Every Day, We Help Our Community's Most Vulnerable by Taking on the Effects of Poverty And
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1 Every day, we help our community’s most vulnerable by taking on the Grayson Grayson Grayson Fannin Fannin effects of poverty andFannin helping all those in crisis move toward a better life. Collin Collin If we can’t help,Collin we know who can. Hunt Hunt Hunt Pass it on. Rock Rock Rock wall wall wall For more than 128 years, Catholic Charities Dallas has Dallas Dallas Dallas Catholic Charities Dallas been a leader in social services in our community. Today, we Kaufman serves nine North Texas Kaufman Kaufman help more than 50,000 individuals per year on their path to counties. The strengths of each of our programs are as stability and self-sufficiency through programs in Children’s Ellis diverse as the populations Ellis Services, EducationalEllis Services, Empowerment Services, and we serve. Housing for the Homeless. In these diverse areas, we deliver Nine Counties, education programs and employment services, financial Expanding Populations Navarro Navarro literacy, food and meals,Navarro foster care and children’s shelter, Dallas 2,622,799 Collin 791,393 immigration legal services, refugee resettlement, pregnancy Rockwall 96,877 counseling, adoption services, parenting classes, and Kaufman 122,845 Ellis 173,636 disaster relief and preparedness. Fannin 34,572 Grayson 131,214 For us, successfully addressing the root cause of poverty Hunt 93,927 means engaging the entire community’s energy, resources, Navarro 48,779 Total population 4,116,042 and compassion. Only then can we truly help all those in need move toward a better life. 2 3 Housing Services Outgoing and eager to work, Eugene’s job St. Jude Center search was hindered by one critical factor: Total clients served 104 homelessness. Imagine hunting for employment Occupancy percentage 100% without a phone. Imagine working a full shift then rushing Resident retention after to find rest at a shelter where each day, beds are assigned nine months 93% on a first-come, first-served basis. Imagine doing all that as a senior. Eugene was determined but needed a plan. When Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance referred him to Catholic Charities Rapid Rehousing Program, Eugene began to have hope. He applied for a home at St. Jude Center, our permanent housing community that provides seniors with full-immersion support. For Eugene, that has included St. Jude Center’s Amenities Fully furnished single units include financial counseling, onsite job fairs and regular home flat-screen TV with cable and Internet check-ins with a case manager. Today, he’s employed full- Kitchenette Private bathroom time, earning above minimum wage and looking forward to a future of self-reliant living. On-site services Intensive case management Computer station Games Arts & crafts Job skills training It takes a community to build a Barber shop community. St. Jude Center is a collaborative Fitness center Resident lounges network that includes Catholic Housing Support groups Initiative, CitySquare, Metrocare, Veterans Transportation Administration, and Metro Dallas Homeless Criteria Alliance. 55+ years of age Single (male or female) Dave Woodyard President and CEO Qualify as homeless or Catholic Charities Dallas chronically homeless Completed background check Registered on the Housing Priority List 4 5 Immigration Legal Services Because abuse can take on many forms – By the numbers physical, emotional, verbal – victims may Legal services delivered: need many resources. That’s what Ana has found Total outreach clients 19,497 at Catholic Charities Dallas. What she may not have New clients served 17,828 expected was a legal services team who could help Ana Consultations provided 8,777 understand her rights as an immigrant. She didn’t need Cases opened 2,495 to live in fear of an abusive husband who used his own DACA cases opened 241 legal status to intimidate her, threaten to take their children Cases closed with or report her to immigration authorities. She could begin benefit obtained 91% and stick to a plan for separation. Our legal services team Services include: worked with Ana to initiate the process of filing a VAWA Low-cost legal representation on petition that will allow Ana to seek permanent resident immigration matters status without her husband’s knowledge. She’s free now Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals to take advantage of other programs at Catholic Charities, Know Your Rights Workshops including financial assistance. She’s free to dream of a Legal Orientation Program for Custodians future without fear. Violence Against Women Assistance U-Visa The goal of our Immigration Legal Services program is to assist immigrants in need through the complex immigration process. Our team of attorneys and case managers are ready to serve our clients and the community. We believe that a prepared and educated community is a stronger community. Nubia Torres CCD Director Immigration Legal Services Actual name and photo have been changed at the client’s request. 