Living With Intellectual Disabilities - Move From Campus to Community

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1 CSS C O N N E C T I O N S VOL. 15, ISSUE 2 FALL 2012 A NEWSLETTER OF CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES From Campus to Community: Don Guanella Boys Move to Group Home in NE Philadelphia I like to walk to stores and the park, everything is close so I can go by myself. I m more independent here. So says Christian Massey, age 20, about Duffy Hall, a community group home run by St. Francis-St. Joseph Homes for Children (SFSJ) in Northeast Philadelphia. Chris is one of five young men with intellectual disabilities who moved last summer from a cottage on the Don Guanella Village (DGV) campus, where he had lived for around the house. I m even learning to cook! He looks forward to graduating from high school this year, and wants to go to college and also continue to work in a restaurant. His roommate Tevon Gilbert, now 20, was 13 when he moved to Don Guanella School. He was also worried about the move, but coming to visit first helped a lot, actually it has been pretty good and rooming with his friend Chris helps. Staff from both DGV and SFSJ worked diligently for months prior to the move to make it a smooth and easy transition for the young men. Duffy Hall program director Bob Paff has been with SFSJ for 27 years, and also has 20 years of experience in community-based services for high functioning intellectually disabled individuals. He recruited SFSJ IN THIS ISSUE (Continued on page 4) Christian, Program Director Bob Paff, Luis, Richard Robinson, Group Home Supervisor Wayne Graham, and Tevon five years. He liked the quiet campus with its own sports fields, so at first he was a little worried about the move because I thought it would be a big change. But things have been good. He now has a roommate, and is making new friends very quickly: We get along and hang out together. I do chores and help out New Vision for Don Guanella Village Brother Brian Henderson, FSC: Teacher and Advocate High School Youth Staff OST Summer Programs Life Sharing: A Member of the Family CSS Summer Activities Deacon Candidates Volunteer Summer Service in CSS Del-Voc Summer Intern Following in Dad s Footsteps Putting Faith in Action Montco Food Pantry St. Francis St. Joseph Youth Connect Across Generations From Mission Volunteer to Full-Time Social Worker Peaceful Moves for Divine Providence Village Women Around and About CSS Make CSS Your United Way Donor Choice CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES A DIVISION OF CATHOLIC HUMAN SERVICES ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA 222 N 17TH ST, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19103

2 PAGE 2 A Message from Joseph J. Sweeney, Jr. SECRETARY FOR CATHOLIC HUMAN SERVICES The ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus once said that You never step into the same river twice. His point was simple yet profound change is inevitable, although at times imperceptible. Even things we consider stable and constant are in another way always on the move, like the passing waters of a seemingly familiar river, or in my case the waves splashing over my feet on my favorite beach at the Jersey shore. Of course, not only is this not the same water as last year or even yesterday, but we too have changed. This insight is helpful as we continue to adapt to significant changes occurring in the environment around us and within many Catholic Social Services programs. Those with us for more than a few decades will remember when we ran many large congregate care settings for vulnerable individuals dependent and delinquent youth, orphaned children, and intellectually disabled children and adults. These larger institutions were state of the art in both physical plant and quality of services. But with the passing of time, the profile of our clients has gradually changed, and we have changed to meet the more complex care needs of those we serve. Most of those large campuses and buildings have closed, as new research-based service delivery models using smaller community-based group homes have been demonstrated to be healthier living environments that produce better long-term outcomes for most clients. For that reason, our governmental partners have been shifting their funding priorities in this direction for some time. Consider the following examples. At St. Vincent Homes, we no longer serve orphans or young foster children; instead, we support teenage girls with significant behavioral health challenges, some of whom are pregnant or already have a child. St. Gabriel s System has served court adjudicated delinquent young men for over a century, and St. Francis-St. Joseph Homes for Children has historical roots that reach back even further in caring for neglected and dependent youth. Yet today, these two programs serve young men who have increasingly similar backgrounds, unfortunately due to the common experience of trauma early in life, and thus our need to create safe sanctuary where staff can help address their consequent behavioral and mental health needs. And as you may have read in our cover story, a group of young men with intellectual disabilities recently moved from our Don Guanella Village campus in Springfield (where we have served boys like them for over 50 years), to a community-based group home in Northeast Philadelphia. These changes can be at first unsettling, especially when we have grown fond of the historic places where these wonderful charitable ministries have served so many so well for so long. But to hold on to the past in the face of changing needs and expectations would be irresponsible stewardship of precious resources. We must choose fidelity to mission over nostalgia, to continue our good works in new ways and places in order to remain viable and effective in fulfilling that mission today and tomorrow. In the Great Commission at the end of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus challenged his disciples to go forth and continue his work, and then promised them: I am with you always, until the end of the age, (Mt 28:20). He did not specify how or where he would be with them, just that they would not be alone. Good as it was, they could not hold on to the earthly ministry of Jesus, for his ascending to His Father in glory was part of his plan to entrust his mission to them, and to us. We too must trust God s plan and let go of what was, as the first disciples did, so that we are able to take up the work that still lies before us to accomplish. Since it is ultimately God s work, we can face a future full of change with the confidence that Christ is with us, always and everywhere. CSS CONNECTIONS BOARD Joseph J. Sweeney, Jr., Secretary for Catholic Human Services James Amato, Deputy Secretary for Catholic Social Services Edward Lis, Director of Catholic Mission Integration Dave Reid, Editor CSS Connections is published three times a year. Questions, ideas or comments may be directed to Dave Reid at , or dreid@chs-adphila.org Please visit us at:

