WINTER 2020 VOL 21 • NO 1 Giving a TO THOSE Voice IN NEED Catholic Charities Legal Assistance (CCLA) Pages 4-8 Adriana Doger, Intern and Hilda Bahena, Director WINTER 2020 VOL 21 • NO 1 CONTENTS “ We all respond to our peers. There needs COVER STORY to be trust and some sense of shared Giving a experience…So, it is TO THOSE important to hire from IN NEED the community you are Voice serving…Our clients are the best authors of their experiences and their progress.” Laura Kuever – Associate Vice President of Community, Youth, and Family Services, commenting on Encompassing Center staff and 4 community outreach. 3 Kathleen A. Donahue-Coia AGENCY NEWS The Two Feet of Love in Action Charitable Work and Social Justice 14 Events 14 Essay 16 Foundation, Corporate, and Gail’s Journey Government Partnerships 17 Board Relations and 9 Mission Engagement Parish Profile 12 Our Lady of Perpetual Help — Glenview SPIRIT MAGAZINE WRITER Mindy McFadden Walch © Catholic Charities 2020 Phone (312) 655-7010 PHOTOS Catholic Charities Spirit Magazine is published by Catholic Charities [email protected] Communications of the Archdiocese of Chicago for its friends, Postage paid in Chicago, IL 60654 Department clients, and benefactors. Postmaster Send change of address to: Spirit Magazine, 721 N. LaSalle Street, DESIGN Kathy Gabriel Chicago, Illinois 60654 www.catholiccharities.net/spirit Kathleen A. Donahue-Coia ACTING ADMINISTRATOR, PRESIDENT, AND CEO OF CATHOLIC CHARITIES The Two Feet of Love in Action Charitable Work and Social Justice Happy New Year! where helping others advocate for themselves plays a distinctive role. t the heart of Christian teaching Catholic Charities Legal Ais the idea that we are all Assistance Program for instance, caretakers of God’s creation, and we provides assistance to low- are all responsible for one another. income individuals who would The dual imperatives of charitable otherwise not be able to afford legal works and social justice represent representation. And as of fall 2019, the “Two Feet of Love in Action,” Catholic Charities began providing according to the United States mental health services through the Conference of Catholic Bishops, and Encompassing Center, a mental must guide us as we continually and behavioral health service center pursue the common good. made possible through community In Catholic Charities’ role advocacy and financial support. as social service provider, we Our Parish Profile takes you to address a vast array of material Glenview where we learn about and emotional needs by feeding, the incredible work of Our Lady clothing, housing, counseling, and “ We are called to be of Perpetual Help Catholic Parish. rehabilitating. Equally important to OLPH has fully embraced the idea the health and well-being of those prudent stewards of Christian stewardship and has around us is Catholic Charities’ developed more than 50 ministries role in speaking out for public of our resources that give parishioners many policies that preserve and uplift and gifts, and to opportunities to live out the Gospel human life and human dignity, in their everyday lives. informing people about their continually pursue the Catholic Charities is committed rights under the law, educating to lifting up the voices of the poor government officials about the common good, doing and vulnerable. We take seriously impact of their policy decisions and our responsibility to work for a budgets, and ensuring that all of our part each day to more just society, while meeting our brothers and sisters are being clients immediate challenges. heard and treated fairly. We serve bring the Kingdom of Charitable works and social and speak on behalf of the poor justice are the “Two Feet of Love in and vulnerable so that no one is God a little closer to Action.” May we walk together in abandoned or forgotten. one another.” delivering more of both. In this issue of Spirit Magazine, we look at how Catholic Charities operates on a broad level in Sincerely, the public policy arena, and in Relations Department, which individual cases to give a voice to coordinates our federal, state, and our clients and their needs. We local efforts to share our work, introduce you to the Government and explore two program areas WINTER 2020 SPIRIT 3 Giving a TO THOSE Voice IN NEED LEGAL ASSISTANCE GOVERNMENT RELATIONS MENTAL HEALTH atholic Charities fulfills Three Ways We Give a Voice to Clients: Cits mission of charity n The Office of Government Relations by providing compassionate Furthers the mission of the agency by working collaboratively with stakeholders to and professional services to improve the lives of those we serve through anyone in need, but just as advocacy and program sustainability. See story on page 5 important, it is the voice for n