Sunday, March 25, 2012
Lent 2012 Disability Services (week 5, March 25) (INSIDE the Forum)
Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County
Coping with the daily challenges of a physical, emotional, or mental
disability is difficult enough; coping with your dignity intact is even harder.
CSSW helps people do both.
CSSW programs empower thousands of people with disabilities to maximize
their independence by providing housing, counseling, hands-on assistance,
respite support, and more.
For adults with developmental disabilities, Intentional
Communities of Washtenaw (ICW) offers
independent housing options and support assistance. Housing Support
Services provides comprehensive services in Ann Arbor
Interfaith
Volunteer Caregivers, The Oaks ~Adult Day
Services, and Neighborhood Senior
Services provide senior caregiver support, home safety/home
maintenance, and a program for adults with memory and cognitive deficits.
A young woman who is developmentally disabled has her own home in a
supportive community. A formerly
homeless Vietnam
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
This week, we share the
story of Ruth and Syd, who are involved with The Oaks:
When you walk into The Oaks ~
Adult Day Services, you see people socializing, practicing yoga and Tai Chi, cooking,
listening to music, playing board games; laughing, and living. The Oaks provides stimulating activities 5
days a week to improve social interaction and mental acuity, while also
providing needed support for loved ones seeking a break from the demands of
daily caregiving.
Syd led the kind of life most
would envy. He and his wife, Ruth, are
happily married with two children and five grandchildren. After receiving his doctorate at Brandeis University
Nine years ago, Syd was diagnosed
with age-related dementia.
After the initial shock, Ruth
realized that her husband’s well-being was in her hands. “As Syd became more
physically debilitated, I was becoming really tired—exhausted would be a better
word. That’s when I knew I need to have outside help.”
Ruth tried various options before
choosing The Oaks, which operates under 5 core values: comfort, care,
compassion, dignity, and respect. The
program has created structure and stimulation to Syd’s day. Equally important, it gives Ruth the respite
to help her stay mentally and physically able to provide for her partner.
This article was edited and organized by Kelly Gauthier, St. Francis Parish Peace & Justice Committee member
Lent 2012 (week 5, Mar 25) FORUM Cover by Herb Black
During Lent we are called to Change our Hearts and use this graced time to be
renewed in God's spirit. The FORUM Cover Articles during Lent this year are written by fellow St. Francis parishioners about how serving our neighbors in need, especially through Catholic Social Services (CSS) has caused a change of heart for the better.
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Lent 2012 (week 5, March 25) FORUM Cover by Herb Black, member of St. Francis Parish
Lent 2012 Essay by Herb Black
In 1992, when I become interested in getting involved with
Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County (CSSW), I contacted some of my
friends who were already volunteers with the agency. John Martin, the longtime Executive Director of CSSW, asked me to
serve on the newly formed John and Marnee DeVine Foundation, which became the
fundraising arm of CSSW. I spent the
next nine years on the Board, the last four as president.
The initial task for the Foundation was to raise the first
$300,000 to start an endowment fund for the agency. Our success qualified us
for a $100,000 match as part of the Van Dusen Challenge sponsored by the Kresge
Foundation.
For the next several years, the DeVine Foundation sponsored
the Fall Festival of Music (many of these events were held here at St. Francis)
to raise additional funds for the endowment. By the time I left the Foundation,
the endowment had reached the $1,000,000 mark!
I was drawn to CSSW because of its mission to assist those
individuals at the lower end of the economic ladder. While there are many good
causes to which we can contribute, it seems to me the most important is the one
that helps our fellow man in need.
I believe CSSW is one of the best kept secrets in our
community. It flies under the radar
despite more than two dozen programs and 150 employees, the largest non-profit
human service agency in our community.
These programs cover the lifespan of needs from infants through the
elderly, including the area’s largest food bank and the Father Pat Jackson
House.
I have continued to stay involved with CSSW by spearheading
an initiative to repay the mortgage loan with the Diocese of Lansing for the
building the agency needed in 1996. If we can get this debt paid, it will free
up $5000/month that the agency can directly use for programs and our neighbors
in need.
Lent 2012 (week 5, March 25) FORUM Cover by Herb Black, member of St. Francis Parish
Neighbors in Need: Join us in support of our local neighbors who are struggling for food, housing, and care of poverty-stricken elderly. Our direct service partnership is with Washtenaw Catholic Social Services." Learn more at: www.stfrancisa2.com/lent/
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Lent 2012 Pregnancy Services (week 4, March 18) (INSIDE the Forum)
Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County
Pregnant women began turning to CSSW for help more than 50 years ago. CSSW provides many services to expectant
parents, including: parenting education,
prisoner outreach, and a residential home for teens. Each program provides hands-on assistance for
pregnant moms, whether they want to enhance their parenting ability or choose
adoption.