3 PAGE 3 A New Vision for Don Guanella Village Catholic Social Services today provides over a thousand residential beds to care for the most vulnerable individuals in our region. Many residential programs have a long history, and over the years have been modified in response to changes in public policy, research findings, and funding priorities over how to best serve various clients. We have seen tremendous program enhancements with the move from large congregate care settings to smaller community group homes for dependent youth served by St. Francis-St. Joseph Homes for Children and St. Vincent Homes. Moving to community group homes places clients closer to families and schools, reduces behavior problems, and fosters closer personal relationships with staff. The recent move of the Don Guanella boys to Duffy Hall has already benefited these youth with intellectual disabilities in a variety of ways. In our services for those with intellectual disabilities, the move to smaller residences and more communitybased living has been happening for the last few decades. Divine Providence Village opened in 1984 with six residential cottages, situated on a mid-sized campus. Each cottage has two apartments housing eight women each. These one-story cottages are homelike settings that have proven quite adaptable to the needs of the women as they age. In the 1990 s, we began the Life Sharing through Family Living program which places an individual with intellectual disabilities in a home setting with a provider who can nurture mutually beneficial relationships; we also opened Community Living Arrangements to serve three persons in family-size homes within residential neighborhoods. Don Guanella Village is well known and respected for its history of care for those with intellectual disabilities. The Cardinal Krol Center (CKC) which is now home to 131 adult men was built in the 1970 s for those aging out of the adjacent Don Guanella School, which is now vacant. The main building, housing 83 of those men, is a large facility with four-bed rooms. As these men have aged, the large setting exacerbated problems and incidents related to the men s increasing behavioral and medical complications. The Commonwealth s Office for Developmental Programs has persistently advocated moving these men from CKC into smaller cottages and/or community group homes. In response, our administrative team recently developed a plan to implement a new vision for the future of Don Guanella Village. The first stage will begin before year s end, and entails moving thirty-two men from CKC into two newly renovated cottages (once occupied by Don Guanella School boys) on the same Don Guanella Village campus, each now more suitable to accommodating adult men in two-person rooms. Another campus cottage is being converted into a more secure environment where men with dementia and men who wander can reside. We are grateful that Heritage of Faith funds are assisting us in paying for these capital improvements to the cottages. We are also in conversations with state officials to secure funding that will facilitate relocating our remaining men on campus within a few years to preferable smaller residential settings on a mini-campus or within the community, all under the auspices of DGV. It is vital to stress that all of these strategic moves are a work in progress. While the Don Guanella Village program may look quite different in the years ahead, what remains constant is our wholehearted commitment to the 128 men in our care, which we hold as a sacred trust. Not only do we remain committed to their physical and emotional wellbeing, but we will continue to provide for their spiritual and pastoral needs with the ongoing presence of the Servants of Charity who began this work over 50 years ago and remain an integral part of it today. We are confident that this initiative represents an exciting opportunity to enhance the quality of life and care for these wonderful men entrusted to us. by Jim Amato, Deputy Secretary for Catholic Social Services

4 PAGE 4 (Continued from page 1) staff who specifically bid on positions at Duffy Hall because they wanted to work with boys who are intellectually disabled (ID), and the assembled team has nearly 100 years of combined experience with the ID community. Weekly visits to DGV in Springfield to meet with the guys and review their records with program staff there paved the way for the five boys who moved to Duffy Hall, which can house up to 16 guys in eight two-person bedrooms. In addition to meeting and recreation rooms, the home offers a full size kitchen and dining room, and outdoor playing field and basketball court. When the transition of Don Guanella Village youth to Duffy Hall began, I was administrator of St. Francis-St. Joseph Homes for Children. I am proud of how my staff there welcomed these young men and helped them to enjoy the positive experiences that come with living in the community. In my new role as Director of Catholic Social Services Developmental Programs, I reaffirm our unwavering commitment to a substantive continuum of care, which includes community-based living as an essential component. The process initiated with these five young men now living in the community is a sign of things to come. - Fran Swiacki Their program is very activity oriented, focused on building practical life skills as well as providing structured social time around movies, sports activities, game nights, sharing groups, and weekend trips. Group activities help in building relationships, and a favorable staffing ratio allows for spending a lot of individual time with each resident. Louis Valoy, 20, who lived at DGV in Springfield for a year, and is now at Duffy Hall, appreciates that: It s good, the staff here really like to bond with us, they take us out a lot, try to teach us discipline and good behavior, to help us become successful young men. We all need people to look up to and learn from. He likes that he has more freedom to go to the mall or the movies on the bus. A recent graduate of Martin Luther King HS whose favorite subject was math, Louis would like to continue his education to have a better chance of finding not just a job but a career that I would enjoy doing. Richard Robinson was a DGV staff person who came over to Duffy Hall with the boys: We helped them see that change is not a bad thing, that we were all nervous about it but that s normal. Once they got here they saw there is a lot going on around here, lots of life around us. Rich thinks being more integrated into the community is great for them, as they do more for themselves and by themselves, learning how to use public transit, having freedom to walk to places, building social skills by hanging out with friends beyond where they live, even getting gym memberships. As a former medic in the Army who served in Iraq, part of Rich s nature is helping the guys with day to day activities and being a mentor to them. Having grown up in residential group homes all through high school, he understands them well: Everybody here has gone through what I have gone through, so seeing how they progress each day makes it meaningful and even fun to come to work. Program goals focus on getting the guys out looking for jobs, learning responsibility in the house, and being treated as young adults moving forward with a plan for their future, prepared to have a place in society. In the past two months, seven more teenage boys with intellectual disabilities have been placed at Duffy Hall by the city s Department of Human Services. Program director Paff observes that naturally, guys who had lived on a suburban campus for 8 or 9 years were a bit resistant to move, but they have found that here in the city they have more opportunities, and also more expectations on them for cultivating good community living and responsibility for their daily schedules. We have good people working with them, and each young man says he is happy to be here, that it has been good for them. Their behaviors have improved, and we are helping these young men learn to redirect their energies toward positive goals.