6 7 Senior Services Meet Pablo, a one-man welcoming By the numbers committee at the Brady Senior Program. Clients served 357 He can be seen here three times each week, taking part in Meals served 22,830 any number of activities. With his upbeat personality and Average daily attendance 90 unwavering desire to help, Pablo has been known to strike up conversations with strangers on the bus and bring them Services include: Nutritional meals to the center that same day. That’s a win-win for everyone, Mental health counseling forging more friendships and creating more opportunities Educational opportunities for the Brady Senior Program to serve our older clients Health seminars and screenings like Pablo. At our center, we foster seniors’ health and Social interaction and fellowship engagement with weekday classes and social activities. Daily activities and exercise We bolster both mind and body with nutritious meals. Food assistance If needed, we help guide seniors to additional services. Support groups We can even connect seniors to unique events and Birthday celebrations opportunities – including a job fair where one of Pablo’s Monthly dances new friends just happened to get hired on the spot. Field trips Transportation Pablo expresses Catholic Charities values daily at Brady Senior Program. He welcomes other guests with a smile, assists peers with translation or bingo, and encourages others to live and work together with respect, joy, and grace. Robin Korevaar, BMT, MSW CCD Program Manager Senior Services 8 9 Parenting, Pregnancy & Adoption Services The decision to place a child for adoption is By the numbers a difficult one. When Ashley chose to pursue an Women served and counseled 910 adoption plan for the baby she was expecting, she turned to with pro-life options our Parenting, Pregnancy & Adoption Services. She worked Adoptive couples approved 35 with a Birth Parent Counselor to explore options, including and licensed reviewing profiles of potential adoptive families. With the Parenting clients receiving education, counseling and help of our team, Ashley was able to meet her selected material assistance 1,876 family, forming an instant bond that has become a source Adoptions 19 of strength for all. Catholic Charities Dallas is dedicated to supporting birth mothers like Ashley on this journey. For those who choose adoption, they’re assisted throughout pregnancy and after with counseling and support groups. If there’s a change, we help these mothers with parenting classes and baby items. It’s a full-spectrum approach that gives birth mothers the tools they need to build a bright future for their children and for themselves. Children are a gift from God and we help our birth parents find the best family to whom they bestow their precious gift. Meredith McPhail CCD Senior Program Manager Parenting, Pregnancy & Adoption Services Actual name and photo have been changed at the client’s request. 10 11 Educational Services Readers are leaders – it’s an old saying that By the numbers still proves true, especially for a bright-eyed After-school programs fourth-grader named Eliceo. Enrolled in the after- Students served 118 school program at Cardinal Farrell Community Center, Meals served 15,560 Eliceo initially struggled with English-based language Summer camp lessons. Our educators, sensitive to challenges faced by Students enrolled 327 dual-language students like Eliceo, were prepared. Our Together We Learn literacy intervention program combines tutoring, computer Children and parents served 334 interaction and classroom activities to boost academic performance during the crucial years of K-3 and well beyond. Tutoring in particular has helped Eliceo. He now picks up books on his own, reading them cover to cover with relative ease. His participation in our after-school program has brought real results: improved reading scores, less reliance on translation and the emergence of a friendly, infectious classroom leader. Our Educational Services provide high quality preschool, after school and adult education classes year round to low-income families and those most in need. Ana Schaller CCD Director Educational Services 12 13 Children’s Services Of the tens of thousands of people we serve By the numbers every year, none are more vulnerable than Clients served 218 children. They may face homelessness. They may be New placements 129 unable to return to their families. Or, as in the case of Anisa, Foster homes retained 82% they may be refugees escaping a violent homeland that Stable placements 85% claimed the lives of their parents. Our team is dedicated to giving all of these children a nurturing environment where they can thrive. Anisa’s path started with International Foster Care and a new home with a local family. And he flourished. His hard work in both academics and athletics earned him a college soccer scholarship. He’s now part of Supervised Independent Living, our program that mentors youths like Anisa as they enter adulthood. Preparing for university life and excited about the future, Anisa now regularly greets his case manager with a huge smile and the news that “Everything is gooood!” There is perhaps no greater feeling than helping a child find a loving, caring environment with a family that will impact the child’s life.