Catholic Social Services Inc

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SETON SERVICE COORDINATION: OUR SERVICE COORDINATORS HELP LOW-INCOME SENIORS LIVE INDEPENDENTLY AND REMAIN IN THEIR HOMES BY LINKING THEM WITH NEEDED RESOURCES. CSS HAS PLACED A SERVICE COORDINATOR AT EACH OF THE 14 DIOCESAN-OWNED SETON SQUARE SENIOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMUNITIES AND THE NAZARETH TOWER PROPERTY, WHERE THEY ASSIST. OUR SERVICE COORDINATORS PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WHEN SENIORS ARE CONFRONTED BY NEW CHALLENGES SUCH AS MEDICAL OR HEALTH ISSUES, TAX LAWS OR BENEFITS, OR TECHNOLOGICAL HURDLES BEYOND THEIR SKILL LEVEL. THIS INTERVENTION INCREASES SENIORS' QUALITY OF LIFE AND ALLOWS THEM TO CONTINUE LIVING IN THEIR HOMES WITH CONFIDENCE.

POVERTY REDUCTION: CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES RAISES AWARENESS OF THE REALITY OF POVERTY IN OUR AREA AND BUILDS PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE A GREATER SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. CSS HOSTS LUNCHEONS AND MEETINGS WITH STAKEHOLDERS TO SHARE INFORMATION ON AVAILABLE SERVICES, COMMUNITY NEEDS, AND POSSIBLE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS. CSS ALSO HOSTS INFORMATIONAL SESSIONS TO MOTIVATE PEOPLE TO CARE FOR THE POOR AND TO INVITE THEM TO GET INVOLVED IN OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE THE COMMUNITY.

SENIOR COMPANION PROGRAM: THIS PROGRAM ADDRESSES TWO SPECIFIC ISSUES WITHIN THE SENIOR POPULATION IN FRANKLIN AND DELAWARE COUNTIES: 1) LONELINESS AND ISOLATION AND 2) UNDERUSE OF RESOURCES ACTIVE SENIORS HAVE TO GIVE. THE PROGRAM ENGAGES TWO DIFFERENT POPULATIONS OF SENIORS: HOME-BOUND SENIORS AND ACTIVE, LOW-INCOME SENIORS. SENIOR COMPANIONS, ALL OF WHOM QUALIFY AS LOW-INCOME, RECEIVE STIPENDS AND TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENT TO VISIT HOME-BOUND SENIORS FOR 15+ HOURS A WEEK. THEY PROVIDE NEEDED SOCIALIZATION AND NON-MEDICAL ASSISTANCE SO CLIENTS CAN REMAIN INDEPENDENT IN THEIR HOMES. THE PROGRAM HELPS BOTH GROUPS STAY CONNECTED AND RETAIN THEIR INDEPENDENCE.

1. OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CENTER: THIS PROGRAM WORKS TO REDUCE POVERTY IN THE RAPIDLY GROWING HISPANIC POPULATION IN CENTRAL OHIO. THE GUADALUPE CENTER HAS GROWN WITH THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY IN OUR REGION TO RESPOND TO THEIR UNIQUE CHALLENGES OF IMMIGRATION AND POVERTY, INCLUDING LACK OF ACCESS TO BASIC NEEDS AND SOCIAL SUPPORT, LANGUAGE AND DISCRIMINATORY BARRIERS, ETC. THE GUADALUPE CENTER OPENED AS A FOOD PANTRY IN 1999 ON COLUMBUS' WEST SIDE, NEAR THE LARGEST CONCENTRATION OF VULNERABLE HISPANICS. IN 2017, THE GUADALUPE CENTER MOVED INTO A NEW, LARGER FACILITY AND EXPANDED OUR PURPOSE: THE OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CENTER IS THE PLACE TO BE FOR HISPANIC FAMILIES WHO WANT TO REALIZE THEIR AMERICAN DREAM. THROUGH PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, THE GUADALUPE CENTER PROVIDES A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT WITHIN WHICH TO BUILD COMMUNITY, STRENGTHEN FAMILY, IMPROVE ECONOMIC STATUS, AND PROMOTE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. BASED