In the News

 Senior client recalls life before Adult Day Services
 
(Wichita, KS – May 17, 2013)
 by Kathryn Holder

 -May is Older Americans Month-

   Herman does not initiate many conversations, rather he quietly observes what is going on around him. He  rarely smiles, but listens intently and knows more than he leads on. For those who do not know him he may appear unapproachable, but his friends know his true character. He is a man who shows great loyalty to the people in his life. He has gone through many hurtful experiences, but continues to live each day to the fullest.
  
Herman, a client at Adult Day Services at Catholic Charities, is 79 years old and has a mental retardation (MR) diagnosis. As a young boy he was sent away to a state hospital simply because at the time there were not a lot of treatment centers for individuals with disabilities. Herman spent a large part of his life in and out of these hospitals. When recalling his life at this point he speaks kindly about the people he lived with, yet there is a sense of sadness in his voice. “I missed my parents,” he said.

Herman explained that his parents sometimes came to see him but he wished they would have come more often. “When I got to see my parents, I loved them.”
           
Today, Herman lives in a home and spends his weekdays at Adult Day Services at Catholic Charities. He knows everybody by name, and calls them all his friends. Herman has a sweet tooth and often comes into the offices looking for candy. If a person is absent, he is the first to inquire where they are. Herman’s sense of humor makes people smile and laugh. 

May is Older Americans Month, and Herman is a wonderful example of a man who has lived the life he was given with great dignity. We would not change one thing about him. And we’ll continue to work on that smile. (Holder is Admissions and Marketing Coordinator at Adult Day Services.)

Large 21^st Century Learning Center Grants to benefit St.

Patrick’s and Holy Savior Catholic Academy after-school

and summer programs

(Wichita, KS – May 14, 2013)

Catholic Charities, Inc. – Diocese of Wichita, in partnership with the Catholic Schools office, has received three grants totaling $205,731 from the Kansas State Department of Education to benefit St. Patrick Catholic School and Holy Savior Catholic Academy in Wichita. These funds will enable the schools to provide up to 180 low-income, elementary and middle school students summer school and after-school academic and enrichment activities.

Funds will help purchase math and reading curriculum, art supplies, sponsorship of student field trips such as to Kansas historical sites including the State Capitol and the Eisenhower Presidential Library in Abilene, along with workforce and career development exploration activities for middle school youth.

The 21^st Century Learning Center Grant Program is a federally-funded program administered through the Kansas Department of Education. Funds are utilized to create community learning centers providing academic enrichment opportunities during non-school hours for children, particularly students who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools. The program helps students meet state and local standards in core academic subjects, such as reading and math; offers students a broad array of enrichment activities that can complement their regular academic programs; and offers literacy and other educational services to the families of participating children.

For more information on this program contact Dan McAdams at (316) 269-3950 or Martha McCabe at (316) 264-8344, ext. 1264.

Catholic Charities and Love Letters from Kansas write: Balance Romance and Family Life for a Happy Home
(Wichita, KS – May 13, 2013)

It often seems like there aren’t enough hours in the day. Raising kids, being a loving spouse and tending to other daily responsibilities can be a lot to handle for one person. Love Letters from Kansas, a public awareness campaign sponsored by Catholic Charities of Kansas that promotes the benefits of healthy relationships through free relationship education and marriage enrichment workshops, encourages Kansans to learn how to strike a healthy balance between their marriages and family lives.

Whether you’re new parents or preparing to become empty nesters, kids change the dynamics of a romantic relationship. Toss careers and friends into the mix and you might feel like you never see your spouse one-on-one. Taking time to nurture a healthy bond with your husband or wife not only benefits your relationship, it can also help you approach parenting as a team and set a positive model for your children to follow.

Carol Ummel Lindquist, Ph.D., author of Happily Married with Kids: It's Not Just a Fairy Tale, recommends several pointers for those looking to balance a healthy marriage and children:

Create warm welcomes: Greet each other with hugs and kisses regularly. The affection will help reinforce that you’re close to one another.

