Briefing on NJ homelessness draws hundreds to capitol
July 31, 2008

The NJ Advocacy Network to End Homelessness members flank U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg and Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. at the July 30 Congressional Briefing to End Homelessness in Washington, D.C.  Joyce Campbell, director of Community and Government Relations, is pictured far right.  NJ Senators and Congressmen were invited to receive the latest information on the homeless in New Jersey and were urged to continue funding for housing and support services necessary to combat homelessness in NJ.  






Dave Kush, housing aide for Congressman Chris Smith (4th district), speaks to the congregation of more than two hundred NJ advocates and homeless.  With him (left to right) are Scott Fairman, housing advocate for Catholic Charities, and Francis E. Dolan, executive director.







Formerly homeless invidivuals and their families advocated for continued funding to assist those in need. 

Want to unload an old car for a tax deduction?

The car donation program  is underway!  Catholic Charities is now ready to roll with a new auto donation program that will accept any car, even those not drivable, and tow them away at no expense. With one phone call, you can finally unload that old car that has been taking up space in your driveway, get the highest tax deduction allowable under current IRS regulations, and help people in need in your own community.

Unlike many nonprofits, Catholic Charities did not outsource auto donation to a national company because the agency wanted to guarantee that all of the proceeds remain in the four-county service area and benefit members of our communities in Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean Counties. Depending on the appraisal each donated vehicle receives, Catholic Charities will give the vehicle to a consumer desperately in need of transportation or will sell it to a salvage yard or at an auction. Proceeds are then directed to one of our programs in need.

Bruno Cellucci, Director of Accounting and Business Services, initiated the program because he had heard that individuals offering to donate their cars to Catholic Charities were being sent elsewhere since no formal process was in place to accept them. He wasted no time in researching the essentials of establishing and maintaining an auto donation program according to current IRS protocols, met with dozens of towing and salvage operators, and put together a network of individuals ready to respond to calls of prospective donors.

“It will entail some start up costs, but I believe it is a worthy investment because we will hopefully be able to provide cars to those who cannot afford them and provide funding to programs who are presently struggling to meet unprecedented demand for assistance,” said Cellucci.
If you are interested in donating your car to Catholic Charities, call 1-877-383-CCDT! 

Pictured above:  George Reilly (right), a member of the agency’s Board of Trustees, hands the keys to his minivan over to Bruno Cellucci (left), creator of the new car donation program at Catholic Charities. Reilly’s family minivan was the first car officially donated to the agency and was later given to a Catholic Charities consumer who needed transportation to return to work.

Catholic Charities Gives Thanks

Supporters of the Trenton-based social services agency were invited to a breakfast gathering at the Hyatt Regency Princeton on February 21st where they were recognized for their leadership role in making the 2007 Guardian Angel Dinner Dance a highly successful fundraising event. The sponsors in attendance represented various companies such as Archer & Greiner; Bayada Nurses, Ed Bennett Properties; Commerce Bank; Doerler Landscapes; Hyatt Regency Princeton; J. H. Cohn; Rita Kearney, Merrill Lynch, OceanFirst Bank; Pepper Hamilton LLP; Reilly Financial Group, An Office of MetLife; Roma Bank; St. Francis Medical Center; St. Gregory the Great Church; St. Joseph’s Church, Toms River; and St. Paul’s Church, Princeton. Members of the Board of Trustees and County Boards also attended.

 To view a larger photo, click on the document link below:

Camp PEAK 2008 Summer Program Info

It's never too early to think about summer! This year, Camp PEAK, designed for children with special needs such as ADHD and Asperger's Syndrome, runs from July 1 to August 14, 2008 at Holy Family School in Lakewood, NJ. You can learn more about this wonderful program in three ways:

1. Attend one of three 2008 Open House events:

Sunday, January 20, 2008
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Sunday, April 20, 2008

Open Houses are held at Holy Family School, County Line Road, Lakewood, NJ from 12:30-3:00pm.