ON OUR NEW PURPOSE, OUR THEORY OF CHANGE IS: - IF WE PROVIDE OUR CLIENTS WITH A SAFE, SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT AND HELP THEM GET RESOURCES TO COVER THEIR BASIC NEEDS, LEARN NEW SKILLS, AND ACCESS OPPORTUNITIES, - THEN THEY WILL DEVELOP AN INCREASED SENSE OF BELONGING, IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE AND WELL-BEING, AND REACH THEIR GOALS FOR A BETTER LIFE. SINCE 2017, THE GUADALUPE CENTER HAS BEEN ON AN AGGRESSIVE GROWTH TRAJECTORY. THE CENTER OFFERS ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE (ESL) CLASSES, CITIZENSHIP READINESS CLASSES, ON-SITE WELLNESS CHECKS AND REFERRALS, A FOOD PANTRY, EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, COMMUNITY AND WELLNESS EVENTS, CASE MANAGEMENT, LEGAL IMMIGRATION COUNSELING AND REPRESENTATION, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND JOB REFERRALS. THESE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED BY STAFF, VOLUNTEERS AND ON-SITE PARTNERS.2. PAYEE SERVICES: THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES INDIVIDUALIZED FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT TO SENIORS, COURT-ORDERED AND/OR FORMERLY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS, AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WHO ARE UNABLE TO MANAGE THEIR FINANCIAL AFFAIRS. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, CSS HELPS PROTECT PEOPLE WHO ARE OFTEN FINANCIALLY EXPLOITED BY HELPING THEM UNDERSTAND AND MEET THEIR FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS. WE USE CLIENTS' INCOME TO PAY THEIR BILLS FOR THEM SO THEIR BASIC NEEDS ARE COVERED, THEN GIVE THEM THE MONEY LEFT OVER TO USE AT THEIR DISCRETION.3. SUPPORTIVE SERVICES: THROUGH THE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES PROGRAM, CSS REMOVES BARRIERS FOR LOW-INCOME SENIORS WHO NEED ASSISTANCE TO MAINTAIN THEIR INDEPENDENCE AND REMAIN SAFELY IN THEIR OWN HOMES. OUR LICENSED SOCIAL WORKERS PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZED CARE AND CASE MANAGEMENT TO OLDER ADULTS AND THEIR FAMILIES BY HELPING SENIORS NAVIGATE THEIR BENEFITS, LOCATE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, SCHEDULE MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, MANAGE FINANCES, FIND APPROPRIATE HOUSING, AND MORE. WE PROVIDE IN-HOME CARE FOR THIS OFTEN HOMEBOUND POPULATION, WHICH IS ESPECIALLY NECESSARY IN RURAL COUNTIES WHERE SENIORS HAVE EVEN MORE BARRIERS TO ACCESSING CARE.4. SUPPORTIVE SERVICES: THROUGH THE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES PROGRAM, CSS REMOVES BARRIERS FOR LOW-INCOME SENIORS WHO NEED ASSISTANCE TO MAINTAIN THEIR INDEPENDENCE AND REMAIN SAFELY IN THEIR OWN HOMES. OUR LICENSED SOCIAL WORKERS PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZED CARE AND CASE MANAGEMENT TO OLDER ADULTS AND THEIR FAMILIES BY HELPING SENIORS NAVIGATE THEIR BENEFITS, LOCATE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, SCHEDULE MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, MANAGE FINANCES, FIND APPROPRIATE HOUSING, AND MORE. WE PROVIDE IN-HOME CARE FOR THIS OFTEN HOMEBOUND POPULATION, WHICH IS ESPECIALLY NECESSARY IN RURAL