5 PAGE 5 Br. Brian Henderson, FSC: Teacher and Advocate Brothers and Sisters Among Us is an ongoing series that features some of the religious men and women who currently serve in Catholic Social Services. Nurturing the vocation of the educator as guardian and protector, model and shepherd to children, providing loving care to youth whose families are often unable to do so. This is how Brian Henderson expresses his vocation as a Christian Brother and his mission to form lay colleagues who are vital partners in realizing this educational vision first espoused by St. John Baptist de LaSalle. A native of Southwest Philadelphia, Br. Brian met the Christian Brothers while attending West Catholic High School and then LaSalle University, where he earned a BA in Religion and Psychology and MA in Pastoral Studies. His involvement in the Community Service Corps cultivated in him a vision for a lifestyle of faith-inspired service within a vibrant community dedicated to the holistic formation of youth. He entered the congregation while a junior at LaSalle, and has been with the Christian Brothers for 33 years now. Brother s first assignment was as a youth care worker at St. Gabriel s Hall, after which he taught religion at his alma mater West Catholic before going to East Baltimore as Dean of Students and later Assistant Principal at St. Francis Academy, the oldest African-American Catholic high school in the country. He earned a Masters in Education from Loyola College of Baltimore, and forged his emerging commitment to work with inner-city youth. He then returned to St. Gabe s where he has been Director for the last 12 years. For him, the Christian Brothers work with adjudicated youth at places like St. Gabe s because these are children whose traumatic experiences put them at great risk of not appreciating their fundamental goodness and their hope for fruitful futures. It is a privilege to unearth the treasure that is each child, and bring them to discover that for themselves and build on it. We are a better world when we stop allowing children to be discarded, and if we can help the boys who are with us to discover their goodness, they will find the capacity to voice their own dignity, to do better, and to be an advocate for the dignity of others. As a warrior fighting the battle of ignorance that pervades society about troubled youth, he is committed to the formation of future educators and ministers who compassionately and ably teach young people, and creation of environments that foster healthy relational and personal development. Brother deftly blends Gospel values with Servant Leadership principles and integrates both with the Sanctuary Model of trauma-informed care, to effectively care for youth and their families who have suffered severe emotional injuries: De LaSalle had deep appreciation for all people as children of God, especially those most vulnerable and marginalized. By recognizing their humanity, dignity and human potential, we help them find their rightful place in life and community. Healing and reconciliation come from knowing I am accepted, embraced by love and elevated to appreciate my great value. The Brothers of the Christian Schools (FSC) pass on the mission handed down from Saint John Baptist de La Salle: to give a human and Christian education to the young, especially the poor. The Brothers and their LaSallian Lay Associates serve in the following CSS Programs: Brother Rousseau Academy De La Salle in Towne De La Salle Vocational School St. Gabriel's Hall / Mitchell Program St. Gabriel's System Reintegration Services For more information on the Christian Brothers in this region, go to For Lasallian writings and activities in North America, go to For the Lasallian Volunteer Program, go to For the International Christian Brothers and Lasallian Leadership Institute, go to He delights in the collaborative partnership with the LaSallian lay movement, involving those in Christian Brother schools and ministries in the vision to be genuine, dedicated and authentic witnesses to faith-filled community and service, and thus be effective catalysts of ongoing transformation in the world. Their simple invocation to attentiveness Let us remember that we are in the holy presence of God grounds their desire that all are heard, appreciated and valued as co-stewards who have faith in God and each other. Brother Brian says he was blessed to have parents who gave him a reservoir of stability, tolerance and perseverance, so my stewardship is to bring those same gifts to those students entrusted to my care, and walk them into their futures with hope and confidence.