Try short reconnects: While date nights are great opportunities to connect with your spouse, you might not always have time or money to do so. Try to make time for a quick walk or drive the kids somewhere together and chat on the ride home.

Set early bedtimes: Not only will the schedule give your kids a healthy night’s sleep, it will also guarantee time together at the end of the day.

Share the load: Work together to complete household chores. You’ll share time with each other and there won’t be any resentment for a person not doing his or her fair share.

Encourage kids’ independence: The more your little ones know how to do things on their own, the less they’ll need your constant guidance and attention. The time saved can be spent on your relationship.

Revive the past: Remember the dates and adventures you had when you first got together? Try doing some of them again. Nostalgia can help you remember the way you were together before you had children and as a result, strengthen your marriage.

“It is possible for married couples to stay connected through the busy shuffle of day-to-day life,” said Melissa Grelinger, interim executive director, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Wichita. “It could be as quick as a text message while you’re both at work. If you focus on strengthening your marriage, you’ll improve your family life at the same time. In our relationship education and marriage enrichment workshops, we help individuals and couples learn how to effectively balance priorities.”

Catholic Charities of Kansas offers free workshops and support services in communities throughout the state to help couples find balance between their family and romantic relationships and much more. Free relationship education and marriage enrichment workshops are open to singles and couples, regardless of faith, who are looking for tips and tools to enrich existing or future relationships. Find more information on upcoming workshops, as well as other resources to improve your relationship, at www.KansasLoveLetters.com.

Collection carts make hosting food drives for
Catholic Charities easier

(Wichita, KS – May 9, 2013)

Our Daily Bread Food Pantry at Catholic Charities is trying to make hosting food drives easier with new collection carts that can be placed at area businesses and organizations.  

The carts, which are repurposed trash bins, were supplied by an anonymous donor with the goal of increasing participation in food drives for hungry families in the area.

The carts also help raise awareness of the number of families in the region that go hungry each day.  Currently, one in six residents in the area struggle with hunger issues.
In addition, Our Daily Bread Food Pantry Coordinator, Scott Carter, said the economic downturn has affected people in a number of ways. 

“We get a lot of people asking for help who never expected to find themselves in need of such a basic necessity as food,” he said. 

Carter said another big challenge for people struggling with hunger is access to food services. “With the price of gas and the number of people in poverty outside the city limits, it can be hard to access help no matter where you live.”

The collection carts are just one way Our Daily Bread Food Pantry is finding ways to serve people better. The pantry is the only 100 percent client-choice model in the area, allowing visitors to choose food their families will enjoy with the help of a personal shopping volunteer assistant.

Pantry staff deliver the collection carts and literature and marketing materials to sites who have requested to host food drives.  Staff then return to collect donations.  Organizations can keep the carts on site for as long as they like, though the average drive is one to two weeks.

Carter said he wishes everyone could come and volunteer at Our Daily Bread Food Pantry, but that the collection carts are a way to bring the mission to them. 

“If you are unable to volunteer or host a food drive you can still join in our mission to alleviate poverty,” he said. “Above all, you can always pray for the poor in our midst and be willing to understand their circumstances.”


Want food drive collection carts where you work?
Call Our Daily Bread Food Pantry at (316) 264-8344 ext. 1504
or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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About Catholic Charities
Inspired by God’s love, Catholic Charities, Inc. – Diocese of Wichita alleviates poverty and builds strong families in the Diocese of Wichita.  Established in 1943, Catholic Charities stabilizes families in crisis, and strengthens them for life in fourteen programs and projects that address hunger, homelessness and domestic violence and that provide assistance to couples and  families, adults with disabilities and seniors. For more information, please visit CatholicCharitiesWichita.org.

More transracial adoptions completed at Catholic Charities
(Wichita, KS – May 9, 2013)

By Lori K. Farha, LMSW

In the United States, approximately 40% of adopted children are in transracial adoptions where they are of a different race, culture or ethnicity than their adoptive parents (Vandivere, Mound and Radel).

