgage, utility, and transportation assistance. In its first year, the program helped 126 veterans and their families regain stability. Residential Care for Homeless Mentally Ill Veterans Catholic Charities in Scranton, PA, offers a 24-hour residential home for homeless mentally ill veterans. Funded by the VA, veterans stay for 30 to 90 days, where they regain stability, receive mental health care, and practice personal care and life skills in preparation for moving on to other housing options, including permanent supportive housing. Transitional Housing St. Patrick Center, an agency of Catholic Charities in St. Louis, offers Project HERO, which provides housing for up to two years, employment, and recovery opportunities for veterans. An intensive case management team works with veterans, linking the veterans to substance abuse and mental health services as well as job development and life skills education, services that prepare veterans to live independently. Impact Assessment For the last few years, Catholic Social Service in Guam has served on two government subcommittees to assess the impact of the U.S. Navys planned expansion on Guam to accommodate the re-location of several thousand Marines and their dependents. Each subcommittee was tasked with identifying the potential impacts of the increased military personnel and their dependents, identify existing resources, estimate the level of resources needed in the future, and identify how Guam could address the gaps. Catholic Social Service assisted in conducting a survey about human services and gathering public input on developing a strategic plan.

FEMALE VETS BLOSSOM IN A NEW LIFE

THE LOTUS PROJECT FOR FEMALE VETERANS, CATHOLIC CHARITIES, GALVESTON-HOUSTON

he lotus flower, a bloom that springs from the mud, is just the right symbol for the women in The Lotus Project, for Female Veterans, a program of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston to help homeless female veterans rebuild their lives.

The Lotus Project was established in late 2012, with funding from HUD and administered in partnership with the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA). Its one of the VAs new flagship programs to serve chronically homeless and disabled female veterans, who are often not well served by general programs for homeless vets. Women vets are often turned away from other programs because they have children. Case managers dont have places to put them, said Olivia Bush, director of The Lotus Project. Further, if women had a bad experience in the military, specifically with sexual harassment or assault, they may not be comfortable in programs with male vets. The women the program serves are often in desperate conditions. Dealing with physical

injuries or abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, or substance abuse, they are crowding in with family or staying in abusive relationships to keep a roof over their heads. They are living in their cars, in shelters, and in any place they can find. One woman and her three children were hiding in a church office at night. The Lotus Project first stabilizes women and their children by housing them in appropriately-sized apartments in good neighborhoods with good schools, with all housing and food expenses covered for the first year. Then, through counseling, life skills education, support group therapy, and substance abuse treatment, the program helps them get to a point where they can find and keep employment or attend school. Yolanda is one of the women in The Lotus Project. Her three-year service in the military left her with emotional scars that still affect her today. She was a victim of abuse by an officer, which escalated from verbal to physical, and finally sexual. When she reported

what had occurred, she was referred to the Army Psychology Ward and later honorably discharged. Though she received benefits from the VA, she turned to drugs, alcohol, and fraud to bury the trauma and handle the stresses of caring for her two sons. After a third time in prison and a newfound relationship with God, Yolanda dedicated herself to a new life, but she needed help to get there. When she learned that The Lotus Project would help her get an apartment under her own name, she cried. Since then, she has moved in and is now focusing on her education and her family. The Lotus Project is helping female veterans like Yolanda spring from the mud of their pasts and blossom in a new life. The peace of mind that the program offers allows that to happen. Having a place they can call their own is a huge burden off these womens shoulders, said Sarah Wier, case manager for The Lotus Project. It allows them to relax a little and focus on other aspects of their lives. n

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CARING FOR THE HEART AND MIND

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR VETERANS, CATHOLIC CHARITIES, ROCKVILLE CENTRE
oral injury, reintegration anxieties, post-traumatic stress disorder, survivors guilt, depressionthese are some of the mental health issues that many service members and veterans and their families deal with. Unaddressed, they lead to family and workplace problems, unemployment, substance abuse, domestic violence, homelessness, and suicide. The prevalence and seriousness of these challenges prompted Catholic Charities of Rockville Centre to strengthen its mental health services for veterans and their families. In conjunction with its two veteran housing programs, which opened in 2011, Catholic Charities started two support groups for veterans, which give veterans the opportunity to come together, talk about their experiences, and learn from each other. One support group is geared toward mental health treatment, and the other toward building a social support network. We have found that many veterans have limited support systems and few social resources. The support groups provide a place to come together, where they feel the camaraderie and

connection they experienced in the military, said Christine Lai, veteran housing program director for Catholic Charities. They often dont want to come to professionals for help, but they will listen to other vets. In addition to the support groups, the agency employs a designated counselor for veterans at each of its three out patient mental health clinics. These counselors, one of whom is a veteran, have undertaken training provided by the VA and the New York State Office of Mental Health in topics such as military culture, the invisible wounds of war, and reintegration stresses. They have learned of the different mental health issues that may affect veterans and how they might manifest. The agency has also implemented the U.S. Armys ACE Suicide Intervention Training Program which trains veterans, their family members, and people who work with veterans to recognize the risk factors and warning signs for suicide and to intervene appropriately. We use the ACE program, which stands for Ask, Care, and Escort. Its based on a buddy

system, so no one is left behind, said Christine. We use a lot of role-playing to get people comfortable with asking if a person is contemplating suicide, showing care by listening, and then escorting them to people who can help. The suicide prevention program is very connected to the local VA office, which employs a suicide prevention coordinator who can mobilize additional resources for a particular client when needed. Trainees receive a resource directory and a wallet card with a phone number to call in a crisis and instructions for intervening. With a strengthened mental health program for veterans, Catholic Charities in Rockville Centre is helping veterans and their families cope with mental health issues and even heal from them. Veterans often feel that their sacrifices were not appreciated, said Christine. We show our appreciation by caring about their overall well-being and helping them regain the things theyve lost. n

A FRIEND FOR CHILDREN IN MILITARY FAMILIES

FAITHFUL FRIENDS, CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF TENNESSEE
How does a child deal with a parent going off to war? Or coming back home again and maybe with an injury? Or not coming home at all? Through its Faithful Friends program, Catholic Charities of Tennessee meets the unique emotional health needs of children and youth in military families based at Fort Campbell, a U.S. Army installation straddling the Tennessee-Kentucky border. Faithful Friends, which is run out of a Catholic school in Clarksville, TN, was started shortly after 9/11, in response to the high number of deployments as the United States went to war in the Middle East. The program helps children manage the emotions, stresses, and family changes that come with a parents deployment and subsequent return home. The program also helps children deal with the death of a parent. Faithful Friends gives children permission to talk about what is happening, to normalize what is happening, so they know they are not alone, said Eileen Beehan, social services department director for Catholic Charities of Tennessee. Children experience their families contracting when a parent is deployed, then expanding again when the parent comes home, what has been called an accordion family. We know that family life is being disrupted so we work on building skills that help them maintain a sense of continuity in their lives, said Eileen. In addition to learning to care for themselves, the children learn how to show support for othersin this way helping their friends and taking some of the focus off themselves. Faithful Friends, with its mission to share both the sadness and the joy of having a parent in the military, also makes children cognizant of the perks they enjoy as military dependents, which they may take for granted. With such a long war and many families experiencing multiple deployments, Faithful Friends itself has been a faithful friend, providing a safe place for children as their parents serve in the military. n

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READY, VET, GO!

SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR VETERAN FAMILIES, CATHOLIC CHARITIES, CAMDEN
Ready, Vet, Go! (RVG) is the motivating moniker of Catholic Charities of Camdens Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program. In its third year, the program is flourishing, having served over 500 veterans and their families in the last two years and expecting to serve another 265 veteran families in FY 2013. The goal of the SSVF program is to prevent or resolve veteran homelessness by providing intensive case management and temporary financial assistance for rent and utility payments, security deposits, moving expenses, transportation, and other costs. This assistance helps rental tenants on the verge of eviction stay in their homes and secures housing for veterans who are already homeless. Making sure the veteran and his or her family is housed is first priority. SSVF is a housing first model, said Mark Taylor, director of veteran services for Catholic Charities in Camden, NJ, and a 12year veteran of the U.S. Army. We house them first and then work on the issues that contributed to their homelessness. With housing secure, case managers and life skills coordinators work with the veterans to resolve those issues, which may include unemployment, substance abuse, mental illness, and/or disability. They also help the veterans set goals, take advantage of VA benefits, get education or job training, find employment, start financial planning, and access other services, including the agencys other veteran services. Through donations, Catholic Charities Camden is able to offer an IDA Matched Savings program for vets, free counseling, and other assistance. In its first year, RVG helped veteran Dannie McLaughlin, who saw combat in Operation Desert Storm in the early 1990s. He left the military after five years, beset with psychological and physical injuries, which made it difficult to keep long-term work. He fell into substance abuse, and at one point, lived in a group home for individuals with substance abuse issues, but when the program ended, he was homeless, living in his car. Through RVG and with the support of his case manager, counselors, and health care providers, Dannie found a home and began dealing with his mental and physical health issues as well as his substance abuse. Today, Dannie is working towards a degree to become a pastor and is happy how his life has turned around. Each organization that gets an SSVF grant can structure the staffing to best fit their communitys needs. RVG employs four fulltime outreach workers. Everything revolves around outreach, said Mark. Our outreach workers market the program, find clients, connect with other organizations, and get donations for our other veteran services. Finding veterans who need help is not always easy. Some vets dont want help and are not looking for help, said Mark. Our outreach workers are the first line in building rapport with them and helping them understand that the program is a benefit for them that theyve earned with their service. This is us giving back for what theyve done. n

SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR VETERAN FAMILIES

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In 2011, the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) launched a nationwide grant program to prevent or end homelessness for thousands of veterans and their families. Now heading into its third year, the programSupportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF)has awarded grants totaling nearly $300 million to private non-profit organizations to provide services that prevent veteran families from becoming homeless or to rapidly rehouse those that have recently become homeless. The SSVF grant program is a major part of VAs goal to end veteran homelessness by 2015. Seventeen Catholic Charities agencies are among the more than 300 organizations across the nation which are providing SSVF programs to veterans in need. n

Join CCUSAS New Military Families & Veteran Providers Network

Catholic Charities USA recently launched a new opportunity for Catholic Charities staff who serve military families and veteransthe Military Families and Veteran Providers Network (MFVP). This network, CCUSAs newest professional interest section, will increase awareness about a population that can benefit from the support and expertise of our network. Whether you work to provide services specifically for military families and veterans or services to the general population that includes this group, you are encouraged to join our network. The Military Families and Veteran Providers Network plans to offer training on topics related to military service and provide connection to members through a list serve, information exchange, networking, and resource sharing. The network will also work with CCUSAs social policy department on advocacy efforts that will potentially lead to better outcomes for military families and veterans. The new network will be particularly useful to new Catholic Charities grantees in the VAs Supportive Services for Veteran Families program. With 17 agencies now participating in the program, the MFVP network will provide a forum for grantees to share ideas and best practices. n
For more information and to join the network, please visit www.CatholicCharitiesUSA.org or contact Fr. Ragan Schriver, CCUSA staff liaison to the new section, at rschriver@CatholicCharitiesUSA.org.

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A Partnership
to Strengthen Services for Military Families
CCUSA & THE CODE OF SUPPORT FOUNDATION
n the last few years, Catholic Charities USA has made several efforts to strengthen the networks services for military families and veterans, including outreach to the military and to organizations working to assist this population. Through this outreach, CCUSA has forged a relationship with the Code of Support Foundation (COSF), providing office space to this relatively young organization that seeks to bridge the gap between civilian and military America. The foundation, with three employees, including U.S. Major General Alan Salisbury, the organizational founder and chairman, and Kristina Kaufmann, its executive director, has been housed at CCUSAs offices since 2011. COSF works to ensure that all Americans understand and appreciate the service and sacrifice of the 1 percent who serve in uniform and are actively involved in supporting our troops, our veterans, and military families. In support of its mission, the foundation serves as an advocate for the needs of our troops and for the community of organizations that address those needs. The foundation also identifies and remedies critical situations, where military families and veterans are lacking needed support. Over the last two years, COSF has become familiar with the work of Catholic Charities and regularly refers military families and veterans in need to member agencies across the country.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SERVING MILITARY FAMILIES

While military families experience many of the same challenges common to civilian families, they also have unique stressors relating to the requirements of military service and military life.

E  ncourage coordination and partnership building among local agencies in the service area. Work with related service providers to develop partnerships that connect programs, utilize information sharing, and collaborate to meet the emerging needs of military families.  Develop and utilize training programs that promote awareness of military culture and issues to promote culturally competent services for military members and their families. C  reate an information network that provides accessible information on services available to military families. Both webbased and printed resources can be developed to address the varying needs of military families and accommodate families to access resources and referrals with an emphasis on communitybased outreach. E  nable specific program enhancements that are unique to veterans and military families including but not limited to: childcare and family support services that strengthen family and community bond; employment training and support programs that are strengths-based; and mental and behavioral health services that are consistent with clinical approaches to treating PTSD, traumatic brain injury, substance abuse, and other co-occurring disorders. n

COSF is in the process of developing a tool kit for agencies to use to engage with veterans in ways that will help them bridge the divide between military and civilian life. The foundation is also building a Warrior Family Support Network, a network of organizations, including Catholic Charities agencies, which military families and veterans can call on in times of crisis. n Please visit www.codeofsupport.org for additional information

In 2010, CCUSA administered a survey among its member agencies to identify the services available to military families, emerging and unmet needs, and service gaps. The next year, in 2011, a focus group was convened to enhance the information gathered from the network by having the direct military family perspective. These two efforts generated the following recommendations for Catholic Charities agencies:

