CC Programs Report (part 1)

Sowing Seeds of Hope
Annual Report 2010
The seed becomes a new source of life to the world around it.
— Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington
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I
t is a pleasure for me to present the Annual Report for Catholic Charities
of the Archdiocese of Washington and to share with you the efforts of
this “good works arm of the Church” to live out the Gospel message in our
community. As Jesus’ disciples today, we accept his challenge to care for those
in need and to bring his love and compassion into our community and society.
As a people of faith we recognize that we have been empowered not only to do
those noble and good works to which we are called by the Lord, but to recognize
in doing so we actually manifest his kingdom in our world. It is precisely through
our actions of charity and our works of care and compassion that the world
of peace and love, justice and solidarity that Jesus calls the beginning of his
kingdom comes to be.
In the lives of tens of thousands of individual people Catholic Charities makes
it possible for us to be with our brothers and sisters who are without shelter,
adequate food, health care and mental health services in a way that we can be
to them the face of Christ, the face of care and the face of compassion.
Donald Cardinal Wuerl
Archbishop of Washington
When we read this Annual Report we are reminded that behind every number
is a face and a person whose life is better today than it would otherwise have
been. Each one of these acts of goodness is a building block of that better world
that we who see with the eyes of faith recognize as God’s kingdom. Thanks to
your support the manifestation of that kingdom is made visible just a little bit
more in our community through the good works that are carried out through
the efforts, presence and services of Catholic Charities.
As you go through this report I hope you will see the fruit of your own generosity
and recognize the accomplishments of your efforts on behalf of Catholic Charities.
Presenting this report provides me an opportunity to express my gratitude for
your continued support of Catholic Charities and all that it accomplishes.
God’s blessings on you and all those who are served by Catholic Charities.
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Our Mission
To strengthen the lives
of those in need
by giving help that empowers
and hope that lasts
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T
here is nothing insignificant or easy about planting a seed. As we
know from Jesus’ parable of the sower and the seed, too many seeds
fall into rocky ground or grow only to be choked by thorns or carried away by
birds. It takes a careful planter, one who has sought out the perfect soil and the
right climate, to ensure that a seed can grow into new life.
In his Pastoral Letter on The New Evangelization, Cardinal Donald Wuerl often
returns to the role of the seed in creating inspiration, hope and renewed faith.
As we work at Catholic Charities to help our neighbors live free of poverty and
isolation, we too must sow seeds where they can grow.
We know hungry children cannot focus in school. We know that too few of us
truly understand our brothers and sisters with mental illness and addiction. We
know that for immigrants, refugees and asylees, the challenge to start over only
begins upon arrival in a new country. We know that those with developmental
disabilities are rarely seen for their talents and what they offer the world. And we
know that without a home, it is nearly impossible for anyone to secure meaningful
employment, stay healthy and ultimately give back with their talents.
Edward J. Orzechowski
President and CEO
Catholic Charities of the
Archdiocese of Washington
Yet with your support, we were all inspired this year by the woman renting
her own unit in The Summit at St. Martin’s after 27 years of homelessness
(pg. 6), by the young man who overcame his own mental health issues and now
helps others at Anchor Mental Health (pg. 12), and by the father whose family
survived against all odds thanks to much-needed help from the Montgomery
County Family Center (pg. 18).
Our volunteers and supporters are as diverse as our clients, and they are vital
to these stories. But each has this in common: an understanding of the value
of compassion, of the importance of each person and of the power of our
community to plant a seed and nurse it to fruition.
Charles S. Abell
Chair, Board of Directors
Catholic Charities of the
Archdiocese of Washington
Thank you for all that you have done, and may God bless you.
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A Sweet End to a Bitter Journey
I
t’s hard to describe what Sheila Burroughs’ new home means to her.
She occupies a sparkling, one-bedroom apartment in The Summit at St.
Martin’s and her name is on the lease. It is only the second time she’s lived
in her own place—ever.
The journey here hasn’t been easy. Sheila took her first drink at age nine and
has waged a battle with addiction ever since. She began abusing drugs after the
death of her mother in 1983. Between 1985 and early 2010, Sheila was drinking,
getting high and working for money to buy more drugs daily.
Through it all, the even-tempered, soft-spoken Sheila never had trouble
getting a job. Keeping it was the problem. “I realized after losing another
great job I wanted more out of life than drugs,” Sheila said. “I needed
structure, discipline.”
Last year, Sheila was accepted into our Mt. Carmel House transitional program
for women overcoming substance abuse. The intensive, wrap-around case
management support and structured activities helped keep her sober.
“Mt. Carmel House was a blessing, which led to this blessing,” Sheila said.
Opened last fall by Catholic Charities, The Summit provides 178 highquality, affordable apartments for families and adults from all walks of life.
Sheila’s journey to self-sufficiency may have been 25 years in the making, but
there’s hope for a sweet end to a bitter journey. “I’ve applied to work as a caterer,”
Sheila said proudly. “One day I may even have my own cupcake shop.”
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Developing Independence
Last year, 462 refugees found a
helping hand at the Refugee Center
when they arrived more caption
can fit here.
“Mt. Carmel House was a blessing, which led to this blessing.”
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— Sheila Burroughs
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Housing and Shelter Programs
Catholic Charities operates 18 housing and
shelter programs to address the central challenge to overcoming poverty, lack of housing.
With attention and support, many of our clients
begin to stand on their own and transition to
permanent housing.
Emergency Shelters
Every night in Washington, DC, we offer
nearly 1,000 emergency shelter beds for men
and women with nowhere else to turn for a
warm meal, a shower and a clean, safe place
to rest. Last year, more than 9,600 men and
women found shelter with us.
Transitional Housing Programs
Our transitional programs help adults and
families move out of homelessness by providing stable housing within a
structured and supported environment, including focused case management,
employment assistance and training and soft skills. Last year, 360 adults and
children lived in one of our six transitional programs.
Single Room Occupancy Programs
As a final step to independence, clients maintain their own living space with
shared kitchens and bathrooms and pay a low monthly rent. Residents take their
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time to build savings, pursue careers and enjoy more personal freedom
in preparation for independent living. Residents continue to work with
staff to ensure they can face the challenges of living on their own. Last
year, 50 adults participated in our single room occupancy programs.
Permanent Supportive Housing
We have found that by responding to the individual or family crisis of homelessness, clients can then focus on the underlying causes,
often education, employment and chronic health issues. Permanent
Supportive Housing provides each client his or her own apartment for
as long as needed. A case manager works one-on-one with residents
to address barriers to self-sufficient living. Residents pay a portion of
their income as rent at rates they can afford. We recently opened the
178-unit complex, The Summit at St. Martin’s (pictured right, story on
pg. 6), to provide both permanent supportive and affordable housing.
Moving: Out, Up and Onward
Last year, 22 women successfully moved from our Mt. Carmel House
transitional program into permanent housing, including six who now live
at The Summit at St. Martin’s (see above). The program focuses on stable
employment as the key to independent living. Senior Program Manager
Mary Bridget Klinkenbergh credits her clients’ successes to Mt. Carmel’s
individualized case management approach, educational programs and wraparound support. “Our clients have learned so much, and they now have the
confidence and knowledge to live on their own,” Mary said.
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Adults and Children with
Developmental Disabilities
For more than 50 years, the Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Institute has created opportunity for success, provided learning resources and delivered ongoing support
to adults and children with developmental disabilities and their families.
The Kennedy School
For children and youth with a developmental disability, the Kennedy School
offers educational, therapeutic and vocational classes that ensure their growth
in a safe and supportive classroom environment. Last year, the school enrolled
66 students, ages 6–22, who received nurturing services and personal attention
from teachers and aides. Each graduate found work, began college or entered a
continuing adult education program.
Community Companions
This after-school program allows children
with developmental disabilities to continue
learning while parents work a full day.
Students do homework with tutors, create art,
exercise and take educational field trips.
Child Development Center
Intervention at a young age can often help
children displaying developmental disabilities, enabling them to progress more successfully. This therapeutic and engaging program
is inclusive, bringing together children from
all along the spectrum of development.
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Community Options
Many of the 29 clients enrolled in this adult day program have
disabilities severe enough to prevent them from working — but
they still want to be part of the community. The therapeutic
services offered focus on interpersonal skills and healthy living.
Supported Employment Programs
The adults with developmental disabilities enrolled in this program work one-on-one with specialists who match them with
jobs that complement their skills, strengths and interests.
Early Head Start
This programs works to ensure children stay healthy and happy by providing
services to pregnant women and young clients under the age of three. Staff visit
the home weekly, offering resources and support to enhance children’s development and to assist pregnant women with prenatal and postpartum needs. Kennedy’s Foster Grandparents: Healing Helpers
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The Kennedy Institute’s Child Development Center benefits greatly from the
generous love shown by Foster Grandparents. The volunteers, who are usually
retired and seeking a way to give back, work with one or two children with special
needs. Barbara Lankster, who runs the Center, said, “These are feisty grandmothers
who just jump right in and do whatever is needed, providing that extra bit of
attention and care our kids need.” The Foster Grandparent program is part of the
DC Office on Aging and is a national model for senior volunteerism.
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Adults and Families in Crisis
We offer an array of programs that provide expert care and comprehensive
services to meet our clients’ most basic needs.
Archdiocesan Legal Network
Accessing sound legal advice and representation is a major challenge for many
low-income families. We connect clients with pro bono attorneys to assist in civil
legal issues, including bankruptcy
and family matters.
Children and Adolescent
Mobile Psychiatric
Service (ChAMPS)
ChAMPS is the only emergency
program in DC providing access to
24/7 in-home service to children and
young adults suffering a psychiatric
or behavioral crisis. Last year,
ChAMPS served 418 children.
Family Centers
We operate three regionally based
centers offering emergency rental
and utility funds, workshops and
other services. Last year, we served
38,393 people at our three centers.
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Anchor Mental Health
For more than 50 years, Anchor Mental Health has provided services
to adults with mental illness, including medication management,
employment assistance and limited supported housing. Last year,
Anchor worked with more than 1,000 individuals.
Assertive Community Treatment (ACT)
The ACT team pairs specialists such as psychiatrists and social workers
who provide holistic care to adults with mental illness. The team travels
to meet with clients wherever they live. Read more on page 12.
Hermano Pedro Multicultural Day Program
We offer case management and mental health care, as well as a hot
lunch, shower and clothing donations to our clients. Last year, 513
adults found refuge here during the day.
Fortitude Housing
Fortitude Housing provides a safe, clean place to individuals formerly
experiencing chronic homelessness. Last year, in Maryland and the
District, we provided warm and safe homes to 162 adults.
Archdiocesan Health Care Network
The Health Care Network connects low-income patients to pro bono
specialists for expert medical care they could not otherwise afford.
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Social Enterprises
Several of our programs focus on service as a community-based effort,
stressing hands-on involvement, creativity and self-empowerment.
Catholic Charities Enterprises
Partnering with Anchor Mental Health, the Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Institute
and several outside organizations, Catholic Charities Enterprises provides jobs
to adults living with disabilities,
utilizing the unique skills that
many of our clients possess. Last
year alone, more than 50 clients
maintained steady, full-time employment.
Catholic Charities Enterprises also
includes Charities Catering, which
serves more than 2,000 meals daily
through the cafeteria at Anchor
Mental Health, student lunches at
nearby schools and meals for group
homes, shelters and other day
programs. Our employees pride
themselves on taking an innovative
approach to the meals they serve,
working with the licensed dietician
on staff to prepare meals that are
both tasty and healthy.
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SHARE Food Network
The SHARE Food Network taps into volunteerism
as a way to create stronger, healthier and closer
communities. Through SHARE, customers are able
to buy healthy groceries while volunteering. A single
package, containing meats, potatoes, fruits, vegetables
and desserts, costs only $20. Last year, SHARE delivered
more than 130,000 packages, saving low-income
consumers $3 million on their grocery bills.
Southern Maryland Food Bank
Last year, the Southern Maryland Food Bank distributed an astonishing
655,199 pounds of food to 25 local food pantries, group homes, soup kitchens
and shelters across Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s Counties in Maryland.
Through these pantries, more than 35,000 people received emergency food.
Faith Does Justice
For all of her life, Jean Hale has been devoted to her community. Lovingly known
as “Mother Hale,” she played a vital role when the SHARE Food Network started in
1990 by leading her parish, Our Lady Queen of Peace, to be one of the first sites to
join the program. For 20 years, Mother Hale organized as many as 50 volunteers
each month to package, pick up and distribute the affordable food packages to
parishioners and neighbors. Mother Hale received the Faith Does Justice award from
Catholic Charities, given annually in honor of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
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With Help, a Family Recovers
C
laude Noumedem and his family have overcome much already. His
five children are in good schools. His wife is receiving treatment for her
breast cancer. They have a home with five bedrooms and furniture. He just
needs a job or business opportunity.
Back in Cameroon, he was a successful businessman until political persecution
forced him to leave his family and flee to America. He spent the next five
years working and saving money to bring his family here. Just before they
were reunited, his wife Cecile was diagnosed with cancer. The family arrived
in 2010, but airfare and treatment wiped out his savings.
With medical bills and six mouths to feed, Claude couldn’t make rent. They were
evicted within a week from their tiny apartment.
Desperate, Claude came to Tiffany Tan and our Montgomery County Family
Center. Tiffany gave them food and connected them with Kevin McConville
and the In the Name of the Mother Fund, which provides funds for mothers with
cancer through Catholic Charities. Tiffany found a home for the family. Kevin
collected furniture from friends and paid one month of rent.
Now Claude is searching for work. He recently earned a Project Management
Certification from Georgetown University and has two Master’s Degrees from
Cameroon. He hopes to import and sell Cameroonian coffee, a trade he worked
in his past life.
“My daughter says, ‘There is an angel working with God’,” Claude said. “We
can succeed now.”
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Developing Independence
Last year, 462 refugees found a
helping hand at the Refugee Center
when they arrived more caption
can fit here.
“We can succeed now.”
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— Claude Noumedem
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Immigrants and Refugees
Whether seeking a life free from oppression, poverty and war or simply seeking
a new opportunity for themselves and their families, thousands of people
immigrate to our region every year. Our programs take a culturally sensitive
approach to meeting the needs of those who come through our doors.
Spanish Catholic Center
The Spanish Catholic Center (SCC) focuses on providing holistic, accessible care
to our clients. In locations in Washington, DC, and Montgomery County, we
offer medical and dental care, job
training programs, English classes,
a green construction training program, a food pantry and case management. Last year, the SCC worked
with 22,000 people, providing more
than 75,000 services.
In the past year, the SCC Medical
Clinic has launched efforts to treat
chronic health challenges facing
the Latino community, especially
diabetes and high blood pressure.
We also expanded our hours
on weeknights and weekends to
accommodate patients who are
uninsured and cannot afford time
off from work for checkups.
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Refugee Center
The Refugee Center aids newly arrived refugees to our region
with a basic orientation to our culture and assistance with
finding employment. Our clients come from more than 35
countries to join our community. The Center’s Job Club teaches
refugees about workforce life and practices in America before
staff members begin the job placement process. We offer
English classes, knowing language is often a barrier to longterm employment. Last year, 370 refugees found work through
the Refugee Center.
Immigration Legal Services
Immigration Legal Services (ILS) offers direct legal services to foreign-born
individuals and their families as well as tailored education workshops on
immigration issues. With a staff of 15, ILS took on more than 3,500 cases last
year. The staff also conducted 64 specialized workshops on immigration issues
around the region, reaching more than 13,000 people.
Standing Up for the Voiceless
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In his pro bono work alongside our Immigration Legal Services team, Attorney David Zetooney
of Bryan Cave LLP has been instrumental in combating notario fraud. He has won two civil cases
locally and is urging the Federal Trade Commission to implement practices to better protect
immigrant consumers. Notarios misrepresent their legal skills and charge immigrants expensive
fees to file for legal status for themselves or their family. Instead, these families are defrauded,
often of thousands of dollars, and are left facing deportation. David’s work is breaking ground
to bring equality to a group of people who too often have no voice.
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Children and Adolescents
Children are our hope for the future. Yet, they are the most vulnerable among
us. Our programs work with families to create safe and loving homes. They give
teenagers living independently the attention they need. And they support teen
parents working toward a bright future for themselves and their family.
Independent Living and Teen Parent Programs
The Independent Living Program offers older youth in the foster care system who
aren’t placed with a family the opportunity to live in their own apartment. With
the support of social workers,
they develop the skills to ensure
self-sufficiency by age 21. Youth
involved in the program attend monthly parenting classes,
learn to prepare healthy meals,
are taught to manage a savings
account and are required to
work or attend school. Last year,
the program was filled to capacity, serving 183 youth, including 64 teenage parents. For the
20 youth who graduated from
the program, 100 percent left
with stable housing.
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Pregnancy and Adoptions
Every child deserves the best opportunity to be raised in a loving home. But
not every parent is ready to be a mother or father. We worked with 15 birth
parents and prospective adoptive parents to help ensure infants are raised
in a strong, stable, loving home. Last year, we finalized six adoptions.
Family Preservation
We believe in the strength of the family to uplift and support children. So we
work with parents and children to improve family dynamics. Staff provide
the resources, tools and support families need to maintain a safe home. This
is an intensive eight-week program designed specifically for families where a
child has been abused or neglected. Families must be referred from the Prince
George’s County Department of Social Services. Last year, of the 54 families
who completed the program, 51 were able to prevent the removal of a child by
improving parenting skills and enhancing family communication.
In-home Care Paves Way for Foster Care Success
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Our Independent Living and Teen Parent programs follow an in-home care
model to ensure success. Social workers meet at the homes of the teens and
teen parents who live on their own within the foster care system. With the
added attention and greater level of comfort, youth stay focused on the
goals they’ve established for themselves and their children. Last fall, all of
the clients enrolled in both programs were able to maintain stable housing,
primarily because staff using in-home care could better assess and detect early
challenges youth were facing.
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A Parish Rallies around a Family
E
ven when Lashawn Washington, her husband George and their five
daughters lived for two months in a motel, they never lost sight of
who they were. Lashawn, a breast cancer survivor, knew how
important it was to keep family morale high. They always played
games, wrote poetry and watched TV together. The girls never
missed school and kept up their grades.
Finally, the family found an affordable home, but they had
no furniture. George rode a bicycle to work and on errands to
the store. At night, the family stood at the kitchen counter to
eat and slept on the floor. As Christmas approached, Lashawn
and George turned to St. Mary of the Assumption parish in
Upper Marlboro, Md., for help.
Laura meets with Lashawn,
middle, and George in their newly
furnished home.
Chris Gomez, with the parish’s St. Vincent de Paul Society,
called Laura Yeoman in our Parish Partners Program for help
serving the family. After meeting Lashawn, Laura arranged to help with their
utility bills and gave them two bags of groceries. Chris donated some extra
furniture he didn’t need and turned to the parish for additional support.
When Father William Foley, pastor at the church, made an announcement
at mass, the response was incredible. The parishioners rallied and provided
beds, couches, kitchenware and more. They donated money and Christmas
gifts, filling the apartment.
“Lashawn and George always put their children first,” said Laura. “They are a
very strong family.”
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Last year, 462 refugees found a
helping hand at the Refugee Center
when they arrived more caption
can fit here.
“They are a very strong family.” — Laura Yeoman
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