6 PAGE 6 High School Youth Staff OST Summer Programs Summer means time off from school, but for high school students in the Out of School Time (OST) Summer Work- Ready Program at the Cardinal Bevilacqua Community Center (CBCC), there was plenty of work to be done. CBCC Program Director Dominique James had 68 youth ages 14 to 18 working 120 hours over six weeks in July and August in paid internships at 10 OST sites throughout Philadelphia. She saw this as a great opportunity for students to get hands-on experiences to aid their transition to college or work: They learned responsibility, developed communication and problem-solving skills, and grew to understand the importance of documentation and paying attention to detail. Some worked as junior camp counselors, coordinating group activities and supervising children, while others designed afterschool program activities for the coming year by arranging service projects and field trips. It was a successful summer, with nearly all interns fulfilling their hours and accomplishing all their learning goals. Pedro Soto s family came here from Puerto Rico a half century ago. A 2012 graduate of Community Academy High School, he is studying computer science at Cabrini University. At Casa del Carmen OST, he interacted with the kids, set up activities, and fixed computers. He sees this as great job experience: I m building a social network, reinforcing my skills and becoming a really good worker with a good head start on the process. Heather Wood, 17, of St. Timothy parish and a junior at Little Flower HS, wanted to work with kids due to lots of babysitting experience and watching her mom work with volunteers at CSS Northeast Family Service Center. She worked with 3 rd graders, and enjoyed seeing the kids learn, have fun and meet new friends: It also helps them stay ready for school. These children look up to you, so you have to be a good role model. I grew too by taking others as my role models. Heather is considering a dual degree in theatre and education, and mother Beth was happy to see her daughter learn valuable skills such as resume writing and interviewing, working as a team, and developing organizational skills. Arion (Kindergarten): It is so fun here, I want to come everyday! Prince (1 st grade): I like learning how to be healthy and eat good foods. Jeremy (3 rd grade): I have fun and meet new people, I m smarter thanks to the OST program. Noel (3 rd grade): I care more about others and I m more independent and respectful of other people. Foday (5 th grade): I like learning new languages and doing our Summer Olympics Project. Emily (5 th grade): The staff plan great activities and help me make new friends. They care about us and love us. Felicia (6th grade): My favorite part of camp is sewing lessons. Now I want to go to fashion school. Roxanne Rabusa, 16, was born here of parents who came from the Philippines 30 years ago. This was the first job experience for the junior at J.R. Masterman HS, who loves working with kids. A priest at nearby Visitation BVM parish encouraged her to apply for the program at CBCC, where she had participated in the afterschool program. She organized programming for the upcoming year, calling colleges to get materials and set up a college fair. She wants to study multimedia design at Arcadia University, and was proud to do something really important by helping other kids learn and grow here. Her sister says she has grown in confidence and responsibility and learned the value of doing something positive and being accountable. Chivra Okafur, 17, was born in Nigeria and came here with his family when he was three. He is a senior St. Joseph s Prep and a member of St. Francis of Assisi parish who is interested in studying neurology at UPenn or Columbia. With previous work experience at Camp Overbrook, he was placed at DePaul Catholic in Germantown, working with 6 th and 7 th graders planning Camp Olympics and other programs. He says that it was rewarding to have new experiences with the kids every day. We kept them busy and out of trouble, but it also taught me good communication skills and how to be a leader with children.

7 PAGE 7 Life Sharing: A Member of the Family Geneva Harris and Sheila McLeod may not be related by blood, but they are as much family as family can be. Almost 27 years ago, Sheila invited Geneva who was then in high school to become part of her family through what is now our Life Sharing through Family Living program. The success of Life Sharing can be attributed to the care taken in matching individuals with families and in supporting both as long term relationships bloom. Geneva and her Life Sharing mom, Sheila Before becoming part of the McLeod family, Geneva had been living at St. Mary of Providence in Elverson for over ten years. In her new family, she found herself with a slightly-younger sister, Vivian, a younger sister with special needs, Brandy, and a supportive grandmother. Mom Sheila proudly watched Geneva as she started mimicking Vivian who was then into hair, makeup, and all teenage girl things. Geneva was a good fit for the family from the beginning. Today, she is a loving aunt to Vivian s daughter, Sidney. Sheila, who has a background in the developmental disabilities field and has been an advocate for her special needs daughter, has helped Geneva through life s transitions. After Geneva completed school, she started out in a sheltered work activity environment. With Sheila s prodding, Geneva was introduced to outside employment opportunities and finally to competitive employment at CVS where she has worked for the past eleven years. More importantly, Life Sharing through Family Living has allowed Geneva to put down roots in her community and develop friendships through employment, volunteer activities and socialization. This is what transition to community inclusion looks like. Provider Family Length Life Sharing through Family Living is a Louise Caldwell 27 years long term Herman & Janie Corbett 27 years commitment, and Violane Gillyard 27 years CSS celebrates eleven Dollie Marriott 26 years provider families who have nurtured Earl & Marie Sherrod 26 years their individuals for Sheila McLeod 26 years more than 24 years. Karl & Diane Guinan 26 years The mutual give-andtake between the Melva McCray 25 years Vivian Scott 25 years family and the Clee Stewart 24 years person with Ursula Kistow 24 years intellectual disabilities more often than not changes both for the better. Sheila notes the love and concern of the CSS Life Sharing staff: We all want to insure that Geneva s future is secure. We work to help her adjust to naturally occurring family transitions, so that, just like any family member, she can share all the joys and the hopes, the griefs and the anxieties that we all experience. CSS is the largest and among the oldest Life Sharing support provider in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Program Manager Jim Boyle notes that the program supports 55 individuals, ranging in age from 15 to 84, placed with families who have completed the necessary requirements. He credits its success to the vision of former CSS Deputy Secretary, Jack Smith, pioneer Sister of St. Joseph Leona Tucker and a staff that always goes above-and-beyond. Sheila McLeod is beyond a doubt the best advocate for Geneva living an Every Day Life. She goes beyond the ordinary tasks of a Life Sharing Provider in seeing that Geneva does the things she wants and likes to do. Sheila has opened avenues for Geneva to have opportunities for volunteer work with animals, to be involved in the community in which they live, and to have memberships to a fitness club and the Philadelphia Zoo. Geneva is extremely happy in her Life Sharing home. To Sheila, Geneva is a member of the family who interacts at ease with Sheila s mother, her two daughters and her niece. Sheila is a provider who exemplifies Life Sharing at its best. Sr. Lisa Curran, OSF Program Coordinator, Life Sharing through Family Living For more information about the Life Sharing through Family Living Program, contact Jim Boyle at or him at JBoyle@chs-adphila.org