PREPARE YOURSELF
Military-Specific Training Available for Social Workers Through the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) there are many education and training opportunities for practitioners serving active-duty service members, veterans and military families. A five-course online training moduleSocial Work with Service Members, Veterans, and their Families is now available at www.naswwebed.org. This webinar series is free for NASW members. The modules cover community resources for military service members and veterans, evidence-based treatment interventions for service members and veterans, responding to active-duty service members and veterans sexual trauma, practice with children of military families, and military culture. In addition, NASW has established standards for social work practice with service members, veterans, and their families. These standards are downloadable from the NASW webpage. Other educational opportunities (workshops, seminars, webinars) are available through other professional associations, state mental health agenices, the VA, and schools of social work. n
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THE ARCHDIOCESE OF THE MILITARY SERVICES

A WELCOMING COMMUNITY FOR CATHOLIC SERVICE MEMBERS
For nearly 100 years, the Catholic Church in the United States has provided pastoral care for Catholic military service members. Archbishop of the Military Services Timothy P . Broglio recently spoke with Charities USA about the archdiocese and its commitment to Catholics in the military.

Charities USA: The Archdiocese of the Military Services serves active military members and their families across the globe. Why was the archdiocese created and how is it different than other dioceses? Archbishop Broglio: Its important to note that pastoral care for Catholic military members began in an organized fashion in 1917 during World War I. A vicariate was formed to respond to the pastoral needs of soldiers who were coming from multiple canonical jurisdictions. Prior to that, maintaining canon-

ical records was very problematic, as was meeting the needs of a very transient population undergoing the rigors of battle. Over time, the vicariate took on more responsibility, serving Catholics in VA hospitals and then federal workers and their families overseas. Finally, in 1985, the archdiocese was established by Pope John Paul II. Our archdiocese is different in that we have no incardinated clergy. All our priests are on loan from other dioceses or orders. We have no schools, no collections, no parishes

to speak ofonly Most Holy Trinity Parish at West Point. Further, the faithful of our archdiocese is determined by who the people arepeople in the military, not where they live. We also maintain all their sacramental records at the archdiocese. Another difference is that our clergy are given their assignments by the military. They are officers in whatever branch they entered, and have undergone military and chaplaincy training. That being said, a person cannot serve as a chaplain without my signa-

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ture. The archdiocese certifies that they can indeed serve and represent the church. We are, of course, the same as other dioceses in that we provide the same services. We have a chancery, a tribunal, evangelization, religious education, and youth outreach. Charities USA: What are the challenges in meeting the pastoral needs of Catholics in the military? Archbishop Broglio: Our biggest challenge is that we are ministering to a constantly transient population. Unlike in traditional parishes, where you have key people you can rely on for a long time, we have people for at most two years, so we have to find the leaders as soon as we can. Thankfully, people who are going to get involved do so pretty quickly. Another challenge is coordinating pastoral services in a war zone. One of our constant concerns is getting chaplains where they are needed. For example, a carrier group went out recently without a Catholic priest. We

made sure one was sent. We monitor whats going on and serve as advocates to make sure Catholics in the military have access to Catholic services. Its a lot to keep track of with easily more than 200 military installations worldwide. Charities USA: Many service members suffer from moral injury, which has been defined as perpetrating, failing to prevent, bearing witness to, or learning about acts that transgress deeply held moral beliefs and expectations. This kind of injury can impact how one feels before God and his or her faith community. What counsel does the church provide to service members suffering from moral injury? Archbishop Broglio: I think our answer is very similar to what a mental health provider would saythat it is a civil power that decides to fight, not the individual person. That being said, weve learned the importance of listening, of allowing people to tell their story, to get out what is affecting them inside. And we can help them through the process of

reconciliation with God and forgiveness if they feel they need it. Charities USA: What is the message that Catholics in the military need to hear most from the church? Archbishop Broglio: The most important message is that they are welcome among us. As a community, it is important for us to welcome them when they arrive in a new area and to nurture them through a ministry of presence. The Auxiliary Bishops and I make it a point to visit every military installation each year, which emphasizes the important message that we appreciate who they are and the sacrifices they are making. n

Our biggest challenge is that we are ministering to a constantly transient population. Unlike in traditional parishes, where you have key people you can rely on for a long time, we have people for at most two years, so we have to find the leaders as soon as we can.

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Pre-Conference Institutes & Spiritual Retreat On Saturday, the day before the Annual Gathering opened, CCUSA held six day-long institutes on various topicsfood insecurity, development and communications, immigration, public policy, parish social ministry, and financeto allow in-depth instruction and discussion for participants. Also on Saturday, CCUSA hosted a spiritual retreat at Mission Dolores, the oldest original intact mission in California. Dr. Klaus Baumann, a scholar of theology and psychology and a key presenter in CCUSAs OGrady Institute in Freiburg, Germany, spoke on how to maintain a sense of mission in the face of challenges.

Opening Session In the opening session of the gathering on Sunday morning, Rev. Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA, addressed the gathering, emphasizing the need for reform and announcing that five communities would be selected in the coming months to pilot CCUSAs reform principles. He reported on the Lab for Economic Opportunity (LEO), a partnership between CCUSA and the University of Notre Dame to identify the most effective poverty reduction programs through academic research. He also reported on CCUSAs efforts in fostering social enterprise, specifically through a Social Venture Boot Camp to help agencies develop social enterprises (See page 31). Fr. Snyder commended attendees for their creativity and courage in finding bridges to opportunity for people living in poverty.

BUILDING BRIDGES OF OPPORTUNITY

For three days in mid-September, Catholic Charities professionals from across the country gathered in San Francisco for the Catholic Charities USA 2013 Annual Gathering. This gathering, the pre-eminent gathering for the Catholic Charities network, provided the opportunity for attendees to connect with colleagues, learn new ideas, and find inspiration and rejuvenation together. Our thanks go out to Catholic Charities CYO of the Archdiocese of San Francisco for their hard work and dedication in hosting this years Annual Gathering.

Keynote Speaker Melissa Paulsen Melissa Paulsen, assistant director of the Gigot Center for Entrepreneurship in the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame, spoke about the future of social enterprise and reported on the success of the first Social Venture Boot Camp held at Notre Dame in August for Catholic Charities agency staff. She encouraged agencies to develop social enterprise plans and attend the next boot camp in 2014.

Opening Liturgy The opening liturgy on Sunday afternoon was held at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, an inspiring place of worship combining ancient faith with modern architecture.
Photos: Jason Steinberg, Steinberg Imagery

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Workshops: This years workshops covered a host of topics: organizational health,

cross-sector partnerships, adult day health care, programs for veterans, social media, public policy, fundraising, strategic planning, Catholic identity, parish partnerships, service delivery, social enterprise, and many more. Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County also conducted a poverty simulation to help people understand the barriers that make it difficult for low-income families to make ends meet.