2. View the Camp PEAK brochure (pdf format) below

3. Contact Anna Nicoletta, program coordinator, at anicoletta@cctrenton.org or 732-350-4120 x107

We hope you will join us for our eleventh summer of fun and learning!

Fall Edition of The Spirit now available online
November 19, 2007

Catholic Charities' quarterly newsletter, The Spirit, is now available online.  Either go the the "About Us' page and click on link on the left sidebar, or click on this link below:

www.catholiccharitiestrenton.org/the-spirit.pdf

Providence House thanks awareness month supporters
November 14, 2007

On behalf of Providence House Domestic Violence Services of Catholic Charities we wanted to share with you how grateful we are for the community support that was shown during October, which was Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Specifically, on Thursday, October 25, 2007 staff, clients, and community members celebrated the journey from “victim” to “survivor” of domestic abuse. The day began at the Providence House Outreach office located on Schoolhouse Road in Whiting with a flag raising ceremony on the newly installed flagpole given to Providence House by Manchester Township. PHOTO: Mayor Michael Fressola, Mary Pettrow, Associate Director of Providence House, Police Chief William Brase, and Councilman Kenneth Vanderziel joined to raise the flag to start off the day’s events (see photo, below). The Catholic Charities outreach building has also become a satellite location of the Manchester Police Department – a partnership that will greatly benefit the community and those affected by domestic abuse in Manchester Township.

The staff of Providence House then transitioned into preparations for the thirteenth annual Celebration of Survivors event held that night from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Whiting. This annual commemoration honors all those affected by domestic violence, from clients who have worked so hard to transition from the role of victim to becoming a survivor to those who have lost their lives at the hands of someone who claimed to love them. At the beginning of the ceremony, Ms. Madelin Einbinder, representing Ocean County Prosecutor Marlene Lynch-Ford conducted the opening candle lighting. Many of the clients participated in this event either by speaking; writing a poem, or taking part in making affirmations about the positive steps they have taken in their lives. Clients of Providence House created a beautiful quilt depicting the various phases of domestic abuse and the journey to becoming a survivor, which was on display that night. The Ocean County Freeholders and the Township of Manchester gave Proclamations declaring October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Every year at this event awards are given to particular groups or individuals that have generously supported Providence House throughout the years. This year three honorees were awarded this accolade: Dr. Peter Lewis for choosing Providence House to be an ongoing beneficiary of the “Smiles for Life” program; Verizon Wireless for its cellular phone donation program, sponsorship of the Providence House gift auction, and provision of trainings to clients on job seeking skills; and the Zonta Club of Ocean County for being actively involved in addressing violence against the elderly through the creation of the Elder Abuse Task Force. The audience was deeply moved by all of the components of this special program.

In closing, another very important occurrence during Domestic Violence Awareness Month for which the staff of Providence House was extremely grateful was the recent grant of $80,500.00 from the Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders. This contribution will continue to make it possible for victims of domestic abuse and their children to receive free, confidential, and professional services through the various Providence House programs. Please let your readers know that if you or someone you know needs assistance or would like to learn more about domestic abuse, please contact the 24-hour hotline at 732.244.8259 or 1.800.246.8910. 

A "thank you" from Providence House also appeared in the Berekely, Brick, Manchester, and Lakewood Reporter newspapers on November 29, 2007 and the Burlington County Times on November 30, 2007.

Charity Navigator Finds Catholic Charities USA a “Slam Dunk”
August 15, 2007

Recognized as 8th Most Fiscally Responsible Charity in Nation

Alexandria, VA—Catholic Charities USA is a “Slam Dunk” for donors looking to maximize their investment, according to Charity Navigator, the country’s largest independent charity evaluator, which this week recognized Catholic Charities USA as the eighth most fiscally responsible charity in the nation. In addition, Charity Navigator awarded Catholic Charities USA its highest rating—four stars—for both organizational efficiency and organizational capacity.

