Making a Difference - Agency Success Stories

Here are some examples of Catholic Charities SouthWestern Ohio providing help and creating hope in our community:

CARING FOR OUR LOVED ONES

It all began with a call to the CAREline, part of the Caregiver Assistance Network, a program of Charities SouthWestern Ohio. A grown daughter wanted to bring her mother home from the nursing home, but her apartment was not handicapped equipped. She did not know where to begin.

The CAREline caller contacted the deacon from the St. Vincent dePaul Society of a local Catholic church. The deacon went to the home of the daughter to discuss the possibility of acquiring a wheelchair ramp to bring her mother home to live with her. The deacon applied for financial assistance through the Gifts of the Magi Program, a collaborative effort between Catholic Social Services, the St. Vincent dePaul Society and Catholic Telegraph readers.

The ramp was quite costly, but with the dedicated efforts of the elderly woman and her three children and the family's church, the family was close to acquiring their ramp. A local vendor who is active within the agency's annual Caring Matters Conference, part of the Caregiver Assistance Network, obtained a used ramp and installed it in the daughter's home. This allowed the family to bring their mother home to live with and be cared for by her loving family.

BRINGING HELP TO THOSE IN NEED

Catholic Charities SouthWestern Ohio offers a homemaker and personal care program that helps older and disabled persons remain in their own homes for as long as possible. George, age 92 and his wife Ellen, age 90, have lived in their home for over 50 years. While they are both fairly healthy they do need some help with housekeeping. They are very determined to stay together and in their own home. Their three children all live out of the area. For the past two years a Catholic Social Services homemaker has provided care and support to this couple.

Last winter during a particularly frigid week, when the homemaker arrived for her visit she found the home with no heat. The couple was unsure who to contact and they were concerned about the cost of furnace repair or replacement. Our homemaker immediately called for assistance. Within an hour the furnace was repaired and the couple was safe and warm. The homemaker also helped this couple with the application for heat assistance, insuring that finances wouldn't be a barrier to their health and well-being.

HELPING PARENTS

A single dad was raising several children and was increasingly frustrated with his daughter's behavior and often resulted to idle threats. He decided to sign up for a parenting class offered by Catholic Charities SouthWestern Ohio.

As part of the class, this dad learned about the importance of parents being good leaders in the family and gained the confidence to respond to her behavior by setting limits and following through without blaming and shaming her. When he returned to class the next week he was expressed satisfaction in experiencing success and stated that he realized that he has the power to effect how his daughter responds.

GRATEFUL FOR PAST ASSISTANCE

A woman took a parenting class through CCSWO about twenty years ago. Seeing that the agency was offering a similar course at her local church, she stopped by at where the class was being held recently to say hello.

During the course of the conversation with the instructor, a licensed social worker, the woman talked about caring for her elderly parents and needed information and support. After spending some time listening and talking with her, the social worker suggested that she contact the Caregiver Assistance Network, which she did. She called later to say how grateful she was for getting connected with that service.

HELP FOR THOSE HURTING

A man who was incarcerated had learned the evening before that his wife decided to leave him. When he arrived in class he was upset and on the verge of tears. The licensed social worker conducting the class encouraged his to stay with his feelings, experience and release them, and supported him as he did that. The other men in the group, watched, listened, and offered advice. At the end of the class series, he said to the instructor "Thank you for teaching me how to feel."

A woman graduated from the facility and had completed the program, job training, and parenting classes and received her GED. She had to appear before the judge in her county as there was another charge pending from before she was incarcerated. She went to the hearing and explained to the judge that she had a job, was caring for her children, and described how she had spent her time at River City. She also presented her certificates. He looked at them and said, "I like success stories. Case dismissed."

WORKSHOP WONDER

A couple came to a workshop that CCSWO was conducting just because "someone from Catholic Charities" would be there and they needed help.

The class instructor told them that unfortunately, they would not be addressing their needs during the session, but they were welcome to stay, and the instructor would be happy to meet with them afterwards to see if she could assist them. They were an older retired couple with an adult child who had a disability. The son lived in his own apartment, had lost his job, and was without an income. As a result, they were using some of their retirement benefits to support him. They wondered if there were any alternatives. The instructor was able to connect them with another agency that facilitated the son's getting a medical diagnosis and treatment that enabled him to receive disability benefits.

This couple was delighted with the service they received from Catholic Charities SouthWestern Ohio and were very happy that they could now enjoy their own retirement and that the son was taken care of.

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