8 PAGE 8 CSS Summer Activities Five students from Our Lady Help of Christians (OLHC) OST summer program represented their peers in the city-wide OST Project-Based Learning (PBL) Cup competition, held at the Cardinal Bevilacqua Community Center on August 8, Over 150 children from nearly two dozen OST sites participated, and the OLHC team won the award for the project that demonstrated the best critical thinking skills. The OLHC team ranged from third through fifth graders, but they demonstrated the work done by all their fellow students (grades K to 6), whose projects focused on the inventions and accomplishments of Philadelphia s own Benjamin Franklin. Their activities highlighted his role as a community innovator, statesman, and scientist, and included trips to a firehouse and library for younger students. More challenging scientific experiments by older students involved static electricity and making an electroscope to produce magnetic repulsion. Last summer ten OST sites served 1017 children and youth (825 K 5, 120 middle school, 72 high school youth workers. Summer programs benefited from $55,000 in 21 st Century Community Learning Center grant funding, which supported implementation of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) activities, such as Science Fairs, Forensic Science Clubs, Underwater Exploration, Electricity and Robotics, and a Fantasy Baseball Integrated Math Program). Sites also took educational trips to the Franklin Institute, Camden Aquarium, and Philadelphia Water Works.

9 PAGE 9 Kim Bailey, whose daughter Mia is in her third year at Mary Mother of Peace OST summer program, volunteers here because when you find a program that cares about your kids as much as you do, it s easy to give your time. They instill discipline and good sportsmanship, build character and healthy relationships, and are always motivating the children to learn and have fun doing it. Mia likes math and science, and every week she tells me what she learned. As a mother it is reassuring to know that your child is in a program that enriches and inspires her with confidence and greater interest in things. St. Vincent Homes annually provides an enriching six week Title One Summer Camp for the young women in their care, who participated in a book club and learned financial literacy, computer, and job interview skills. Field trips included seeing the city with Philly Tour, a visit to the Franklin Institute to meet Ben and to see the Dead Sea Scrolls, and a tour of Community College of Philadelphia. At St. Edmond s Home for Children, Camp Rainbow provided Extended School Year experiences for 56 campers who are severely disabled and medically fragile. Campers enjoyed an eight-week program; each week had its own theme. Campers also enjoyed various community outings including bowling and trips to the Please Touch Museum, the Aquarium, the Zoo, and the Mann Music Center. Eric Shields, a student at Delaware County Community College, has been an OST summer camp counselor for the last 5 years because he loves working with kids: I feel I am making a small but meaningful impact by being a positive male role model, so I take pride in being that, especially for young boys who really need that kind of good example.

10 PAGE 10 Deacon Candidates Volunteer Summer Service in CSS Greeting men in the food line at St. John s Hospice with a smile and a handshake, and then sharing a meal with them Teaching court-adjudicated young men from De LaSalle Vocational how to present themselves at a job interview, and encouraging them in their first job experiences Bringing ice cream to make sundaes while watching a movie with pregnant teens at the Mother Caroline maternity residence These are just three of the simple yet profound ways that some 40 permanent diaconate candidates volunteered their time this summer in Catholic Social Services programs. Jim O Neill, a member of St. Christopher parish, had previously worked with both youth and the elderly; he chose to serve at St. John s Hospice to experience something different. After Food Services Director Anthony Willoughby saw Jim working the lunch line, he challenged him to get out of his comfort zone: I think you could be of more value interacting with the men. Jim joined the men over lunch: It was a profound experience to see the face of Christ in each of these men. These are men who don t have homes; but, first and last they are men beloved of God who deserve to be treated with love and dignity. Jim found these brief encounters with men very powerful and rewarding, as he tried to give them encouragement and show human warmth and compassion: Some day we will stand before the Lord and he will ask us how we loved him in others, like these men. This helped to draw a lot of reality into what I believe is my call to ordained ministry. Michael Cuff, a member of St. Anthony parish in Ambler, had been writing letters to men in prison for the last seven years. That motivated him to choose working with delinquent youth: I realized in corresponding with men in prison how many just needed good example and guidance from a male role model, so I figured I could help these younger guys by getting them to value doing well in school, and helping them to prepare for getting and keeping a job. The first thing he did was to teach the group how to give a firm handshake and make good eye contact. He gave them basic pointers on how to make a good impression on the job, and helped them reflect on what they learned. His goal? I wanted to give these guys hope, knowing that we all make mistakes but the important thing is to learn from them and not repeat them. I told them I am proud of them, and want them to see that they have options for a better future. Michael prayed with them often, and is grateful for the humility and patience the experience has taught him: They were like sponges soaking up everything I could give them. I saw Christ in them. Jack Pfeifer, a member of St. Andrew parish in Newtown, and his wife Maureen approach ministry as a couple. At St. Vincent Homes, they used movie nights with snacks to build rapport with young expectant teens. Weekly visits allowed Jack and Maureen to see how the girls pregnancies were progressing. The couple was surprised at how much trauma these women have been through so early in life. Maureen recounted: When we told them we had been (Continued on page 11)