Bishop Joseph M. Sullivan Award: At the Awards Dinner on Sunday evening,

Kathleen-Dooley-Polcha received the Bishop Joseph M. Sullivan Award for her work on behalf of children throughout her long career at the Catholic Home Bureau, an affiliate agency of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York. For the last 17 years, she has directed the Maternity Services Department, which supports women with a crisis pregnancy in parenting their children or placing them for adoption. She has also been actively involved as a leader in CCUSAs Children, Youth, and Family Services section.

Keynote Speaker Patrick Lencioni: On Monday morning, Patrick Lencioni, a bestselling author and expert in fostering organizational health, gave a dynamic presentation on the importance of functional and cohesive leadership teams, which are characterized by trust, healthy conflict, commitment, accountability, and a focus on results.

Hot Topics Luncheon: At lunch on Monday, attendees picked up boxed lunches and headed to various tables to join their colleagues and discuss the tables assigned topic. The topics varied widely, capturing the important and interesting issues facing the Catholic Charities network.

Volunteer of the Year Award: Fr. George Kloster, CCUSAs 2013 National Volunteer
of the Year, was honored for his work to support the Office of Economic Opportunity in Murphy, NC, a poverty reduction program of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Charlotte. He was instrumental in getting the program started 15 years ago, and has worked tirelessly since then to advise and support the programs staff, raise money for the program, and encourage the community to participate in the programs poverty reduction efforts.

Vision Award: Catholic Charities USAs 2013 Vision Award was presented to Bishop
Michael Driscoll, Bishop of Boise. For more than a decade, he has served as the USCCBs Episcopal Liaison to Catholic Charities USA. For far longer, however, he has been actively involved in the work of Catholic Charities, especially during his ministry in the Diocese of Orange (California) and more recently in the Diocese of Boise (Idaho), where he led the effort to establish one of our networks newest agencies, Catholic Charities of Idaho.

Sojourn Theater: Sojourn Theater returned to the Annual Gathering this year, performing another creative work based on interviews with conference attendees as well as attendees of the preceding Partners in Excellence gatherings. The performance captured the voices of Catholic Charities employees, portraying the daily challenges and rewards of their work. Members of the ensemble group also conducted a workshop on the power of compelling stories in furthering the work of Catholic Charities.

Closing Gala: On Monday evening, Catholic Charities CYO hosted a closing gala at
the California Academy of Sciences, which houses a planetarium, aquarium, rain forest, and natural history museum. In this wondrous setting, conference attendees enjoyed the diverse cuisines of San Francisco, the fine wines of the regions vineyards, and the fun of lively music and dancing.
Photos (Sojourn Theater and Closing Gala): Elias Kontogiannis, Catholic Charities USA

2014 Catholic Charities USA Annual Gathering

October 4-7, 2014 Charlotte, NC
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SEE YOU IN CHARLOTTE!

GETTING YOUR SOCIAL VENTURE IN SHAPE

CCUSA LAUNCHES SOCIAL VENTURE BOOT CAMP AT NOTRE DAME
Think of the term boot camp and an intense, rigorous, and exhausting exercise regimen comes to mind. While its demanding in so many ways, its also meant to achieve dramatic results in a short amount of time. Thats just what representatives of six Catholic Charities agencies experienced in August at Catholic Charities USAs Social Venture Boot Camp, held in partnership with the Gigot Center for Entrepreneurship of the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame. The agency teams came with well-developed ideas for social ventures and worked in high gear for long hours to get their plans in shape. It turned out that boot camp was the right name for the conference, as we worked very hard for five straight days! said David Siler, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. But the work paid big dividends for us as we gained a much better understanding of how we can approach our financial services venture. The boot camp came about as a result of Catholic Charities USAs emphasis on embracing market-based strategies to overcome poverty. Social enterprise is one such strategy, which can help agencies fulfill their mission while achieving sustainability for the organization. To provide a well-rounded education on social enterprise, the boot camp tapped the entrepreneurial expertise of Notre Dame faculty and social venture owners, consultants and investors, who drilled down on topics such as business plan development, stakeholder analysis, earned income and revenue streams, legal issues, competition, customer relations, emerging funding models, and measuring for impact. The camp also featured business mentorsNotre Dame alumni and Catholic Charities directors who are running social ventures similar to those proposed by the agencies at the camp. Our mentor added invaluable insight to our evaluation process and challenged us on many aspects of our proposed program, said David. Our agency could never have afforded the consultation that we received from our mentor during the program. The boot camp concluded with each agency making a presentation about their social venture to a group of community leaders and Notre Dame faculty, who pressed them on the particulars of their plan. Although somewhat intimidating, [it] was very much like what we can expect in the real world when we present our project to potential investors, said David. Overall, the boot camp gave the agency teams the opportunity to test and develop their ideas within a sound business framework, an opportunity David recommends. I wholeheartedly endorse the social enterprise boot camp for any Catholic Charities agency that is seriously considering taking their agency in this direction.

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It turned out that boot camp was the right name for the conference, as we worked very hard for five straight days!
David Siler, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis

Better to Know Now

Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of Louisville came to the boot camp with a plan to expand their Refugee Agricultural Partnership program into a social enterprise. The program leases urban gardening plots to refugee families so they can grow food for their family and friends and/or earn supplemental income by selling the produce. Expanded into a social enterprise, the venture would offer locally-grown organic produce to local markets and restaurants. Lauren Goldberg, program coordinator for the Refugee Agricultural Partnership, was one of her agencys team members at the boot camp. From her perspective, the plan they came with was pretty advanced, but they learned that they had neglected to think about some things. We are social workers. Were not trained in business, said Lauren. We found we had to look at things with a more income generating perspective. When they did, they saw pretty quickly that their plan wouldnt generate enough income. So now the team is back at square one, and theres been a huge change in their social enterprise ideas. For Lauren, thats a good thing. It was better to know now that our plan wouldnt work than find out down the road when we were trying to do it. Now we can move on to more sustainable and viable options. n

Were Better Prepared

Elvira Ramirez and Rosie DArcy, executive director and development director, respectively, of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Stockton, CA, came out of the boot camp better prepared to launch their social enterprise. They plan to open a thrift store in their community. We felt we had a profitable and viable plan going in, but the camp helped us fine-tune it, said Rosie. They helped us look at all the details and gave us more information to review and consider. This deep evaluation of their social venture plan has given Elvira and Rosie more confidence in presenting their plan to the bishop and board of directors. Were better prepared to present our business plan, to show how it can be profitable, said Elvira. Were better prepared to answer questions about it. They are also going to take a little longer than they planned in getting the thrift store started. We were planning on opening the store as early as January, but through the camp, we realized we needed to slow down and get more of the pieces in place. n

We are social workers. Were not trained in business. We found we had to look at things with a more income generating perspective.
We felt we had a profitable and viable plan going in, but the camp helped us fine-tune it.
 Elvira Ramirez, executive director, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Stockton, CA
 Lauren Goldberg, program coordinator for the Refugee Agricultural Partnership, Catholic Charities of Louisville, KY