---At Cana Counseling adoption services at Catholic Charities, we are exceeding the national trend. Of the four adoptions that Catholic Charities facilitated in the calendar year of 2012, all babies born had the possibility of transracial heritage.---

Because of this number, the adoption staff has become more sensitive to the needs of families experiencing transracial/transcultural adoptions and more proactive in seeking adoptive parents who are open to providing a home for a child when that child’s racial background is different from theirs. 

The US Conference of Catholic Bishops states that “Welcoming a child, through birth or adoption, is an act of faith as well as an act of love” (USCCB). Perhaps this is even more the case for adoptive parents who are adopting a child of a different race. They may not know what to expect or how to answer questions about their child’s heritage and culture. The child may also encounter challenges in our diverse world and may have difficulty putting issues of race into a context that makes sense to them. 

Luckily, over the years, as transracial / transcultural adoptions have become more common, many more resources have been developed, to help adoptive parents and other dedicated family members. With an increase in “open” adoptions, adoptive families often are able to regularly interact with the greater family of their adoptive child, allowing them more opportunities for exposure to those of different backgrounds.

Experts suggest several things that adoptive parents and concerned advocates can do to help a child to integrate their racial identity and to prepare for a transracial/transcultural adoption.   Some of these suggestions include:

• Having friends and colleagues the same race as that of your child
• Living in a diverse neighborhood or attending a diverse church
• Confronting racism wherever it is seen, and advocating for equitable treatment
• Learning about traditions, ethnic foods and dishes, as well as proper grooming
• Celebrating all cultures within your home and family by speaking respectfully
• Examining and understanding your own beliefs about race and culture
• Seeking out supportive family and friends

It is important to acknowledge differences, not to pretend they don’t exist. And although we are different, all human life has value and is deserving of dignity. Transracial/transcultural adoption is a unique way of welcoming and valuing all people. 

If your family is considering the loving option of adoption, and would like more information, Cana Counseling adoption services at Catholic Charities can assist. To learn more about the adoption journey you can contact Lori Farha to schedule an informational appointment about our infant adoption program. The Parenting Through Adoption Workshops provide education for couples choosing to apply to the program. Home studies are completed by licensed, professional staff. Pregnancy counseling is provided free of charge to pregnant women and their families. For more information, please visit CatholicCharitiesWichita.org. Ms. Farha is the Pregnancy and Adoption Specialist at Catholic Charities.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Contact:
Heather Welch
Media and Marketing Manager
Catholic Charities, Inc. – Diocese of Wichita
(316) 264-8344, ext. 1260
(Cell) 706-2128
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Wichita’s SAFE Project - for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault - Launches Website
(Wichita, KS – May 2, 2013)

The SAFE Project, a collaborative partnership between Catholic Charities, Diocese of Wichita (CCW) and the Kansas Department for Children and Families, announced that it has launched its new website at www.ccwsafeproject.com. 

The SAFE Project is designed to enhance safety for domestic violence and sexual assault survivors who are currently receiving Temporary Assistance to Families (TANF) benefits, thus reducing employment barriers for these families.  

The SAFE Project’s website includes information about the program’s five focus areas- safety, advocacy, finances, employment and relationships- as well as eligibility requirements and enrollment information.

“The launch of www.ccwsafeproject.com provides an additional resource for domestic violence and sexual assault survivors who are seeking assistance in becoming safe and self-sufficient. The website is another tool to help these men and women achieve their goals of self-sustainability,” said Melissa Grelinger, interim executive director, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Wichita.

The SAFE Project is funded by a $1.1 million, two-year grant from the Kansas Department for Children and Families to provide domestic violence and sexual assault survivors in 25 Kansas counties with access to resources to improve safety and remove employment barriers.

Counties that are included in the SAFE Project are as follows: Allen, Bourbon, Butler, Chase, Chautauqua, Cherokee, Cowley, Crawford, Elk, Greenwood, Harper, Harvey, Kingman, Labette, Marion, McPherson, Montgomery, Morris, Neosho, Reno, Rice, Sedgwick, Sumner, Wilson and Woodsen. 

