Activities of the Catholic Charities of California

In addition to work described in the Overview—convening members, promoting communications and public policy leadership—Catholic Charities of California has also led several major projects:

Dance Class
With the safety net in California already frayed and facing state budget cuts, Congress is proposing changes in the nation's welfare-to-work program affecting very low-income families. A new resource is available to assist parishes in understanding the issues and values that underlie the debate in 2004, which will affect many of the people we serve.

Partnering with the California Council of Churches, Catholic Charities of California has produced a 36 page study guide, entitled First Fruits for California's Working Poor? The guide assists parishes in understanding the issues surrounding governmental assistance in light of our faith tradition. The guide outlines six sessions for small groups.

The program explores values concerning work, learning, dependence and the related public policy. It examines specific benefits and restrictions on welfare, as well as the effect that these policies have on working poor families. All of this is considered in light of our faith. Finally, the program considers practical suggestions for parishes in facing the growing numbers of families in need. The curriculum may be used in a variety of settings and can be abbreviated.

Download an electronic copy of the study guide. To receive a free printed copy of the guide, call the California Council of Churches at 916-442-5447.
For further information about the program, email
Kathy Cooper-Ledesma or contact her by phone at 323-256-3162.

The project is funded by a grant from the California Wellness Foundation.

Catholic Charities of California and the California Council of Council of Churches have recently received Hewlett Foundation funding to work through churches to enroll low-income Californians for utility assistance.

The project is operating in seven regions: East Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, San Diego, Fresno, San Jose and the Oakland/Richmond area. Half-time staff in these areas will work with local church staff and volunteers, to enroll thousands of parishioners in 2002-2004 and to promote conservation. The project is modeled after a successful project by Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Orange.

Visit the project web site for more information.

A joint effort of the California Council of Churches and Catholic Charities of California to support efforts to increase the quality and capacity of child care services within the religious community in low-income areas where the need is greatest. Visit the project web site for more information.

In 1996, Congress eliminated food stamp eligibility for legal immigrants, affecting hundreds of thousands of adult legal immigrants and their families. In the spring of 1998, Catholic Charities of California partnered with California Food Policy Advocates to interview emergency assistance clients regarding their level of "food insecurity." The research documented an alarming level of hunger.

This data was released during the week of June 29, 1998, to considerable attention from both the media and the Legislature. Lobbying efforts, orchestrated by California Food Policy Advocates and coordinated with the California Catholic Conference, succeeded in securing $73 million in state funding for adult legal immigrants. This was a significant victory, although we believe that the long-term security of this funding requires a federal commitment.

In 1997, together with the California Association of Catholic Hospitals and the California Catholic Conference, Catholic Charities of California convened the leadership from our organizations in the first-ever statewide gathering, Coming Together: Partnership in Ministry. This gathering was a catalyst for a number of local initiatives and has been institutionalized into a biannual event.

Catholic Charities of California is leading efforts to conduct effective health insurance outreach efforts through Catholic institutions. By leveraging Catholic social services, healthcare, schools, Hispanic ministry, targeted parishes and other ministries to youth, information about this new program can be communicated to the low income communities.

Finally, we are supporting Catholic healthcare's system-wide planning efforts to address unmet community needs. Catholic Charities' participation in this planning process will help shape health care efforts to address community needs that are social and beyond the scope of health care as traditionally defined.

In 1997, Catholic Charities of California prepared diocesan Catholic Charities staff and the larger Catholic community for the impact of new federal and state welfare policies. A statewide event examined the new laws in light of Catholic identity, and convened Catholic leadership by diocese to plan our local responses.

A "best practice" inventory was published, and effective local programs were highlighted in a convening in October, 1998. Regional staff collectively gave presentations to 1,100 parish leaders, focusing on the struggles of people striving to move off welfare, and on the Catholic social teaching that forms our community's response to welfare and poverty issues.