11 PAGE 11 DelVoc Summer Intern Following in Dad s Footsteps Paul Pierce, 17, from the Mayfair section of Philadelphia, had stopped going to school after eighth grade when his mom got sick. He went truant for a year before juvenile court sent him to De LaSalle Vocational in August Paul says he was nervous at first to go to school with other guys who had gotten in trouble with the law, but ended up being really glad because the teachers at DelVoc pushed me to get back on track. Now my mom is happy that I am here learning a trade. Paul decided to follow in the footsteps of his dad and uncle, taking up auto mechanics at DelVoc, where he learned the nuts and bolts of fixing cars, enjoying getting dirty under the hood. My teachers were very helpful and taught me a lot, always encouraging me to take on more responsibility, and they really cared about me and believed in me. DelVoc Program Director Jim Logan said Paul has been an excellent student, with solid attendance and active participation in classes: When the local service center where we take our agency vehicles expressed interest in hiring a student intern, Paul was the logical choice. Paul interned with Daley s Auto Service Center in Bensalem, working alongside experienced auto mechanics twice his age. This was his first real job, yet his co-workers and on-site mentor Doc were pleasantly surprised with his skills and good work habits. Paul shadowed Doc, who showed him how it works in the real world of auto mechanics. Paul was like my little brother; he s got his head in the game, with a real future in the business. Paul interviewed with owner John Daley, Sr., who has been in the auto repair business for 50 years and currently employs six mechanics. He was willing to take on an intern from DelVoc because I grew up in a poor family and I had different guys who gave me quite a few breaks in my life, so it s just my time to return the favor. Paul had been well prepared for his interview by DelVoc staff person Matt Brophy, who helped him create a resume and be ready to answer questions and present himself well. Leaving home before 7am each day to take a bus to his work site, Paul said getting paid was nice, but what he really liked was looking at a car and saying: I fixed that, I did something good for somebody that I can be proud of. After his planned graduation in June 2013 from De LaSalle, he wants to attend UTI technical school. He sounds quite hopeful for his future: If I stay on this path, I know I can be successful in life, not getting rich, but breaking through and making it. No matter how many bumps in the road, I just get up and keep going. I am grateful to have a second chance. Doing work on mom s car reminds her of my dad, and that makes me feel good about myself. (Continued from page 10) married for 34 years, they were all amazed and told us they did not know anyone that had been married anywhere near that long. They really opened up to us; some nights we were emotionally drained, but by the end we left wanting to adopt them all. We were sad to realize that we would not see some girls ever again, so we tried to make a difference while we were with them. We grew to love all the girls and wanted to see them do well. Jack called these young women courageous: Despite all the pain they have known and challenges they face, they are willing to stand up for life and have their children. Because of St. Vincent Homes they are not standing alone; they can nurture hopes and dreams for themselves and their babies. Deacon James Owens, Director of the Permanent Diaconate office, sees this ministry of charity initiative as a means for men in formation for the permanent diaconate to experience hands-on the needs of the least of our brothers and sisters. It will also encourage future permanent deacons to consider ministry within human service programs with an understanding of and empathy for those they serve.

12 PAGE 12 Putting Faith in Action Montco Food Pantry Preach the Gospel always, and if necessary, use words. This simple yet profound message from St. Francis should inspire us to live what we believe, to be the hands of Christ in serving the needs of others. Indeed, the Church invites us in this upcoming Year of Faith to not only grow in faith, but also express that faith in charitable deeds. Today, with many families still struggling to make ends meet and resources to assist them ever more scarce, the Church of Philadelphia remains firmly committed to provide help and create hope for those most in need. Catholic Social Services operates Family Service Centers throughout the five counties which serve as the first point of contact for individuals and families seeking assistance. The Montgomery County Family Service Center in Norristown offers various forms of assistance through a well-stocked food pantry, a thrift store, baby care supplies, and personal finance guidance. The food pantry is one of the largest in a county where despite its affluence, thousands of families struggle with hunger and food insecurity on a regular basis. In the first six months of this year, 2,877 families received meals from the cupboard, which continues to see a steady increase in demand. Program Manager Liz Peteraf and scores of volunteers from surrounding parishes preach the Gospel every day in their efforts to feed the hungry. Peteraf knows what it means to experience hunger: As a child growing up in South Philadelphia, there was often a food scarcity problem in our home. That experience made me dedicated to the idea that no one in need should want for groceries. Most people don t want to see their neighbors go hungry. Family Services Centers located in Philadelphia and each suburban county depend heavily on the annual Catholic Charities Appeal to fund their efforts. Each center provides intake and assessment for individuals and families to assist them in accessing benefits and services. Emergency assistance may include groceries, rent or utility assistance, housing referrals, and case management. Other services include job training and placement assistance, ESL classes and translation assistance, GED preparation, pregnancy support and parenting classes. In these challenging times the Church, through the generosity of her people who give their time and resources, continues to heed the call of St. Francis, preaching the Gospel of Jesus by serving our brothers and sisters in need. by third year deacon candidate James Senior Connecting across Generations Young men from St. Francis-St. Joseph Homes for Children in Bensalem volunteer on a regular basis at the Motherhouse of the Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity (MSBT) on Solly Avenue in Philadelphia. (Members of MSBT community have been involved in the works of Catholic Social Services for nearly a century.) During these visits the youth engage the elderly sisters by playing games and doing arts and crafts projects. When weather permits, the St. Francis-St. Joseph youth take those sisters confined to wheelchairs outdoors for a change of scenery and some fresh air. Both the young men and the sisters look forward to these opportunities for sharing time together. The young men's energy brightens the days of these elderly sisters, according to Sister Mary Bartholomew: for many years I worked with young people and it does my heart good to see these young boys so willingly spend time with us. Mason (age 13) comes to the Motherhouse whenever possible: Coming here reminds me that I like helping people and I would like to do something like this in the future. The sisters remind me of my own grandmother and I hope some other young people are helping her. This service program is organized by Sister Bernadine, MSBT, who worked in CSS for over four decades, now serving as Spiritual Director at St. Francis-St. Joseph Homes.

