CCHD dedicates millions to efforts

By Eileen Connelly, OSU and Lenore Christopher

ARCHDIOCESE - In late September, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development announced the distribution of nearly $9 million in grant money to local projects that work to break the cycle of poverty in the United States, transforming lives and communities.

CCHD, the anti-poverty program of the Catholic Bishops of the United States, is one of the largest private funders of self-help programs that are controlled by the poor. Since its inception in 1970, CCHD has given more than $280 million in grants to an estimated 7,800 projects designed to eliminate the root causes of poverty and alleviate its effects.

CNS PHOTO

CCHD, the anti-poverty program of the Catholic Bishops of the United States, is one of the largest private funders of self-help programs that are controlled by the poor. Since its inception in 1970, CCHD has given more than $280 million in grants to an estimated 7,800 projects designed to eliminate the root causes of poverty and alleviate its effects.

Timothy Collins, CCHD executive director, said, "We are working with poor and low-income people to develop creative, practical, long-term solutions to their concerns. The need continues to be great, especially in light of last month's report from the U.S. Census Bureau, which quantified the grim reality that 37 million people in our country, fully 12.6 percent, are still living in poverty."

CCHD grant funds come from an annual parish collection in Catholic churches, scheduled this year for the weekend of Nov. 18-19. Twenty-five percent of the donations remain in the diocese to fund local CCHD initiatives and the remaining 75 percent is distributed nationally. Funded projects undergo a thorough review process and are selected based on need and without regard to religious affiliation.

Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, of Albany, N.Y., chairman of the CCHD Committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, said, "The money we are allocating today is significant to both the recipients and the donors. The generosity and commitment of the donors allows us to make grants to hundreds of grassroots groups throughout the country. Nonetheless," he continued, "we are able to fund only 65 percent of the requests we receive, which translates to 47 percent of the dollars requested." The average grant is $27,550.

More information about the Catholic Campaign for Human Development and its anti-poverty grants and educational programs can be found at its websites: www.usccb.org/cchd and www.povertyusa.org.

Here are some just some of the ways donations are helping to end the cycle of poverty locally:

Cincinnati Women's Partnership: Financial Empowerment for Women Program

The Cincinnati Women's Partnership, founded in 2002, is a collaborative of six Cincinnati area organizations (Mercy Connections, Sarah Center, Starfish Project, Women's Connection, Dress for Success and Xtraordinary Women) dedicated to elevating and improving the lives of low-income and under-served women. "The thinking at the time was that by pooling their resources, they could cross-refer clients and work together to develop joint programs for women," explained Tracey Zwick, project director. "Utimately they decided that financial literacy was the most powerful program they could provide."

The result was Financial Empowerment for Women, a four-session series of classes designed to provide a means for low-income women who are trying to earn a living develop the necessary skills and an understanding of the basic principles of financial management. "Many of these women are just coming off public assistance and just starting jobs for the first time. They've never had checking or savings accounts and need basic information on how to manage their money," Zwick said.

The Saturday morning classes, presented by National City Bank, kicked off Oct. 21, with the first session covering banking, checking and savings accounts, how to write a check and ATM usage. Each woman left with a web address where she can pull her credit report to bring to the next session, which will focus on understanding credit. Future topics include understanding 401ks, marketing, loans and starting a small business. Feedback from the participants has been very positive, Zwick said. "They just jump right in if they have a question."

"I think the long-term benefits of the program are that the women will build financial security and confidence in managing their money," Zwick noted. "This will help them achieve their goals. Some want to start a small business, and this will give them the tools they need. Many of the women have children, so they'll pass what they've learned on to them, so the next generation will have money management skills they need to be secure themselves."

CCHD awarded a $3,000 grant to help fund the project. Some of the funding is being used to reimburse participants for transportation, parking and childcare expenses during the classes, in addition to providing them with incentives upon completion of the program. The women will leave with a savings or checking account, and follow-up will be conducted to see how they are managing their money. If they have been able to increase their savings, the women will received a gift certificate or cash gift to be deposited directly into their accounts, Zwick said, noting that a second session of the program is being considered for spring.

For more information about the Cincinnati Women's Partnership, visit www.cincywomenspartnership.org.

Contact Center: Benefit Rights Advocacy Group (BRAG)

Located in one of Cincinnati's poorest neighborhoods, The Contact Center is a non-profit community organizing agency whose mission is to end poverty. A membership organization of low and moderate income people, the Contact Center works to empower its members to bring about economic and social change through education and action.

One of its programs, which received a $7,000 grant from CCHD, is the Benefit Rights Advocacy Group, a coalition formed to organize Hamilton and bordering counties to advocate for policy changes on low and moderate income worker issues, along with those impacting the disabled and persons on welfare.

According to Lynn Williams, an organizer for the Contact Center, one of BRAG's current campaigns is centered on grandparents' rights issues and kinship care. "We're finding that many grandparents would rather have their grandchildren with them than have them placed in foster care," she explained. "So, we're working on better support systems and income assistance for the grandparents and other relatives raising children."

