Summer 2018 529 Kansas City Street, Suite 100 Rapid City, SD 57701 (605) 348-6086 www.catholicsocialservicesrapidcity.com Calling All Angels Vucurevich Grant Allows CSS to Quadruple Program UP Services Brittney Papike believes the Uplifting Parents Program helped her escape a life of poverty. Over the next five years, the University of Notre Dame’s Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO) wants to test if Papike, a Rapid City single mom of two kids, is right. Thanks to $1.4 million in new funding from the John T. Vucurevich Foundation that allows Program UP to quadruple the number of families it serves, LEO is able to conduct a randomized controlled trial study to prove if, and how, this Catholic Social Services-led program moves single parent families like Papike’s out of poverty. Cover Story continues on page 3 “Helping communities one family at a time.” CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES 2017-2018 LEADERSHIP OFFICERS: Terms Expire 6/30/2018 President – Susan Raposa Vice President– Lisa Wesolick Secretary —Mary Kjerstad Treasurer – Cassie Ward Executive Director – Jim Kinyon DIRECTORS: TELEHEALTH Terms Expire 6/30/2018 Brenda Wills, RPM Solutions Deacon Marlon Leneaugh, Diocese of Rapid City Sheila Lien PROGRAM Matt Stone, Civil Engineer Terms Expire 6/30/2019 Susan Meyer, Attorney Cassie Ward, Century Properties Rick Soulek, Diocese of Rapid City Mary Kjerstad Terms Expire 6/30/2020 Lisa Wesolick, Kendrick & Company Susan Raposa Dr. Steve Massopust, Physician Richard Rangel, Rangel Construction Company PERMANENT BOARD SEAT The Most Reverend Robert Gruss, Bishop of Rapid City __________________ CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES 2017-2018 PROFESSIONAL STAFF Jim Kinyon, Executive Director ADOPTION DEPARTMENT Nora Boesem, Director Hannah Ceremuga Lisa Spielmann COUNSELING DEPARTMENT Cathy Larsen, Director Patty Jonas Darlene Nichols Bryan Satterwhite Evelyn Wilder Amanda Woolridge DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT John Schmit, Director Mary Garrigan You are as close to one of our HR, FINANCE & FACILITIES DEPARTMENT Lorinda Collings, Director Counselors as your smart phone, Tina Dockter Leon Lunders tablet or computer. Melinda Sass Christin Sjomeling LAKOTA CIRCLES OF HOPE DEPARTMENT Call us at 605-348-6086 to schedule Jim Kinyon, Director Staci Eagle Elk a secured “closed circuit“ counseling Shana Pourier session with one of our professional, PROSPERITY INITIATIVE DEPARTMENT Tracy Palecek, Director licensed counselors. Lori Larson UPLIFTING PARENTS DEPARTMENT Natalie Lecy, Director Trivia Afraid of Lightning Becky Cornell-Marsich Hannah Ceremuga 2 CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES, RAPID CITY, SD • Serving people of all faiths 529 Kansas City Street, Suite 100 Rapid City, SD 57701 (605) 348-6086 “Helping communities one family at a time.” www.catholicsocialservicesrapidcity.com Vucurevich Grant Allows CSS to Quadruple Program UP Services Because of the Program’s Success, Along With Our Donors Continued Support. Pictured from left: Jim Kinyon – CSS Executive Director; Jessica Gromer – John T. Vucurevich Foundation Program Officer; Natalie Lecy –CSS Uplifting Parents Program Director; Sandra Diegel – John T. Vucurevich Foundation President; William Evans – LEO Co-Founder and Andrea Ringer – LEO Researcher. “Programs of this nature have the power to move the needle on yourself is hard,” she said. With a financial stipend provided by poverty,” said William Evans, co-founder of LEO. LEO’s mission CSS and emotional support from her Program UP mentor, she is to reduce poverty and improve lives, and Evans is excited didn’t have to. to develop a research design for Program UP to measure its CSS donors will be called upon to cover a portion of the costs outcomes and evaluate its ability to reduce poverty. “LEO aims of the program, while this new funding will help us expand the to identify the innovative, effective and scalable programs that program. Program UP helped her pay childcare costs and also help people move out of poverty,” Evans said. He and several afford a prep course to study for her nursing boards. “I didn’t other Notre Dame staff were in Rapid City Feb. 8-9 to begin that have to take out so many student loans, and it helped a lot with process. my children,” she said. “But talking with Natalie and meeting CSS piloted the Uplifting Parents Program, nicknamed Program with her twice a month was big. Just talking with someone and UP, in 2014 with help from a coalition of about 20 non-profit having someone to evaluate things and get things off your chest agencies in Rapid City, said Natalie Lecy, director of Program was so important to my success. She just calmed me down, UP. Since then, Program UP has worked with 38 single parent kept me on an even level. I guess her having that faith in me families to achieve their educational goals and has seen 28 just made me believe in myself even more.” single mothers graduate from the program after