COUNTIES WHERE SENIORS HAVE EVEN MORE BARRIERS TO ACCESSING CARE.5. FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM: FOSTER GRANDPARENT IS AN ON-GOING, DUAL-BENEFICIARY PROGRAM WITH A TWO-FOLD OBJECTIVE: 1) TO HELP CHILDREN BE PREPARED FOR AND DO BETTER IN SCHOOL AND 2) TO GIVE LOW-INCOME SENIORS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPLEMENT THEIR INCOMES, COMBAT ISOLATION, AND HAVE A PURPOSEFUL WAY TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, LOW-INCOME, ACTIVE SENIORS TUTOR AT-RISK YOUTH IN AREA SCHOOLS AND HEAD START PROGRAMS AND RECEIVE A STIPEND FOR THEIR WORK.6. TRANSPORTATION SERVICES: THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES DOOR-TO-DOOR TRANSPORTATION FOR LICKING COUNTY SENIORS AND VETERANS TO GET TO NON-EMERGENCY MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS ANYWHERE IN THE STATE OF OHIO.7. STAY THE COURSE: LAUNCHED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COLUMBUS STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN THE FALL OF 2019, STAY THE COURSE (STC) EQUIPS LOW-INCOME COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS WITH A COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT SYSTEM THAT HELPS PROVIDE A REALISTIC PATH TO COLLEGE COMPLETION. STC GIVES STUDENTS FACING UNEQUAL BARRIERS TO COLLEGE SUCCESS THE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES THEY NEED TO EARN DEGREES, WHICH LEADS TO BETTER JOBS AND HIGHER EARNINGS, ULTIMATELY HELPING TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF GENERATIONAL POVERTY. STC IS AN INNOVATIVE, EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAM PROVEN TO IMPROVE COLLEGE PERSISTENCE AND COMPLETION AMONG LOW-INCOME COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS BY ADDRESSING NON-ACADEMIC BARRIERS, SUCH AS HOUSING INSTABILITY AND WORKPLACE OR FAMILY ISSUES. THROUGH STC, CSS PROVIDES INDIVIDUALIZED CASE MANAGEMENT (MENTORING, COACHING, REFERRALS, ETC.) AND STRATEGIC EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. THIS COMBINATION HAS PROVEN EFFECTIVE FOR IMPACTING LOW-INCOME STUDENTS WHO HAVE THE WORK EFFORT AND WILL TO ACHIEVE A COLLEGE DEGREE, BUT WHO START COLLEGE AT A DISADVANTAGE. WITH REPLICATION FIDELITY TO THE PROVEN PROGRAM MODEL ORIGINALLY DEVELOPED BY CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES FORT WORTH, STC CONTRIBUTES TO CLOSING THE OPPORTUNITY GAP. 8. ST. FRANCIS CENTER: THE ST. FRANCIS CENTER IS A DUAL BENEFICIARY COMMUNITY SERVICE FOR THE RESIDENTS OF SCIOTO COUNTY. FOR SOME, IT IS A BEACON OF HOPE WHERE THEY CAN COME IN THEIR DARKEST HOURS FOR FOOD, FINANCIAL EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE, CLOTHING, HOUSEHOLD ITEMS, INTERVENTION CLASSES AND SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES STRUGGLING WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE. FOR OTHERS, IT IS A PLACE TO VOLUNTEER AND TO SHOW THOSE WHO ARE LESS FORTUNATE THAT THERE ARE ALWAYS PEOPLE WHO CARE AND WILL LEND A HAND. THE ST. FRANCIS CENTER SERVES PORTSMOUTH, OHIO AS A ONE-STOP COMMUNITY CENTER PROVIDING A PLACE OF HOPE AND HEALING FOR THE COMMUNITY.9. MONEY MANAGEMENT: THROUGH OUR MONEY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, CSS