BRAG has also worked with various local and state groups on issues such as family violence and healthcare eligibility, trying to expand coverage for working parents. At their monthly meetings, the members take part in leadership training, learn how to educate policy makers and engage in role-playing activities to practice meeting with legislators. Much of the members' time is also spent researching policy issues and determining which legislative body they need to address. BRAG members give presentations at churches and civic group meetings, hold media events and visit local neighborhoods to promote awareness of the issues. The CCHD grant will help fund the salary of a paid organizer, purchase supplies for the group, and assist with transportation, meals and other expenses for its low-income members to take part in events.

Regarding BRAG's efforts Williams said, "It's pretty incredible when you think about it - a group of low-income people coming together to solve problems. I think it gives them a better sense of what it means to be a responsible citizen. It reminds them that you don't have to have a lot of money to be involved. It gives them a voice."

She believes the group's work is also significant from the perspective of Catholic social teaching saying, "It demonstrates that each human life is important and the ideas of each person are valued. BRAG emphasizes the voice of the poor, of the oppressed."

For more information visit, www.overtherhine.org.

Dakota Center: Expanding Economic Opportunity in Urban Inner-West

The Dakota Center in Dayton, founded by the late Marianist Father Phil Hoelle 41 years ago, was initially started to provide a second home for at-risk youths, 6-16 years of age, to form local leaders and to raise the sensitivity of suburbanites to the critical needs of the community.

But Father Hoelle's vision to create a comprehensive community center now includes activities and programs for people of all ages in the adjacent area. One of those programs is Expanding Economic Opportunity in Urban Inner-West Dayton, a recipient of a $4,000 CCHD grant. The program seeks to intervene in a generational cycle of poverty by empowering adults with a basic understanding of economic opportunities through financial literacy and micro enterprise in urban inner-west Dayton.

"For some of us, it is not difficult to make a transition (from one job to another, etc.)," said Sharon Mitchell, executive director for the past six years, "but some can't pick up and move on. So we are strengthening those people - helping people to help themselves."

The program for those who are employed as well as unemployed, does that by providing resources on money management, literacy, business skills, resume writing, etc.; mentors are assigned to "walk people through the process." In fact, she said, three of their clients are beginning their own businesses.

For information on this program and other services offered at The Dakota Center, call 937-228-8961 or access www.dakotacenter.org.

Good Samaritan Home: Citizen Circle Ex-Felon Mentoring Group

In Ohio, 39 percent of parolees will return to prison in the first three years following release, a statistic John Graham is trying to reverse with the Good Samaritan Home: Citizen Circle Ex-Felon Mentoring Group, which is the recipient of a $7,000 CCHD grant.

Citizen Circle addresses the recidivism rate in Darke County by training community volunteers to partner with ex-felons and help them to find employment, affordable housing and, most importantly, develop the skills necessary to become productive members of the community.

"I've been working with the State of Ohio, Department of Corrections, for the past three years," said Graham, director. Since there is no money available through the state for mentoring programs such as this, Graham said, "The reason we do it is because there is a need."

Graham said, "In Darke County, we have about 67 men and women who are on (state) parole," and there are probably about 200 persons on state parole in Darke and neighboring Miami County, a figure that does not include those on county parole.

Twenty-four trained volunteers meet with participants once a month, and the mentoring continues on an as-needed basis. Graham said he encourages participants to touch base with their mentors at least once a week.

The re-entry Ohio Plan was created by the Department of Corrections, a plan that is intended to encourage the involvement of local faith communities "to do what we do best - develop a support network," he said.

"The faith community is the backbone of this (program)," bringing people together who are passionate about helping others. "Programs don't change people; it's relationships that change people," said Graham, who patterned the Darke County program after the discipleship focus in the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) process and who believes his county program is one of the best in the state.

"We say, 'What are your goals? How do we help you reach your goals? What are you doing today, this week?' Then, at the next meeting, we hold them accountable, using a positive approach."

For information, call 937-547-6337 or visit www.goodsamaritanhome.org.

Springfield & Clark County Justice Action & Mercy (JAM) Empowering People Creating Change

Justice Action Mercy is a faith-based organization that organizes 16 congregations, at the present time, in the Springfield and Clark counties to address problems such as crime, poor elementary reading achievement and high unemployment rates plaguing the community. The organization seeks to empower those impacted by these issues to act for positive and significant change.

JAM has been the recipient of a national CCHD grant, but this is the first time it received a local grant for $7,000.

In its sixth year, JAM has grown not only in number but also in stature because of its willingness to identify community programs, to empower local residents and work with local community leaders to affect change.

That is accomplished through a thorough step-by-step process, beginning with a detailed listening process using house-to-house conversations and group meetings with the help of trained volunteers.

The collected information becomes part of a formal discussion at the annual JAM assembly, where decisions are made as to which issues should receive a primary focus during a particular year. In the past, categories receiving the most attention are drugs and crime, jobs and training, transportation, health care, living wage options predatory lending and housing. After each topic is researched, an action and follow-up plan is developed.

"We want to be sure we don't jump from one project to another," said Makiva Harper, director, "and whatever we choose, we want to have the ability to affect change. We are doing justice related to our faith."

JAM is affiliated with The Direct Action and Research Training (DART) Center, as is Leaders for Equality and Action (LEAD) in Dayton, another CCHD recipient. DART is committed to building powerful, diverse, congregation-based and democratically run organizations capable of winning justice on issues facing the community.

For information, call 937-328-3378 or visit www.thedartcenter.org.