SAFE Project case managers are working out of Department for Children and Family Service Centers located in McPherson, Hutchinson, Newton, Wichita, El Dorado, Iola, Fort Scott, Chanute, Pittsburg, Columbus, Parsons and Independence.

For more information on the SAFE Project and the healthy relationship education classes, contact 316-264-8344 ext. 3113.

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About Catholic Charities
Inspired by God’s love, Catholic Charities, Inc. – Diocese of Wichita alleviates poverty and builds strong families in the Diocese of Wichita.  Established in 1943, Catholic Charities stabilizes families in crisis, and strengthens them for life in fourteen programs and projects that address hunger, homelessness and domestic violence and that provide assistance to couples and  families, adults with disabilities and seniors. For more information, please visit CatholicCharitiesWichita.org.

St. Joseph Pastoral Center hosting open house May 9

(Wichita, KS – May 1, 2013)

The ministries and services of St. Joseph Pastoral Center, 437 North Topeka Street, are hosting an open house from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 9.

Tours will be provided and refreshments will be served. Offices that are part of the open house are the Catholic Diocese of Wichita Office of Marriage and Family Life, the Office of Hispanic Ministry, and Catholic Charities offices relating to adoption, Cana Counseling, the Foster Grandparent Program, Immigration Services, Marriage for Keeps, and Pregnancy Counseling.

For more information, please call (316) 264-8344.

Employment Opportunities - April 29, 2013

Direct Care, CNA: FT - Adult Day Services is seeking an energetic, client centered staff member to support seniors and adults with disabilities in a day setting focused on recreational and community based programming. Day time hours offered. A minimum of one year experience working with seniors and/or adults with disabilities required. CNA required, basic computer skills needed. Applications will be accepted until this position is filled.  EEO/AA.

Bilingual Therapist Cana Counseling: (Internal Candidates only) provides outpatient psychotherapy and counseling services to clients. Interviews clients to assess emotional, social, and educational needs. Records intake assessments, social histories, mental status exams and other related information according to agency policies. Must be Bi-Lingual in English and Spanish. To apply, please complete an Employee Advancement Application.  Application Deadline is Friday, May 3, 2013.

PT Weekend Resident Manager St. Anthony Family Shelter- Provide safety and security of facility, provide direct service to residents in shelter, prepare and serve meals, answer multi-line phone, screens new residents, completion of paperwork. Employee will work 16 hours per week Saturday and Sunday from 7am-3:30pm. EEO/AA. Applications will be accepted until this position is filled.  EEO/AA.

FT IT Systems Analyst- Catholic Charities is seeking a full-time IT Systems analyst. Responsible for writing various reports using Crystal Reports, MS Query, Access, Excel, and SQL. Develop complex reports, reconcile database to GL, and assure grant compliance. Provides back-up support in setting up equipment for employee use, performing or ensuring proper installation of cables, operating systems, or appropriate software. Install and perform minor repairs to hardware, software, or peripheral equipment, following design or installation specifications. Database Management and Crystal Report Writing experience required. To apply visit www.catholiccharitieswichita.org  Deadline for Applications is May 17, 2013.

Apply now...

Foster Grandparent Program volunteers receive public
education awards

(Wichita, KS – April 22, 2013)

Three volunteers in the Foster Grandparent Program at Catholic Charities are the recipients of the 2013 Friends of Education Award by the Confidence In Kansas Public Education Task Force. Awards were received in a ceremony on April 13.

Clarence and Sue Reed have volunteered for Derby USD 260 since 2012. Students lovingly refer to the Reeds as "Grandpa and Grandma."  Cooper Elementary School principal, Vince Evans, said they arrive before any of the students so they can greet and welcome everyone who walks through the door. 

“They love helping out in classrooms and reading with the students,” Evans said. They are no stranger to hard work, and they are always the first to volunteer to help a teacher with any task.”

Cam Tran is a Foster Grandparent volunteer for Haysville USD 261, and has been helping at Oatville Elementary School for 6 years. During that time, he has formed lasting relationships with students and staff.