Catholic Charities Legal Assistance (CCLA) those who have no voice – the Provides a wide range of legal services to vulnerable and those without low-income individuals who otherwise could not afford an attorney. access to power. See story on page 6 This issue looks at Catholic n Mental Health Services Charities programs and Reduces health inequities by strengthening collaboration among healthcare delivery initiatives that help us empower systems and community-based service the less fortunate in society. sectors to improve health. See story on page 8 4 SPIRIT WINTER 2020 COVER STORY Government Relations Lift Up Voices and Share Expertise nspired by the Great Commandment Intentional engagement with Iof Jesus (Mt 22:36-40), love of God lawmakers from service providers and love of neighbor have driven the helped convince legislators to adjust Love In Action Church’s long tradition of caring for and the eligibility period to a full twelve What You Can Do speaking out on behalf of the poor and months, restoring stability for enrolled vulnerable. Not only are we called to feed families. Lawmakers count on agencies There are two different, but the hungry, shelter the homeless, welcome like Catholic Charities to share stories complementary, ways we can the stranger, and comfort the afflicted, but of success and failure so they can walk the path of love, or caritas, also to champion for public policies that fully consider the impact of proposed according to resources from challenge social structures that contribute legislation and better identify potential the United States Conference of to suffering and injustice. solutions to critical public problems. Catholic Bishops. These are the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese They also need to hear support and “Two Feet of Love in Action,” of Chicago is honored to be a part of encouragement when they’re moving based on Pope Benedict XVI’s these efforts. We work closely with in the right direction from non-profit reflections in Deus Caritas Est Catholic Charities USA and the United board members and volunteers as (God is Love) and Caritas in States Conference of Catholic Bishops lawmakers are ever mindful of the Veritate (Charity in Truth). at the national level, and the Catholic concerns of their voting constituents. Conference of Illinois at the state level Today, a growing need for services SOCIAL JUSTICE to promote policies that enhance the coupled with a shrinking availability common good and preserve human life of financial resources create an Remove root causes & and human dignity. environment where Catholic Charities improve structures Our 100 + year history and role as the must engage more than ever. In • Expand access to affordable largest provider of professional social addition to residual damage caused housing work services in the area gives Catholic by Illinois’ two-year budget stalemate, • Work to improve the educational Charities a unique expertise in terms of social service providers struggle system evaluating public policy proposals and with the government’s alarming and • Support environmental protection laws funding for human services. Every day prolonged disinvestment in human we see how laws and regulations can services and lagging rate increases • Participate in a living wage campaign have a positive or negative effect on that don’t meet true costs. Charitable • Promote peace those we serve. Public policies can bring agencies are expected to “pick up the Advocate for international unintended consequences that instead slack,” but the gap is too large to be • assistance of achieving original objectives, actually made whole by private dollars. It is cause great harm at the implementation our responsibility to help lawmakers level. For example, while Catholic Charities (and taxpayers) understand that CHARITABLE WORKS wholly supports a living wage for all investment in human services is Meet basic needs & aid workers, raising the minimum wage like a down payment for the future, individuals without simultaneously incorporating ultimately leading to thriving families • Volunteer at homeless shelters the increase into city and state service and healthier communities, and that • Tutor children reimbursements forces many nonprofits to prevention and early intervention • Assist women who face a crisis struggle with increased program deficits. services save significant dollars in pregnancy This has become a very real challenge for future budgets. • Participate in a community non-profit service providers who often It is part of our mission to address beautification program operate with little to no financial cushion. the root causes of issues. In addition • Donate to food & clothing When Illinois required participants to providing direct services that