13 PAGE 13 From Mission Volunteer to Full-time Social Worker Melanie Weyant was one of seven AmeriCorps Notre Dame Mission Volunteers who gave a year of service with Catholic Social Services last year. As to why she chose De La Salle in Towne (DelSit) she says, My mother was a social worker for 20 years, and because of her example I have always been driven to do good in the world. Among the many good causes out there, courtadjudicated delinquent youth are not high on most people s list, so I wanted to work with these guys to learn more about their experience and try to help them. She admits there were some days early on when she would wonder what did I get myself into, but in the end was glad for the challenge, and felt fortunate to have this experience. Her responsibilities involved working with 12 boys in the Alternative Diploma Program, which offers mastery credit for passing the GED test along with an academic skills course and senior project. Melanie helped them with time management, project planning, and GED test preparation. She assisted four students to graduate in June 2012, and had several other clients make solid progress by passing some GED sections. She felt gratified: I worked hard to provide an environment for my clients that would support them in their goals, and give them a brighter future. Melanie took a lot of initiative during her volunteer year, helping to put together a networking directory of various agencies that work with Family Court, to provide easy access to this information for DelSit treatment staff. Her energy and dedication did not go unnoticed by Program Director Skip Gaus, who offered her a full-time position at the end of her volunteer year: Melanie s commitment to mission and energy allowed her to grow into a professional role, so it was a natural fit for us. Gaus appreciated how she went over and above time and again, which indicated to him that this is a vocation for her: We look for people who get the concept of mission and can see this work with the eyes of faith, and in a sense create a path to salvation for the men. A LaSallian education is both Christian and human; moving away from poverty and violence is being made whole, thus creating opportunities for salvation here and now. Melanie will be filling a new role by establishing regular communication with that broad network of partner agencies in the directory she created last year. So in a sense she helped to write part of her job description: to respond more quickly to client needs by networking with other agencies to wrap supportive services around them. Melanie also brings her experience in conflict resolution into DelSit s Sanctuary Model of providing trauma-informed care. On becoming a full-fledged social worker, Melanie says she really wants to continue to help clients to move forward in life, and she sees her job as getting every part of the system of care well informed and working together to ensure better client outcomes. As to what motivates her in this work, she thrives on encouraging and building confidence in the young men: Their self-esteem and self-worth are fostered as they take responsibility for their progress. I love to catch my guys doing good and achieving things, so I can give them positive feedback. She was inspired when she witnessed the joy of several of her graduates hugging their moms and siblings. My mom helped me realize that people always deserve a second chance, and I just want to help them to get that opportunity. I know I am just planting seeds for good things in their futures.

14 PAGE 14 Peaceful Moves for Divine Providence Village Women What started slowly with four or five women for the first few months has now reached as many as 18 gathering each week at Divine Providence Village to do Tai Chi exercises. What explains the growth? According to instructor Ardella Simmons, There s just a connection that s grown between us. I look them in the eyes and when I do, I see me. I appreciate their purity and goodness and they know it. They are beautiful and make me feel great when I am with them. Tai Chi is a distinct form of martial arts that came from China that has grown popular in the U.S. because its peaceful and graceful movements are excellent for overall health improving one s balance, circulation, and breathing. In many parks you will observe small groups of people practicing Tai Chi for these very reasons. Ardella learned Tai Chi after having hand surgery to improve her circulation, on doctor s orders. A few years later she was invited to offer an introductory class for children, and so began a journey that would transform her life she now teaches Tai Chi to various groups young and old throughout the region each week. Ardella found it easy to adapt the techniques to the particular needs and abilities of the DPV women: When I ask these women to stand up and do the exercises, they jump right in with pride. We also do exercises sitting down so that those in wheelchairs are not left out. I do as they do, and they do as I do. At this point some of them could practically lead the class. She utilizes things like different size balls, or paint brushes with which they imagine painting things like the sun and sky, or a rainbow. Recently she introduced instruments like tambourines, drums, and xylophones as other means of self expression. Tai Chi is beneficial for women intellectual disabilities as a means of stress reduction, relaxation, or anger management. Classes are offered in the evening as wind down time prior to going to bed. One participant named Marybeth has lived at DPV for 11 years, and never wanted to participate in anything. Now she is the first one to class, always volunteering to be one of Ardella s assistants. Another named Liz says this is so easy so Ardella knows that she is making a connection and they are progressing: I feel like I am able to really reach them and touch them. All they want is someone to look at them and really see them, to notice them and not stare at them. They want to laugh and smile, they want to try new things and feel good about themselves. A ROUND AND ABOUT CSS Springfield Family Service Center Baby Cupboard continues to serve about 90 families per month. Volunteers from Delaware County Hispanic Ministry volunteer to serve the 15% of families served who are Spanish-speaking. Kudos to Marianne McKinney, RN, BSN, Health Care Coordinator for CSS s Life Sharing Through Family Living Program who is the featured nurse on the Philadelphia Coordinated Health Care website. As part of their Community Outreach Program, Newtown Office Supply has committed $11,000 to support the charitable activities of Catholic Human Services. Pictured with Joe Sweeney and Jim Amato of Catholic Social Services are Norman White, Rick Winslow and Jerry Winslow of Newtown Office Supply. (Continued on page 15) (Continued on page 15)