“His love for students can be seen on his face and reflected in the way he encourages them to try their best,” said Jan Coats, a fifth grade teacher at Oatville. “With a large English As A Second Language enrollment at the school, Mr. Tran’s language skills are invaluable in helping students and their parents in and out of the classroom.”

The Foster Grandparent Program at Catholic Charities brings retired individuals together to mentor and tutor children who have special or exceptional needs. Each year, foster grandparents provide more than 100,000 hours of service to youth in the Wichita community.

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About Catholic Charities
Inspired by God’s love, Catholic Charities, Inc. – Diocese of Wichita alleviates poverty and builds strong families in the Diocese of Wichita.  Established in 1943, Catholic Charities stabilizes families in crisis, and strengthens them for life in fourteen programs and projects that address hunger, homelessness and domestic violence and that provide assistance to couples and families, adults with disabilities and seniors. For more information, please visit CatholicCharitiesWichita.org.

Contact:
Heather Welch
Media and Marketing Manager
Catholic Charities, Inc. – Diocese of Wichita
(316) 264-8344, ext. 1260
(Cell) 706-2128
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

WICHITA, Kan. – April 16, 2013 – Marriage has long been touted as an opportunity for couples to improve their quality of life, as they are typically able to enjoy more happiness and financial stability together. Research also shows that a healthy marriage can help people live longer and healthier lives. Love Letters from Kansas, a public awareness campaign sponsored by Catholic Charities of Kansas that promotes the benefits of healthy relationships through free relationship education workshops in communities across the state, encourages Kansans to learn about the lifelong benefits marriage can offer.

Healthy relationships and healthy lives go hand in hand. Through sickness and in health, married couples tend to solve problems as a team. There’s a higher likelihood that a supportive spouse will lead to health benefits such as less stress and they may take the first step of calling the doctor when a health ailment strikes.

Scientific studies have estimated that as individuals hit retirement-age, mortality rates are 50 percent higher for unmarried women and 250 percent higher for unmarried men than their single peers. Here are just a specific few examples of how being in a healthy marriage can be beneficial to an individual’s lifespan: 

• Married people are less likely to have heart attacks. A recent Finland study that analyzed heart attack rates among over 15,000 married and unmarried individuals found that married people are less likely to have – or die from – a heart attack. Researchers say the reason could be due to the higher likelihood of early intervention from a spouse or the social support at home that encourages healthier living.
• Individuals in long-term relationships tend to have better physical and mental health. Multiple studies report that marriage helps individuals stay healthy as they age and with the support of a spouse a person is less likely to develop substance abuse problems. Additionally, married people have significantly lower rates of mental health disorders such as depression than single individuals.
   
• Married people recover from surgery better than unmarried individuals. One 2012 study by researchers at Emory and Rutgers universities found that married patients have a post-surgery survival rate that is three times higher than singles. Researchers suggest that this could be due to early intervention by a spouse or attentive care after they are released from the hospital.
   
• Living alone can increase Alzheimer’s risk. The 2012 Amsterdam Study of the Lonely found that individuals 65 or older who live alone are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than those who live with their husband or wife. Researchers connected higher levels of loneliness and lack of social support to the increased risk of developing the disease. 

“The health benefits of marriage are so strong that experts say time and time again, married couples live longer and healthier lives,” said Melissa Grelinger, interim executive director, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Wichita. “In our free relationship education workshops, we provide individuals and couples with tools to develop or maintain healthy relationships so they can live long, full lives together.” 

To help your relationship add years to your life, make sure to regularly practice good habits with your significant other such as open and honest communication and working through periods of conflict together. Not only will these actions support your longevity, you’ll likely be happier together.

Catholic Charities of Kansas offers free workshops and support services in communities throughout the state. Free relationship education and marriage enrichment workshops are open to singles and couples, regardless of faith, who are looking for tips and tools to enrich existing or future relationships. Find more information on upcoming workshops, as well as other resources to improve your relationship, at www.KansasLoveLetters.com.