ASSISTS LOW-INCOME SENIORS WHO HAVE DIFFICULTY MANAGING THEIR FINANCES. SOCIAL WORKERS HELP CLIENTS MANAGE THEIR OWN FINANCES BY HELPING THEM PREPARE MONTHLY BUDGETS, PAY THEIR BILLS, DEPOSIT CHECKS, MAKE CONNECTIONS WITH FINANCIAL AND LEGAL RESOURCES, AND PREPARE FOR LONG-TERM NEEDS SO THEY CAN REMAIN INDEPENDENT.10. FOR MORE THAN 75 YEARS, CSS HAS BEEN CONNECTING PEOPLE TO PROVEN SOLUTIONS THAT ALLOW THEM TO STABILIZE THEIR LIVES, OVERCOME SETBACKS, AND REALIZE THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL. IN 2021, CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES SERVED 13,000 PEOPLE HELPING VULNERABLE SENIORS AGE WITH GRACE AND INDEPENDENCE AND HELPING WORKING-POOR FAMILIES OVERCOME SETBACKS, USING OUR PROVEN PROCESS, WE PROVIDE THE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT TO HELP THEM BREAK THE CYCLE OF POVERTY AND REACH THEIR GOALS IN LIFE. OUR PROVEN PROCESS MEETS PEOPLE WHEREVER THEY ARE AND GUIDES THEM THROUGH OUR THREE PHASES OF SERVICE, AT A PACE THAT WORKS BEST FOR THEM.1. BUILD TRUST: WITHOUT TRUST, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO HELP A PERSON, MUCH LESS REALIZE THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL. WE BUILD TRUST BY MEETING PEOPLE WHEREVER THEY ARE EMOTIONALLY, PHYSICALLY, AND SPIRITUALLY AND BY TREATING THEM WITH RESPECT AND DIGNITY. WE OFFER THEM COMPASSIONATE SERVICE WITHOUT JUDGMENT OR FEAR, AND WE HONOR THEIR HUMANITY. WHEN WE INTERACT WITH OUR CLIENTS, WE WANT THEM TO FEEL SAFE AND AUTONOMOUS.2. STABILIZE THE SITUATION: ONCE WE'VE BUILT TRUST WITH A CLIENT, WE CONNECT THEM TO RESOURCES TO HELP THEM OVERCOME THEIR OBSTACLES AND STABILIZE THEIR SITUATION. OBSTACLES CAN RANGE FROM FOOD INSECURITY TO LANGUAGE BARRIERS TO ISOLATION. WHATEVER THE CHALLENGE, WHEN CLIENTS ARE EXPERIENCING A CRISIS, THEY OFTEN NEED TO ADDRESS ONE BIG ISSUE TO GIVE THEM THE ABILITY TO TAKE ON SMALLER ONES. THIS STABILIZATION PHASE OFTEN GIVES OUR CLIENTS CONFIDENCE AND DETERMINATION TO OVERCOME LIFE'S CHALLENGES IN THE FUTURE.3. REACH GOALS: HAVING BUILT A TRUSTING RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR CLIENTS AND STABILIZED THEIR SITUATION, WE HELP THEM TAKE THE NEXT STEP FORWARD. WE WORK WITH OUR CLIENTS AND TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT OUT OF LIFE. WE LAY OUT ACTION PLANS AND GIVE THEM A CLEAR VIEW OF THE LIFE THEY WANT TO LIVE. BY THE TIME OUR CLIENTS REACH THIS PHASE, THEY HAVE LEARNED IMPORTANT LIFE SKILLS AND HABITS TO MAKE AUTONOMOUS, PRODUCTIVE DECISIONS.MANY OF OUR CLIENTS LIVE WITHIN A THIN MARGIN OF ERROR. ONE UNPREDICTABLE OBSTACLE QUICKLY SPIRALS INTO ANOTHER, AND BEFORE THEY CAN REACT, THEY'RE DEALING WITH A FULL-BLOWN CRISIS. AT CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES, WE HELP PEOPLE OVERCOME OBSTACLES AND AVOID HAVING THEIR CHALLENGES COMPOUND, GETTING THEM BACK ON TRACK TO REACHING THEIR GOALS. IN 2021, OUR CLIENTS DEALT WITH THE ON-GOING HEALTH AND ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC. SETBACKS BECAME MORE COMPLICATED, BUT CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES ROSE TO THE CHALLENGE, EXPANDING SERVICES TO RESPOND TO OUR CLIENTS WHEN THEY NEEDED US THE MOST.