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RAGING WATERS
BRING DESTRUCTION TO COLORADO
By Cindy Brovsky
Following the devastating floods in Colorado this past September, Catholic Charities USA and Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Denver entered into a powerful collaboration to meet the immediate needs of disaster survivors and chart a course of recovery for the long term. CCUSA was indispensable, said Larry Smith, president and CEO of Catholic Charities in Denver. They brought a tremendous amount of experience, yet filled any role we needed with humility. They were mentors and helped guide us in the right direction. CCUSA recently granted $1.8 million to Catholic Charities of Denver for long-term recovery assistance in the wake of the disaster. Unprecedented flooding began the week of Sept. 8. The relentless rain dumped 17 inches in some areas, demolishing homes, businesses and highways across more than a dozen counties. The floods forced about 12,000 people to evacuate from mountain communities, cities and farms in northern Colorado, some fleeing with only the clothes on their backs. Eight people were killed. At the Catholic Charities USA Annual Gathering in San Francisco, days after the floods began, Kim Burgo, senior director of disaster services for CCUSA, suggested to Smith that Catholic Charities of Denver mobilize to address daily needs of flood survivorssuch as water, blankets, cleaning, and hygiene supplies, as well as gift cards to buy food and other necessities.

Burgo and Katie Oldaker, director of disaster services for CCUSA, traveled to Denver and went with Smith to northern Colorado to survey the damage. Oldaker was familiar with the area, having assisted in relief efforts after a major forest fire in July 2012. It was so inspiring to assist an agency that wanted to learn, Oldaker said. Catholic Charities was able to step up and do some amazing things, said Smith. We had four emergency distribution centers set up in northern Colorado. We handed out close to $100,000 in gift cards and more than $150,000 of in-kind support. We mobilized the northern parishes. We had 40 employees put in 1,800 hours in two weeks, just on flood relief, while we continued to do all our other ministries. And we had 100 volunteers put in more than 1,000 hours. So we got a phenomenal response. One single mother, flooded out of her home, said that getting the help from the commu-

nity and the people that are willing to come in and help us out means more than anybody will ever know. The Greeley Tribunes front-page headline on Sept. 28 was: Catholic Charities Step in to Help. The CCUSA staffs work included teaching Colorado staff about incident command systems and situation reports, Oldaker said. They also helped at flood relief distribution centers and visited affected communities. The sheer magnitude of the disaster area was difficult to handle, Oldaker recalled. I think in two days I was in the car for 13 hours. We all had days like that. It was exhausting. It showed our team how much need was out there, plus how much support Catholic Charities Denver was going to need in the months and years ahead. Staffers from Catholic Charities organizations in Camden, NJ, and Broome County,

NY, came to Colorado to help. Tonya Brown, Shelly Kaminsky, and Tammy Hodges came from New York state. From Camden, Mark Taylor and Valerie Gonzalez of Veteran Services and Rose Porcellini of the executive office came to work at the disaster relief distribution centers. After Hurricane Sandy, people all over the country, including Colorado, sent money, donations, and volunteers, and we thought it was appropriate to help Colorado in this time of need, said Kevin Hickey, executive director of Catholic Charities of Camden. As with the Hurricane Sandy recovery in New Jersey, Colorado officials know they will be working for months and years to get displaced people resettled. Catholic Charities USA has been with us all of the way and we know they will be with us in the long-term, Smith said. n

Catholic Charities Denver and Catholic Charities USA Join Forces to Respond

365

Catholic Charities USA has released a report on our networks disaster response efforts in the last year to Superstorm Sandy. The report captures the work of CCUSA and more than a dozen agencies in responding to the disaster and helping people rebuild their homes and lives. In the last year, CCUSA has more than $14 million to assist Catholic Charities agencies responding to Hurricane Sandy. Visit www.CatholicCharitiesUSA.org to read the report.

DAYS AFTER
SUPERSTORM SANDY

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Update
Bishop David Zubik Appointed as CCUSAs New Episcopal Liaison
Catholic Charities is pleased to announce that the Most Reverend David A. Zubik, DD, bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, PA, was recently appointed by Cardinal Timothy Dolan as Catholic Charities USAs new episcopal liaison. Anyone who has met Bishop Zubik knows him to be a man of great faith who will be a significant contributor to our movement, said Rev. Larry Snyder, CCUSA president. I look forward to his presence and guidance as we continue to live out Our Lords call to service and justice in communities across the country. Cardinal Dolan, acting in his role of president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, appointed Bishop Zubik to take the place of the Most Reverend Michael Driscoll, bishop of the Diocese of Boise, ID, who retired as CCUSAs episcopal liaison earlier this year.

CCUSA
New officers of the board were announced as well. The new chair of the CCUSA Board of Trustees is Sister Linda Yankoski, CEO of Holy Family Institute in Pittsburgh. Other new officers include Peg Harmon, CEO of Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona, who will serve as vice chair, and Chuck Cornelio, of Lincoln Financial Group, who was elected to the position of board treasurer. Elida El-Gawly, director of community grants and investments for Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word in Houston, TX, will serve as the new board secretary. All were currently serving on the CCUSA Board when elected to their new roles. Coeur dAlene, ID, one of 10 regional gatherings taking place across the country in 2013 and 2014. The Social Innovation Awards recognize socially-innovative programs being run by Catholic Charities agencies and come with a $5,000 grant to be reinvested in the program for its continued success. C  atholic Charities Housing Services of the Diocese of Yakima was recognized for its New Life Homes Project, which was launched in 2004. Targeting families at or below 80% of the median income for the Yakima area, the program helps first-time homebuyers achieve their dream of owning a home by offering financial assistance in exchange for sweat equity. C  atholic Charities of Spokanes Vinegar Flats Community Farm initiative provides access to healthy and affordable fresh produce from local farmers markets for those in need.

Two Washington Agencies Receive Social Innovation Awards

In early November, Catholic Charities USA presented Social Innovation Awards to two Washington state local member agencies during its Partners in Excellence Regional Gathering event held in

CCUSA Welcomes Vision and Leadership of Four New Board Members

At the Annual Gathering in September, Catholic Charities USA commissioned four leaders from the fields of law, academia, and non-profit administration to serve on its board of trustees. These men and women are bringing their expertise and skills to assist our organization in living out its mission, said Rev. Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA. But equally importantly, they bring with them a true sense of service and a passion for improving the lives of those who come to our agencies. We welcome them and give God thanks for the gifts and talents they will bring to enrich our work. The incoming board members are:
G  regory R. Kepferle, San Jose, CA. Kepferle is the CEO of Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County, where he has spearheaded bold approaches to ending poverty, such as Step Up Silicon Valley and the 1,000 Out of Poverty campaign. D  r. Isaiah Ike McKinnon, Detroit, MI. McKinnon is an associate professor at the University of Detroit Mercy and is the former chief of police for the city of Detroit. T  imothy F. Noelker, St. Louis, MO. Noelker is a partner in Thompson Coburn LLPs Business Litigation Department and a former trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice.  Heather Reynolds, Fort Worth, TX. As president and CEO of Catholic Charities Fort Worth, Reynolds has been on the forefront of socially-innovative programs such as WORN Scarves and TIN. In 2010, she received the papal Benemerenti Medal.