“At Charity Navigator we’ve scrutinized the financial health of more than 5,300 of the best-known charities in America. Catholic Charities USA stands out not just as one of the most fiscally healthy, but also for their strong commitment to respecting the rights of donors,” said Trent Stamp, president of Charity Navigator. “Their inclusion on our top 10 list of Slam Dunk Charities signals to the public that Catholic Charities USA is worthy of its trust and support.”

Catholic Charities USA, which as founded in 1910, serves as the membership association of one of the nation's largest social service networks, providing networking opportunities, national advocacy, and media efforts, program development, training and technical assistance, and financial support. For more than 275 years, Catholic Charities agencies and institutions nationwide have provided vital social services to people in need, regardless of their religious, social, or economic backgrounds.

“Quality, accountability, and compassion are the foundation of our efforts to help local Catholic Charities agencies improve the lives of those in need,” said Rev. Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA. “We are honored that our financial stewardship and our commitment to donors and those we serve have been recognized by such a reputable independent evaluator of charities. We commend Charity Navigator for helping donors make intelligent giving decisions that will result in a positive lasting impact. ”

Charity Navigator aims to advance a more efficient and responsive philanthropic marketplace in which givers and the charities they support work in tandem to overcome the nation’s most persistent challenges.

For more information contact Shelley Borysiewicz at 703-236-6218 or sborysiewicz@catholiccharitiesusa.org

Budget cuts deeply into homelessness prevention program
June 28, 2007

Governor cuts Emergency Services Program in Trenton, Means Fewer Will Be Assisted with Rent, Utilities and Food 

TRENTON, NJ – At Catholic Charities’ Emergency & Community Services on North Warren Street in Trenton, employees do not consider what they do political pork. They feed the hungry, clothe and provide temporary shelter to those in need, assist those facing eviction with rent and utilities payments and provide long-term financial counseling and employment support to help individuals achieve self-sufficiency. But today, they made Governor Corzine’s list of the 66 programs totaling $10 million as Christmas Trees or pork to be cut from the state budget. The $100,000 special appropriation request made by state senator Shirley Turner to help Emergency and Community Services meet the basic needs of Mercer County residents represents more than one-third of the program’s annual budget and will certainly mean that fewer residents will be assisted.

“It is tremendously discouraging,” said Joyce Campbell, Director of Community and Government Relations for Catholic Charities in response to learning of the cut. “Emergency and Community Services has received some form of support from the state for the last seven years and receives no other public funding. Our organization does a lot to raise funds to cover the costs of running this life-saving program but learning that one-third of our budget is to be cut with fewer than six months to go before our next fiscal year makes for bleak prospects. The number of working families and individuals asking for help to meet basic needs – food and help with rent or mortgage payments – has nearly doubled in the last seven years that we received state funding. With a cut such as this, we will not be able to help as many people and I do not know to whom they can turn for help.” Campbell asserts that Emergency and Community Services is in many ways, a cost-saving program since it prevents people from becoming homeless and eventually requiring longer-term public assistance of some sort.

For more information, contact Joyce Campbell at (609) 847-2110 or (609) 394-5181 x138.

For many kids, summer=hunger
June 5, 2007

Director of Emergency and Community Services Tonya Woodland wrote an op-ed that appeared in the Burlington County Times on the issue of child hunger during the summer months. 

Woodland discussed how many children lose access to nutritious meals when school lets out, and how ECS is working to combat this problem through its "Bagging Summer Hunger" campaign.  The summer-long program is designed to provide bagged breakfast and lunch to children in need.

If you would like to participate in this campaign, please contact Cheryl Maitlen at 856-764-6945 x19 or at cmaitlen@cctrenton.org.

Catholic Charities rallies for a fair state budget
May 31, 2007

Catholic Charities participated in a rally at the State house to fight for a fair state budget that will help lift people up and out of poverty and ensure that the most vulnerable in our communities have access to the quality services. Thousands of participants, wearing green, rallied around the need for a 4.1% increase in the state budget that will allow for the continuation of these services and fair wages for social service employees.  