receiving While Vucurevich Foundation also believes in Program UP and degrees in highly marketable career fields, including education, its collaborative, two-generation approach to reducing poverty medicine and business. One of them is Papike, who knows here in Rapid City, said Jessica Gromer, program officer for the from firsthand experiences that Program UP works. Thanks in foundation. part to our donors who gave so generously, we could afford to considered new ways to address our community’s growing “Program UP is very much in line with the John T. Vucurevich numbers of single parents living in poverty. Foundation’s cradle to career continuum of success funding priority. Building relationships while providing life skills and “It’s been a big journey,” said Papike, who recently graduated education with warm hand offs to providers of resources are the from the South Dakota State University School of Nursing. She keys to reducing poverty one family at a time,” Gromer said. is now employed as a registered nurse in Rapid City and able to support her family, a 4–year old son and a 11-year old daughter, To learn more about Program UP, contact Natalie Lecy at 605- without public assistance. “Doing something so big all by 348-6086. Serving people of all faiths • CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES, RAPID CITY, SD 3 “Helping communities one family at a time.” Hot Springs Knights of Columbus Supports CSS Dan DeFris, the Grand Knight of the Hot Springs Knights of Columbus (right) is pictured presenting Jim Kinyon with a check for $3,000 this spring at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Hot Springs. Jim also addressed members of the Hot Springs Parish following their Sunday Mass and explained the services and programs offered by CSS and our available services to their community. Kinyon said, “he would like to thank all of his Brother Knights for their ongoing support for those in need in South Dakota.” MIND YOUR HEALTH DAY Thursday, May 17 5 p.m.- 8 p.m. Main Street Square & Elks Theatre —KEYNOTE SPEAKER— Kevin Hines Nationally Known Golden Gate Bridge Suicide Attempt Survivor — SUICIDE WARNING SIGNS AND RISKS — • Changes in appetite • Feeling Anxious or agitated • Giving away possessions • Negative thinking • Preoccupation with death • Feeling numb or like nothing matters • Sleeping too much or too little • Risk taking or behaving recklessly • A recent breakup • Talking about seeking revenge • Decline in grades or work performance • Withdrawal from family and friends • Extreme mood Swings • Depressed mood If you are thinking of suicide... Call for help! Talk to Someone! Call 211. If you need immediate help call 911. 4 CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES, RAPID CITY, SD • Serving people of all faiths 529 Kansas City Street, Suite 100 Rapid City, SD 57701 (605) 348-6086 “Helping communities one family at a time.” www.catholicsocialservicesrapidcity.com Prosperity Initiative Clients are Determined What an exciting time for the Prosperity their will to move forward with little or no resources. One Initiative! We welcomed a new Program of these amazing people is James. James has worked so Mentor, Lori Larson, who brings hard toward his dream of becoming an EMT. In his time in her extensive experience working our program, he has obtained his GED, completed EMT with families and her passion for Boot Camp and has completed some college courses. helping those in need. Our Prosperity He now has a job interview in the medical field! I recently Coaches Network continues to thrive accompanied James to a local clothing store to find and with over 230 members representing purchase some clothes for his interview. We were helped Tracy Palecek, over 80 agencies in our community. by a store employee, Don, who asked James what his shirt NCC, LPC, QMHP, LSWA We recently added a group-staffing size was. James replied, “I have never had a dress shirt Prosperity Initiative component to our monthly coaches before.” Don did not miss a beat and immediately went to Program Director meetings. This will work to help him find the correct size allow us to help those folks who need and fit. He took his time to carefully a bit more support before entering show him how to tie a necktie all our direct service program by staffing the while making conversation and their situations with the larger group. putting James at ease. When we were Our mission to make our community finished Don shook James’ hand and “Poverty Informed” has been very well said, “Well, you probably know all you received, with our program averaging need to know to get the job, you just 2-3 presentations per month to have to go get it. Good Luck, young schools, businesses, and community man!” Thank you to all the “Dons” out agencies. The heart of our program are there who see the person behind the the stories of our courageous clients struggle, who offer kind words and who meet serious challenges as they encouragement and take the time work to leave poverty behind.