Pregnancy
Counseling provides guidance and referrals for expectant
parents, coordinating with Adoption Services
to offer ongoing counseling, support groups, and workshops for those making an
adoption plan. Several years ago,
Pregnancy Counseling added an outreach service for incarcerated women at the
Huron Valley Correctional Facility – helping them make guardianship, power of
attorney, or adoption plans.
Opened in 1984, the Father Patrick Jackson
House is a residence providing pregnant teens and adolescent moms
with life skills education in a safe home environment. CSSW’s Healthy
Families program provides 1-on-1 support for new parents throughout
pregnancy and until the child turns 5.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
This week, we share the
story of Danielle, who is involved with the Fr. Pat Jackson House:
Danielle is a 20-year old single
mother and full-time nursing student. She
has plenty of good friends, works as a nurse’s aide, is on the college Deans
List, and has a healthy and happy 3-year old daughter, Leesa.
Four years ago, however, Danielle’s
life couldn’t have been more different. A
former honor student and standout volleyball player, she started fighting with
her family, drinking, skipping school, and was booted from the team when her
grades dropped. Often, she didn’t bother
coming home at all. Then she found out
she was pregnant.
That’s when Danielle came to CSSW
for help. Through the Father Patrick
Jackson House, she found a stable home environment where she established a
positive routine. She returned to
school, received prenatal care and counseling, and enrolled in on-site parenting
classes. She also began repairing her
broken family relationships.
A few months after her 18th
birthday, Danielle and Leesa moved into their first apartment with money she
saved while living at Father Pat’s. Two
years later, she continues to excel in both work and school, determined to be a
good role model for her little girl.
With the help she received through CSSW, this troubled teen has grown
into a responsible young parent.
This article was edited and organized by Kelly Gauthier, St. Francis Parish Peace & Justice Committee member
Lent 2012 (week 4, Mar 18) FORUM Cover by Susan Edwards
During Lent we are called to Change our Hearts and use this graced time to be renewed in God's spirit. The FORUM Cover Articles during Lent this year are written by fellow St. Francis parishioners about how serving our neighbors in need, especially through Catholic Social Services (CSS) has caused a change of heart for the better.
-------- -------- -------- --------
Lent 2012 (week 4, March 18) FORUM Cover by Susan Edwards, member of St. Francis Parish
You will find that Catholic
Social Services of Washtenaw County (CSS) is an amazing organization. It has 28 programs and is open to all of the
needy in our community. CSS serves an
average of 3,000 clients per month; its food bank alone provides food for
nearly 650 families per month. It is
hard to imagine that in our affluent community, there are cars lined up as far
as you can see, waiting for the food bank to open. Still others arrive at the food bank via the
bus, or on foot. I have spent some time
helping distribute food at the food bank, and it is an indescribable
experience. Not only do I feel
overwhelmingly thankful to God that the needs of my own family are met, but I
feel a sense of “rightness” in being there, of helping distribute what others
have shared from their own tables and pantries, and of being able to show
another that he or she is loved and cared for.
There are many ways to help
at CSS. You can volunteer, serve on a
committee or board, donate money or supplies, work on a fundraiser, or simply
attend a fundraiser. Donations are well
spent, as CSS has one of the highest pass-through rates of any social services
organization. The programs at CSS
include Father Pat Jackson House (the home for unwed mothers), as well as
programs for the aging, housing for the most at-risk, help for abused children,
hands-on work with the elderly, and many others. One of their programs is sure to spark your
interest.
Why become involved? Jesus tells us to. We have been singing the message of Matthew
25 since we were young. “Whatsoever you
do for the least of my brothers, so you do unto me.” How often do we get to minister to
Christ? Yet, He says that everything we
do for someone else, we do for Him.
Wow! I also learned something
that has been very meaningful to me this year.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 1039) says, “Would that you
had known that my little ones were in need when I placed them on earth for
you and appointed them your stewards to bring your good works
into my treasury.” Amazing. I thought that I was ministering to others
when I donated my time, money, or talent.
Yet, it seems they were also ministering to me, allowing me to perform
works that would please God. These words
certainly brought me a renewed sense of humility and gratitude in helping
others, and a new way of looking at the poor and needy around me.
I have enjoyed my affiliation
in varying capacities with CSS over the last 15 years. CSS is a wonderful place to show your
works. I pray that God will continue to
use me, and those around me, to reach out in love to those in need in our
community.
Have
a blessed week!
Susan Edwards
Written by Susan Edwards, St. Francis Parish member… Neighbors in Need: Join us in support of our local neighbors who are struggling for food, housing, and care of poverty-stricken elderly. Our direct service partnership is with Washtenaw Catholic Social Services." Learn more at: www.stfrancisa2.com/lent/
Sunday, March 11, 2012
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