15 PAGE 15 A job fair held at Casa del Carmen on July 25 drew 285 job seekers over four hours, looking to connect with one of nearly 20 agencies and companies interviewing for open positions. Job seekers met with representatives from Congreso, United Health, APM, Beneficial Bank, Catholic Social Services, Carico International, the Juvenile Justice Center and other City of Philadelphia departments, Concilio, and Sugarhouse Casino. Presentations were given on resume writing, interviewing skills, and networking tips. Event sponsors included McDonalds, Dunkin Donuts and Boston Market, all of whom provided beverages and food for the agency and company representatives in attendance. Tent rental costs were covered by the American Lawyers Association. George Rivera, Administrator at Casa del Carmen, said it was a very successful event which should yield solid job prospects for a number who attended. Casa del Carmen is a Family Service Center that in addition to job search assistance, offers parenting and pregnancy groups, computer and ESL classes, daycare and afterschool programs, a helpline and brief emergency services, case management and document assistance. About 80% of program beneficiaries are of Hispanic background. Five employees from Siemens represented their company s participation in the United Way Days of Caring by providing the CSS West Chester Family Service Center with enough school supplies to give 45 children all they needed to get a good start on the school year. Siemens held a Back to School Drive at local offices throughout August, and the school supplies collected were brought to the West Chester site on August 27 by the drive s organizers, who had a chance to meet a few children and families. They heard from Zara, who told them, I did it! Today was my first day of school and I had a whole class of art! as she joyfully received her new chalk, crayons, and paper to make sure she was ready for many art classes to come. Leftover supplies will be available at the West Chester and West Grove Family Service Centers to assist 45 more students over the coming months. For the last six years, Thursday evenings at the CSS Montgomery County Family Service Center s Community Emergency Food Cupboard have seen a dozen or more students from the Bonner Scholar Program at Ursinus College volunteering weekly to pack grocery bags, organize paperwork and carry boxes of food. This weekly collaboration provides much needed extra help, especially during the Thanksgiving Dinner program, distributing 300 frozen turkeys and groceries in a three-hour time period. Additionally, food drives these student volunteers initiated in Collegeville resulted in several tons of food and $1,000 in donated grocery purchases for the cupboard. One student surveyed cupboard clients to increase awareness of their needs, while Spanish-speaking students help to translate for Hispanic clients interacting with cupboard volunteers. This year three Bonner Program student leaders brought 20 freshmen to the food cupboard on a Saturday afternoon to clean, organize, and paint the food cupboard, making it safer and more attractive for the 550 families that use it on a monthly basis. One morning a few months ago, Georgiann Fisher, the Human Resources Director at Don Guanella Village (DGV), ed her colleagues with a prayer request for a family member with intellectual disabilities who went missing in Philadelphia. This prompted John Doherty, DGV s Director of Finance, to phone John Wagner, Director of Housing and Homeless Services, who called upon his network of contacts with Project Home, the City of Philadelphia Office for Supportive Housing, and St. John s Hospice (SJH) to distribute a flyer with a picture of the missing person. SJH Director Kevin Barr, shared the flyer with staff and SJH housekeeper Mitch Williams reported that he had seen the man pictured in a nearby subway station. Kevin and Mitch immediately went there and found him, and stayed with him until family members arrived. After the family successfully filed a 302 petition, the now-found person was taken to a crisis center where a case manager is putting together a firm discharge plan to prevent a reoccurrence. Kudos to all the CSS staff who, within 24 hours, made the connections to bring this chapter to a happy ending.

16 PAGE 16 Make CSS your United Way Donor Choice You can be justifiably proud of the dedicated work of Catholic Social Services which provides help and creates hope for over 3,500 people every day. At-risk children and youth, single parents, unemployed adults, isolated elderly if you know someone in need, there is a CSS program that can help. SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT IN YOUR COMMUNITY! OPT FOR DONOR CHOICE In making your United Way contribution this year to support Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. # for UW of Southeastern PA Go the extra mile with us. (Matthew 5:42) We advocate a clear priority for poor families and vulnerable workers [who] have been hurt most of all in the economic crisis. The difficult choices ahead on how to balance needs and resources and how to proportionately allocate the burdens and sacrifices need to take into account the vulnerability and capacity of all, especially those most affected by poverty, joblessness, and economic injustice. Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, to all members of Congress, January 14, 2011 CSS C O N N E C T I O N S CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES A RCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA 222 NORTH 17TH STREET P HILADELPHIA, PA FAX: