• Catholic Charities Expands Services • 9th Annual Creating Hope Benefit Huge Success! • How is Catholic Charities still helping in West, TX?
4
The Word A newsletter of Catholic Charities of Central Texas SPRING 2015 Catholic Charities Expands Services Counseling Services program offers hope for those with mental health needs. (continued on page 2) WHAT’S INSIDE: Welcoming Catholic Charities’ new director of social services, Teresa Valenzuela Cox. PAGE 2 Highlights from the 9th Annual Creating Hope Benefit. PAGE 3 West Recovery: ED Sara Ramirez shares about the continued disaster response in West, Texas. PAGE 4 ounseling Services is the latest addition to the array of services offered by Catholic Charities of Central Texas. Originally under the umbrella of the Diocese of Austin, the program has been a preeminent provider of counseling services in the Austin area for many years and officially moved under the leadership of Catholic Charities on May 1, 2015. “Counseling is a critical service for Catholic Charities because it is one of the best ways to ensure the health and stability of the whole person,” says Executive Director Sara Ramirez. “Helping people to strengthen relationships, find healing after loss, and build coping skills all help them to live fulfilling and happy lives.” Often, what a client seeks to address in a counseling session is just the beginning. Through the process of working with a trained counselor, they discover there are many ways for them to grow and heal when they receive that help. Carlton was quiet during his first visit to the counseling office. Thrown into severe depression at the death of his wife, he needed help to process his loss and learn to move forward. To Carlton, the weekly counseling sessions were purely about helping him through his grief. In the end, what he received was so much more than he had ever expected. During the sessions, Carlton and his counselor discussed his feelings, goals, and identity. They talked about how his experiences growing up influenced his interactions with everyone around him. A true introvert, Carlton did not enjoy controlling conversations and he feared conflict and decision making. Though not done maliciously, his friends and family used this trait to control Carlton, and he was often left feeling alone and vulnerable. The loss of his wife compounding these feelings. Carlton met with a counselor for two years, and over that time experienced both a transition of his grief and an awakening of his own individual identity. He now felt comfortable challenging ideas that he didn’t agree with, asking more questions, and standing up for himself. His newfound confidence gave him hope for his own future. Carlton was able to begin working with the counseling center shortly after the loss of his wife and benefitted from having that support from the beginning. Many people are not able to access counseling services so easily, if at all. Many families face barriers such as cost, distance and social stigma. Catholic Charities aims to lessen these barriers by providing low cost services, expanding to areas not served and providing education to the community on the importance of mental health services. Through an innovative student counseling practicum program, Catholic Charities can offer high quality, low-cost services. The program utilizes counseling interns from universities in the region. Each intern is formally supervised by a licensed counselor to ensure the highest quality services. Clinical Counselor Blanca Garcia meets to discuss services. Counseling Services works with individuals, children, couples, and families. C
Transcript
The WordA newsletter of Catholic Charities of Central Texas
SPRING 2015
Catholic Charities Expands ServicesCounseling Services program offers hope for those with mental health needs.
(continued on page 2)
WH
AT
’S I
NS
IDE
: Welcoming Catholic Charities’ new director of social services, Teresa Valenzuela Cox.
PAGE 2
Highlights from the 9th Annual Creating Hope Benefit.
PAGE 3
West Recovery:ED Sara Ramirez shares about the continued disaster response in West, Texas.
PAGE 4
ounseling Services is the latest addition to the array of services
offered by Catholic Charities of Central Texas. Originally under the umbrella of the Diocese of Austin, the program has been a preeminent provider of counseling services in the Austin area for many years and officially moved under the leadership of Catholic Charities on May 1, 2015.
“Counseling is a critical service for Catholic Charities because it is one of the best ways to ensure the health and stability of the whole person,” says Executive Director Sara Ramirez. “Helping people to strengthen relationships, find healing after loss, and build coping skills all help them to live fulfilling and happy lives.”
Often, what a client seeks to address in a counseling session is just the beginning. Through the process of working with a trained counselor, they discover there are many ways for them to grow and heal when they receive that help.
Carlton was quiet during his first visit to the counseling office. Thrown into severe depression at the death of his wife, he needed help to process his loss and learn to move forward. To Carlton, the weekly counseling sessions were purely about helping him through his grief. In the end, what he received was so much more than he had ever expected.
During the sessions, Carlton and his counselor discussed his feelings, goals, and identity. They talked about how his experiences growing
up influenced his interactions with everyone around him. A true
introvert, Carlton did not enjoy controlling conversations and he feared conflict and decision making. Though not done maliciously, his friends and family used this trait to control Carlton, and he was often left feeling alone and vulnerable. The loss of his wife compounding these feelings.
Carlton met with a counselor for two years, and over that time experienced both a transition of his grief and an awakening of his own individual identity. He now felt comfortable challenging ideas that he didn’t agree with, asking more questions, and standing up for himself. His newfound
confidence gave him hope for his own future.Carlton was able to begin working with the counseling center shortly after the loss of his wife and benefitted from having that support
from the beginning. Many people are not able to access counseling services so easily, if at all. Many families face barriers such as cost, distance and social stigma.
Catholic Charities aims to lessen these barriers by providing low cost services, expanding to areas not served and providing education to the community on the importance of mental health services.
Through an innovative student counseling practicum program, Catholic Charities can offer high quality, low-cost services. The program utilizes counseling interns from universities in the region. Each intern is formally supervised by a licensed counselor to ensure the highest quality services.
Clinical Counselor Blanca Garcia meets to discuss services. Counseling Services works with individuals, children, couples, and families.
C
Catholic Charitiesleadership
Steve Wohleb President
Rev. Mark Hamlet Vice President
John Donna Secretary
Parker F. Pieri, CPA Treasurer
Barbara Budde
Tom Howard
Mary Beth Koenig, CPA
Terry McDaniel
Mike Millard
Joanne Sanders
Manuel Torres, MD
Sara Ramirez Executive Director
(continued from page 1)Counseling Services
Catholic Charities has a 25-county service region. This area, representing four times the area of Connecticut, includes many rural areas where professional counseling services are not available. This means many people must drive several hours to access counseling and this creates a substantial barrier, especially for families living at or below the poverty line.
The last barrier that Catholic Charities will help address in the community is the social stigma around counseling services. Many people believe that if they go to counseling they are admitting
there is something wrong with them. Through partnerships with other programs provided by Catholic Charities and other area nonprofits, Catholic Charities will provide education on the value of counseling, helping to break down the myths surrounding mental health.
Just as Carlton received services that helped him to become the person he wanted to be, residents of Central Texas will benefit from having this high quality, low cost service to bring them support and healing. •
Catholic Charities Welcomes New Director
Catholic Charities is proud to welcome Teresa Valenzuela Cox as the new Director of Social Services, overseeing
Counseling Services, Financial Stability, and the Gabriel Project Life Center programs.
Teresa brings a wealth of nonprofit management experience, including work in program development, community education, grant writing, and public relations.
Before joining Catholic Charities, Teresa served as Executive Director of Drive a Senior-NE, a volunteer senior citizen transportation organization. Teresa previously served as Commissioner for the Alameda County Board of Mental Health in California. She was also the founder of a nonprofit dealing with issues of family violence and poverty.
In her spare time, Teresa enjoys swimming, listening to live music and comedy, and taking roadtrips. She lives in Austin with her husband and her three sons. Welcome Teresa! •
Did you know?Donate $100 for each day of summer to help families bridge the gap.
Donate at: www.ccctx.org/donate
or by mail to: Catholic Charities of Central Texas1625 Rutherford LaneAustin, TX 78754
Summer is the most costly time for families in poverty
Summer brings higher utility bills due to the heat and higher food costs since children no longer receive free and reduced-price meals at school. Families barely making it month to month struggle with these extra expenses.
Catholic Charities offers financial stability services that help families bridge their financial gaps and achieve stability and a brighter future for their families.
To learn more about Catholic Charities of Central Texas,
call 512.651.6100or visit our website at www.ccctx.org
Creating Hope Huge Success!
save the dateupcoming events
CC101June 3, June 17, July 1, July 15, Aug 5
Noon - 1:00 p.m.
Get to know Catholic Charities of Central Texas at a free bimonthly CC101 lunch-and-learn event. Enjoy a delicious lunch and take a tour.
Contact Associate Director of Development Annie Chavez at [email protected] or 512.651.6118 to learn more and to RSVP.
www.ccctx.org/get-to-know-catholic-charities
Annual MeetingTuesday, August 25, 2015
5:30-7:00 p.m.
Catholic Charities’ supporters, volunteers, staff and board gather to celebrate our successes and to learn about the vision for Catholic Charities in the next fiscal year.
Contact Associate Director of Development Annie Chavez at [email protected] or 512.651.6118 to learn more.
Golf TournamentFriday, September 18, 2015
Join us at the 7th Annual Angels of Hope Golf Tournament supporting Catholic Charities of Central Texas in the Brazos Valley.
Learn more at www.ccctx.org/golf
Special thanks to Nyle Maxwell Family of Dealerships for their generous support of the 9th Annual Creating Hope Benefit!
Catholic Charities’ 9th Annual Creating Hope Benefit was a huge success, with more than $355K raised to support innovative programs in Central Texas.
The theme of “The Legacy You Live is the Legacy you Leave” came to life as speakers gave testimony to how Catholic Charities has changed them so they can go forward to create a legacy of their own.
More than 400 guests came to hear the stories of hope and to create a new legacy for Catholic Charities. Thirty-eight individuals and couples joined the Friend’s Leadership Society with a pledge of at least $1K for five years. These generous commitments give Catholic Charities the ability to better plan for the future of the agency, ensuring sustainability for many years to come.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to the success of the event! •
Students from King’s College in Pennsylvania spent part of their winter break volunteering with Catholic Charities.
Two years after the fertilizer plant explosion, families in West, TX
are still recovering from the devastation. Homes are being rebuilt, physical and emotion wounds healed, and hope restored. Catholic Charities continues to work with the community to bring healing and hope to those who lost everything. At this time, more than $690K have been used to help more than 1,800 individuals through our Disaster Response program.
Numbers only tell half the story, so I want to share a story with you as well.
Tracy and Bradley needed hope. Not only were their home and business damaged, but their son was harmed in the blast. As their struggles began to build, they turned to Catholic Charities, eager
to find anyone who could help. Catholic Charities gave them the support they desperately needed, so they could focus all their love and care on their son’s well-being. The entire family was connected with mental health and support services to help them recuperate from the trauma of the explosion.
In the last two years, the family has made great strides in their recovery. Their next big step will be the reopening of their family restaurant. Catholic Charities replaced key equipment, such as industrial mixers, a freezer, and a grill. Tracy and Bradley will be able to reopen their restaurant and continue living out their dreams.
This focus on both meeting immediate needs and longterm recovery is the heart of Catholic Charities Disaster Response program. •
Questions for SaraHow is Catholic Charities still helping in West, TX?
facebook.com/ccctx @CCcentraltexas1625 Rutherford Lane | Austin, TX 78754
Alliance TechAnonymousAustin Ventures- AVP Management Services, Inc.Ben E. Keith BeveragesLenee and Don BennettBarbara BuddeKelley and Tom DanielMary and Charles DickersonDina Dwyer-Owens and Mike Owens Kathleen and Chris EarthmanMarialice and Dillon FergusonLinda and Tom HowardJoe B. Foster Family FoundationLadies of Charity Lake Travis Mary Lockwood Crouch FoundationKaren and Mike MayShannon and Terry McDaniel
Nyle Maxwell Family of DealershipsRuth Ann and Parker PieriDeeDee and Cy RichardsCheryl and John SauderScanlan FoundationSeton Healthcare FamilyDeeAnn and David SmithKeili and Ted SmithSt. Gabriel’s Catholic School St. John Neumann Catholic ChurchSt. John Paul II Life CenterSt. Theresa Catholic Church St. William Catholic Church Strake FoundationRosa and Deacon Manuel TorresKitty and Robert TunmireTerri and Chris Von DohlenWellMed Charitable FoundationCrysta and Steve WohlebElizabeth and Gary Young
Austin Bar FoundationMolly and Paul BensonMarissa and Art BorregoBarbara BuddeAllison and Robert CavazosAnnie and Andrew ChavezChrist Child SocietyKelley and Tom DanielMary and Charles DickersonDiocese of AustinKacy and Christopher DolceKristina and John DonnaEmerging Leaders ProgramMichelle and Justin EstepJanet FontenetteMarlene and Bill GladeCathy and Alan HeineLinda and Tom HowardLadies of Charity Lake TravisKaren and Mike MayShannon and Terry McDanielMarian and Michael Millard
Cristina MokarzelStephen MusilSara and Ray RamirezDeeDee and Cy RichardsSarah and Jimmy RoseSacred Heart Catholic ChurchJoanne and Ray SandersSeton Healthcare FamilyKeili and Ted SmithSt. Edward’s UniversitySt. Gabriel’s Catholic School St. John Neumann Catholic ChurchSt. John Paul II Life CenterSt. William Catholic Church Rosa and Deacon Manuel TorresJoseph VasquezTerri and Chris Von DohlenWellMed Charitable FoundationCrysta and Steve Wohleb
Creating Hope a huge successThank you to everyone who helped us raise more than $355,000 to support our services in Central Texas!