CCUSA to Honor Three Leaders at Keep the Dream Alive Mass

Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) is pleased to recognize three community leaders for their outstanding contributions to the cause of justice and opportunity for all with the 2014 Keep the Dream Alive awards. Marcos Legaspi Herrera, Roger Playwin, and Ron Laurent have been named recipients of the annual award, which is given to individuals who have spent their careers working on behalf of the poor and marginalized in our society. The honorees will receive their awards at the 2014 Keep the Dream Alive Mass, which will be held Saturday, January 11, 2014, in Washington, DC, at Holy Comforter-St. Cyprian Church.

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NewsNotes
Catholic Charities North Dakota Announces New Executive Director

ty and depth of caring that has already been shown by our community for children they dont even know touches me. The new Intensive Treatment Cottage will continue the tradition of St. Cloud Childrens Home. It is expected to open in June of 2014 90 years after the Catholic Charities St. Cloud Childrens Home opened its doors for the rst time. Chicago Agency Hosts Golf Outing to Benefit Children Affected by Suicide

result of the tragic loss of the Ryan familys youngest son, Patrick, to suicide in 2007. Since its inception in August 2010, the program has provided 125 children and youth with assistance in coming to terms with their painful loss through individual, family, and group counseling. Catholic Charities Worcester County Wins Fourth Award for Annual Report The International Academy of the Visual Arts announced that the 2013 Communicator Award of Distinction was presented to Catholic Charities Worcester County (MA) and its executive director, Catherine Loeer, for the agencys 2012 Annual Report, Imagine.... The Award of Distinction is given in an international advertising competition honoring the creative excellence of communications professionals. This is the fourth year that Catholic Charities Worcester County has received an award for its annual report. Monterey Catholic Charities Expands Tattoo Removal Program Catholic Charities Diocese of Monterey held an open house on Sept. 25 at its new facility in Santa Cruz, CA, to celebrate the successful collaboration with Dominican Hospital, which merged its large Tattoo Removal Program into Catholic Charities existing program. The expanded program, now run solely by Catholic Charities, serves nearly 300 people annually, removing barriers to viable employment by broadening economic and social opportunities for individuals committed to forging a dierent path for themselves.

West Tennessee Agency Celebrates Launch of Veteran Services Catholic Charities of West Tennessee (CCWTN) recently celebrated the launch of its new St. Sebastian Veteran Services program in October. Funded with a Supportive Services for Veterans Families (SSVF) grant from the U.S. Department of Veterans Aairs (VA), CCWTN anticipates helping 160 veterans and their families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness during its rst year of operation. On October 18, Rev. Larry Snyder, president of CCUSA, and Candy Hill, executive vice president of social policy and external aairs for CCUSA, joined with the Most Reverend J. Terry Steib, SVD, Bishop of Memphis, local West Tennessee ocials, and the sta of CCWTN in a launch event to kick o this new program. The work of St. Sebastian Veteran Services will focus on case management activities designed to help nd permanent, independent living for homeless veterans and their families as well as assisting those facing imminent eviction or foreclosure. This program represents a signicant new endeavor for our agency, said Michael D. Allen, president and CEO of CCWTN. Our eorts are meant to help veterans access the resources needed to remain living independently for the long term. These resources may include accessing earned benets to which they are entitled as veterans, employment counseling, personal nancial planning, and referrals both to internal CCWTN resources such as our food pantry, clothes closet,

St. Cloud Agency Breaks Ground on Expansion of Childrens Home

Brian Herding, chairman of the board of directors of Catholic Charities North Dakota, has announced the hiring of Dianne Nechiporenko as the executive director of the agency. She received a bachelors degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of North Dakota and completed advanced training in leadership/management from Gallup University. She previously held management positions at MeritCare and Pracs Institute. Dianne and her husband, Rick, have two children, Cody and Katie. She is a member of Blessed Sacrament Parish in West Fargo and volunteers in serving meals at Churches United for the Homeless. She is also president of the North Dakota Occupational Therapy Association. The 3rd Annual Patrick J. Ryan Golf Outing, chaired by Former Attorney General of Illinois, Jim Ryan, his wife, Marie, and their family, took place on August 15, 2013 at St. Andrews Golf & Country Club in West Chicago. Rev. Monsignor Michael M. Boland, president of Catholic Charities of Chicago, welcomed more than 300 guests to the event which featured a continental breakfast, 18 holes of golf, a lunch buet, dinner, a silent and live auction, and a rae and fantastic contest holes. Proceeds, which were more than $100,000 net, beneted Catholic Charities of Chicagos LOSS (Loving Outreach to Survivors of Suicide) Program for Children and Youth, delivering counseling and support services to young people who have lost a loved one to suicide. The program was started in 2010 as a

Almost 90 years ago, a dream started to take formthe dream of a place of welcome, safety, care, and hope in Central Minnesota; a place where the journey of life could begin anew. In 1924, the St. Cloud Orphanage opened its doors. Today, it is Catholic Charities St. Cloud Childrens Home and is a residential mental health treatment program for youth. The home still stands as a sign of that dream, of that belief that to welcome children is to do what Jesus asked us to when he said, Bring the children to me. While the building has served many well, todays children require a very

dierent space. In August, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Cloud, MN, broke ground on an Intensive Treatment Cottage. This additional cottage will serve young people with diagnosed mental illness who need the closest amount of supervision and care. This new cottage is the result of several years of planning, study, development, and hard work. Its a $4.6 million undertaking. A number of generous individuals have already pledged gifts to pay for it as part of Catholic Charities Saving Children, Saving Families campaign. Catholic Charities Executive Director Steve Bresnahan said, The generosi-

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and summer camp as well as external community resources such as legal assistance. Las Vegas Catholic Charities Adoption Services Benefits from Cut-a-Thon

years ago. Susan, Catholic Charities Adoption Coordinator, who placed the baby girl in their arms, was present when Mika and Helen were reunited 21 years later! Centennial Event a Success for Catholic Charities Trenton Marlene La-Collins, executive director of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton announced that the 24th Annual Guardian Angel Dinner Dance held September 21, was an extraordinary success, with more than 500 in attendance and generating $230,000 in operating funds for the agency. Our centennial celebration was a great opportunity for us to tell the story of the transforming impact Catholic Charities makes in our community for children, youth, and adults. Our mission is inspired by the Gospel, and I rmly believe we are the hands and feet of Jesus Christ reaching out to those most in need. It is through the generous support of our donors and volunteers that we are able make this dierence, said Lao-Collins. Catholic Charities Fort Worth Receives Benevon Sustainability Award Catholic Charities Fort Worth (CCFW) was proud to be among the rst nonprot organizations to be honored with the Benevon Sustainability Circle of Excellence Awards at Benevons 2013 Sustainable Funding Conference in August. CCFW accepted this inaugural award, which honors the rst exemplary nonprot organizations that have attained sustainable funding by implementing the Benevon Model successfully over time.

Benevon trains and coaches nonprofit organizations to implement a mission-based system for raising sustainable funding from individual donors. This system ends the suering about fundraising and builds passionate and committed lifelong donors. CCFW has implemented the Benevon Model for nearly 13 years, beginning in 2002. During this time, CCFW has had at least 4,000 people attend their twice-monthly Catholic Charities 101 tour, where guests can learn more about the mission and work of Catholic Charities Fort Worth. Their budget has grown from $9.5 million to $23 million and they have increased the number of individuals served annually from 45,000 to 124,000. Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas Recognized as Hunger Relief Leader Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas was named the 2013 Agency of the Year by HarvestersThe Community Food Network at its annual Circle of Hope awards. The ceremony recognized organizations and individuals leading the ght against hunger in Northeast Kansas. More than 200 philanthropists, community agencies, volunteers and corporate food donors attended the event. Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas operates ve food pantries and distributes federal commodities through the Emergency Food Assistance Program. The agency also partners with Harvesters to provide classes and information on nutrition. Further, the agency operates the Resource Bus, which takes food and other services to underserved areas, in-

cluding rural communities and urban food deserts, where hunger rates are high and access to healthy food is limited. With the help of its more than 1,000 volunteers, the agency estimates it will provide emergency services, including food, to about 45,000 dierent people in scal year 2013. Ride DVine Raises Funds for Yakimas Housing Services

seeing. The highlight of the scenic route, however, was an opportunity to see Buena Nueva, one of the rst affordable housing developments owned and managed by Yakimas Catholic Charities Housing Services All proceeds of the bike ride beneted the programs services that work to empower those in need by enhancing the quality of their lives through homeownership and aordable housing opportunities. By raising attention and funds, the organization hopes to alleviate poverty one family at a time. Diaper Drive Brings In 13,000 Diapers for Nashville-Area Babies Catholic Charities of Tennessees Pregnancy Counseling and Adoption Services, also known as Caring Choices, recently held a Nashvillearea diaper drive. The drive coincided with National Diaper Need Awareness Week, a national movement to increase awareness about the need for diapers in lower-income communities. The drive exceeded expectations, generating more than 13,000 diaper donations enough to provide for approximately 280 babies for a month. The agency distributes about 3,500 diapersthe equivalent of providing 70 babies with the diapers for a full month. Every three months, area families in need can receive help from Catholic Charities with diapers and other baby essentials such as wipes, clothing, and formula. One in three families struggles to provide clean diapers for their children, said Scott Gubala, who oversees the

distribution of material assistance. Government programs like WIC and food stamps do not assist with diapers, and cloth diapers are not allowed in day care centers or laundromats. Diapers are essential to the health and well-being of mother and child. Our material assistance program exists only because of the generous support of groups, churches, and individuals, said Gubala. Its my hope that just as people understand the need for a local food bank, they will also see the need for a local diaper bank. Catholic Charities of Orange County Steps Up Mission with New Programs

On August 11, Hair Raisers Salon in Las Vegas, NV, held its rst ever CutA-Thon to support Catholic Charities of Southern Nevadas Adoption Services. On a day that the salon is normally closed, the owners and stylists volunteered their time and were met with a line stretching out the door as they opened their chairs for $5 haircuts and waxing. The event brought in $2,660 and a vehicle for donation to the program. The event was inspired by Helen and Mikas loving journey of adoption. Twenty-four years ago Helen had to make the dicult decision to place her baby girl for adoption. Twenty-one years later each contacted Catholic Charities seeking information to meet the other. Mother and daughter (pictured above) were reunited and have become best friends. Finding her was one of the best moments of my life, Helen said. Helen volunteers her time with Catholic Charities Adoption Services to provide a support group for birth mothers. Mikas parents Donna and Michael were blessed with a baby girl 24
40 | CHARITIES USA

The rst annual Ride DVine Building Hope in the Valley fundraising event, in support of Catholic Charities Housing Services of the Diocese of Yakima, WA, proved quite the success with 50 riders turning out to accompany the Most Rev. Joseph J. Tyson, Bishop of Yakima, on a scenic 25-mile bike ride through Central Washingtons Yakima Valley wine country, including visits to award winning wineries. During the ride, participants had an opportunity to learn more about the housing needs and challenges of those responsible for cultivating the bounty of the Yakima Valley and surrounding area. The riders had opportunities to ride through hop elds, meander along the ridge top of Konnowac Pass, and then wind through orchards and vineyards. Participants were invited to stop at local wineries where they could enjoy wine tasting and sight-

Two new programs highlight Catholic Charities of Orange Countys mission work this yearthe New Hope Crisis Counseling Hotline and Citizenship Education. When the Diocese of Orange (CA) acquired the former Crystal Cathedral campus, now renamed Christ Cathedral, Catholic Charities of Orange County adopted its 45-yearold Crisis Counseling telephone hotline. Founded in 1968, the New Hope Crisis Counseling Center has been in continuous service 24 hours a day/7 days a week as a church sponsored, suicide prevention telephone counseling center. Catholic Charities

FALL 2013 | 41

retained the counseling director Dr. Louise Dunn and some 60 active volunteers in 20 states who had been with the ministry before the changeover. Through this hotline, which will expand the agencys existing counseling services, Catholic Charities will touch the lives of some 1,000 callers each month from all over the United States who are in need of emotional and spiritual support. With a $250,000 grant from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Catholic Charities will provide citizenship preparation services for the next two years. One of 40 organizations across the country to receive this competitive grant award, Catholic Charities expects to help 700 legal permanent residents complete and le naturalization applications and also enroll approximately 300 individuals in ESL/citizenship education classes. Three dierent class formats will be implemented: a beginning class for clients who are severely Englishdecient, elderly, and /or slow learners; an intermediate class for those who already applied for naturalization; and a high level 3-hour special interview preparation class for those with set job interview appointments. Boston Business Journal Recognizes David Walsh as CIO of the Year David Walsh, chief information ofcer for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Boston, was recognized as CIO of the Year in the nonprofit sector by Boston Business Journal in late June.

We are very fortunate to have Dave Walsh as part of our leadership team, said Deborah Kincade Rambo, president, Catholic Charities of Boston. Dave has grown the technical infrastructure of our organization while at the same time striving to implement cost-eective solutions for a non-profit organization where money is always tight and programming is the priority. Walsh was recognized for his determination, creativity, and commitment to Catholic Charities mission, infrastructure, and employees. Walsh built the Information Technology Department at Catholic Charities into a well-connected and skilled department, implementing the agencys rst IT Strategic Plan ($1.5M) that reduced overhead costs and simplied IT support and building a help desk, which included roles for a systems administrator, a senior business software administrator, a technical project leader, and three technicians. Walsh led his team in establishing a serviceoriented approach to assist a social service agency comprised of over 500 employees with various technical abilities. Catholic Charities of Central Texas Welcomes New Executive Director Bishop Joe S. Vsquez, Diocese of Austin, and the Catholic Charities Board of Directors recently announced the appointment of Sara Ramirez as executive director of Catholic Charities of Central Texas (CCCTX). With 11 years of management and social services experience, Ramirez brings a wealth of knowledge,

passion, and commitment to serving the poor and vulnerable. Prior to coming to CCCTX, Ramirez served as vice president of advancement for Catholic Charities Fort Worth. Ramirez will assume the role from interim executive director, Christine Reyes-Paiz. Catholic Charities of Central Texas is extremely grateful for Reyes-Paizs faithful leadership during this transition. She will resume her previous role as Catholic Charities Business Manager. New York State Office for New Americans Director Visits Catholic Charities Buffalo

to, as the progressive capital of the nation, really show how you embrace people. Its our heritage, our history as a country and especially as New York State, he said, adding, I think sometimes folks have the preconceived notion that immigrants dont want to be a part of the community; they want to be here. What they need is that little help to learn the language, so then they can get that job. They want their community to succeed, they want their state to succeed, and as they succeed, the state does succeed. The Opportunity Center in Bualo is one of 27 neighborhood centers established across New York State designed to help New Americans in the area learn English, prepare them for the U.S. citizenship exam, and help them start and grow businesses so they can fully participate in civic and economic life and support their local community. Catholic Charities of St. Louis Achieves Accreditation Catholic Charities of St. Louis announced that the agency has achieved national accreditation through the New York-based Council on Accreditation (COA). This is the fth accreditation for Catholic Charities of St. Louis. Catholic Charities of St. Louis is a federation of eight agencies: Cardinal Ritter Senior Services; Catholic Charities Community Services; Catholic Family Services; Good Shepherd Children & Family Services;

Marygrove; Queen of Peace Center; St. Marthas Hall; and St. Patrick Center. We are proud to receive this important validation of our performance in the eld of human services, said Jack Lally, interim president of Catholic Charities of St. Louis. It took 18 months to achieve this accreditation and we are grateful for the tremendous amount of work put into this project by team members at Catholic Charities and the eight agencies. Catholic Charities Diocese of Charleston Expands Immigration Services The Oce of Immigration Services for Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Charleston in South Carolina is growing in response to the increased demand for immigration services. Remarkably, the Latino population in South Carolina grew by 460% between 1990 and 2007. Catholic Charities has four immigration legal services oces in South Carolina to meet the increased need for services, specically Charleston, Hilton Head, and two oces in Greenville. Recently, the Charleston immigration oce moved into a new location, giving them increased space to accommodate more sta and volunteers. With increased sta and more volunteers from the local law school, this oce will likely be able to serve 480 additional families annually. In existence since April 2012, the Hilton Head immigration oce is also working hard to serve a rapidlygrowing immigrant population. Mily Choy, a sta person in the Hilton

Head oce, recently obtained her Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) accreditation, and the Hilton Head oce is now also recognized by the BIA. This certication will give Choy the chance to act as her clients direct representative and represent clients independently in front of USCIS. St. Patrick Center Raises $13,000 in its First Walk a Mile in Our Shoes Event

In late July, Jorge Montalvo, director of the New York State Oce for New Americans (ONA), visited the ONA Opportunity Center in Bualo, located within the Immigration and Refugee Assistance Program of Catholic Charities. Montalvo thanked sta, toured the center, sat in on an ESOL class, and briefed reporters on the work of the Oce for New Americans, the rst statewide oce with a sole focus to assist New York States immigrants in their eorts to contribute to the economy and become a part of the family of New York. Montalvo spoke of the programs creation and the misconceptions some have about immigrants. We needed

St. Patrick Center held its 1st Annual Walk a Mile in Our Shoes 5K run/ walk on August 17 at Tower Grove Park in St. Louis, MO. Over 400 participants came to support St. Patrick Center through the agencys Young Friends Development Board by participating in the 5K, 1 Mile Fun Run, or Kids Dash to raise awareness and funds to support St. Patrick Center clients who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. With the support and the generosity from dedicated sponsors and volunteers, the agency raised more than $13,000 to help its clients build permanent, positive change. n

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Providing Help.

Creating Hope. O
n one fateful day in 2005, Maviss life was turned upside down when she learned she had breast cancer. She would soon begin the ght of her life, undergoing a radical mastectomy followed by extensive, long-term treatments. In the blink of an eye, Mavis found she needed help with everything, from preparing meals to getting to doctors appointments. Her life and her independence had changed drastically. CCS Home Care assistants Bonnie and Sharon were assigned to work with Mavis. They have been with her for eight years now, and the three women have forged a strong bond. Bonnie and Sharon, who Mavis aectionately calls my CCS girls, help Mavis with tasks like dressing and showering, house cleaning, picking up groceries, and getting to various medical appointments. They also provide much-needed caring and companionship.

Calendar
2014 Trainings & Events Date
January 11 January 17-24 February 19-21 March 10-12 March 23-28 April 2 April 3-4

down gravel in her driveway. Mavis says, Bonnie and Sharon were my legs and helped me walk in my yard and get exercise. CCS has just been there when I needed them and they have been there with me since the beginning.

Meeting
Keep the Dream Alive Mass & Awards The OGrady Institute Partners in Excellence New Diocesan Directors Institute From Mission to Service National Poverty Summit Diocesan Directors Spring Gathering Parish Social Ministry Regional Training

Location
Washington, DC Jerusalem Honolulu, HI Alexandria, VA South Bend, IN Washington, DC Alexandria, VA Portland, OR

Contact
Tina Baldera (703) 236-6233 Kathy Brown (703) 236-6245 Jean Beil (703) 236-6229 Kristan Schlichte (703) 236-6240 Troy Zeigler (703) 236-6239 Lucreda Cobbs (703) 236-6243 Kristan Schlichte (703) 236-6240 Tina Baldera (703) 236-6233

Maviss sons were very concerned and did everything they could to help, but found it dicult to provide the kind of skilled care she needed. Fortunately, Maviss physician understood the diculties she faced and promptly referred her to Catholic Community Services of Western Washington (CCS). A Home Care supervisor from CCS met with Mavis and her family, and together they created a plan that meant Mavis could get the help she needed to remain in her home and live independently.

Last year, CCS provided 1.75 million hours of home care to seniors and people with disabilities. As the numbers of individuals needing in-home care continues to grow, CCS will be there, working to provide much-needed essential services, including local meal sites, home-delivered meals, and senior transportation programs. n

A Home Care supervisor from Catholic Community Services met with Mavis and her family, and together they created a plan that meant Mavis could get the help she needed to remain in her home and live independently.

April 4-5

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Through it all Bonnie and Sharon have been by Maviss side. Devoted CCS volunteers have also helped Mavis with transportation, packing and moving her household, and laying

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