In an article describing the event, The Times of Trenton quoted Lydia Doshier, a former consumer of Catholic Charities, who spoke at the rally.  Doshier sought help from Delaware House for her addiction and mental illness and will soon complete a Masters degree in education.  "I could not have done any of this if the services I received had not been provided," she said.  

Joyce Campbell, Director of Community and Government Relations, and Assemblyman Bill Baroni, adopted through Catholic Charities, also participated in Thursday's rally. 


Catholic Charities staff, consumers, and board members showed support for a fair budget despite the heat.







Joyce Campbell rallies the crowd.



Thousands gathered in front of the Statehouse

Catholic Charities staff to appear on Newsmakers!
June 12, 2008

Two Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton employees were recent guests on Comcast Newsmakers!  Please tune in if you can, the schedule is as follows: The two separate Comcast Newsmakers programs air three times daily, the first starts June 12th and runs through June 18th and the second begins June 25th and runs through July 2nd.
First up will be Joyce Campbell, Director of Community and Government Relations discussing the challenging state and economic climate and how it impacts those most vulnerable and later in June, Cheryl Maitlen, Community Affairs Manager for Emergency & Community Services will address things people can do to help insure that schoolchildren do not go hungry over the summer break.
The Newsmaker programs offer brief (4-5 minutes in length) interviews with experts on timely issues and air on various channels to all Comcast subscribers. To locate Newsmakers either check your local programming guide or watch CNN Headline News.

From Violence to Compassion
February 14, 2008

Valentine's Day is here - the time for expressing affection with loved ones. It seems improbable that the people we love can sometimes be the people whose hearts and bodies we hurt. Yet we know domestic violence is a reality, even on Valentine's Day, necessitating shelters and services to protect women and children. If we really want to protect women and children we must also reach the men committing these offenses. Through court mandates, some men who have abused their partners and children enter our treatment program. Our goal is that they take responsibility for their actions so that the intergenerational cycle of abuse is stopped. When I started this work 25 years ago, we had a plan. Confront them. Lecture them about male privilege. Change their social beliefs to accept women as equals. Trouble was, as seen through the rear view mirror of time, we were replicating the power tactics we wanted them to stop. We had the “truth”, and I was going to force it on them. We got compliance, significantly less capital “V” violence, the violence that is against the law. But when you looked closer at the picture, we saw more small “v” violence, the emotional and verbal abuse often goes under the radar of law enforcement but is equally damaging to its victims.

The prevailing sentiment is these men are monsters with no feeling who deny, minimize, or take no responsibility for their actions. My 25 years in the trenches have allowed me to learn from these men who abuse the same lesson I learned from the victims of abuse. They taught me that if humanity and compassion are goals, therapists must create an atmosphere of emotional safety in order to address the hidden shame and hurt that the men so fear. Frequently, men hide their perceived wounds behind a controlling and domineering veneer. We call these wounds “core hurts”, a term coined by Dr. Steven Stosny in his work with men who have abused. These wounds usually originate in childhood and lead a man to believe he is unlovable, powerless, rejected, and unworthy of earning trust. The “core hurts”, hidden with accompanying shame, are actually mistaken beliefs about himself. Men who have abused hide this pain and shame from themselves and from others with a “mask”. They use the mask that many men use, but include physical and emotional violence. This mask ranges from the grandiose exuberance of exaggerated manhood to the “strong, silent type”. But behind the mask are men who use power, status, achievement, etc, to prove that they are better than others. Men notch their belts with money, cars, conquests of women, and athletic accomplishments, as demonstrations of superiority, of their definition of “manhood”. Power and winning are used in place of compassion in their relationships. Power may get compliance, but deep inside, these men know that they remain feeling unlovable. They try to manipulate “love” out of others, but they feel unlovable on the inside. When someone does express love to them, they cannot accept it because they do not feel lovable at their core. No amount of love from others will make someone who feels unlovable believe that they are worthy of love. They must do that work on themselves.

The men I have worked with have taught me that, given a welcoming sanctuary of emotional safety, inclusion, and acceptance, they have the courage to go behind the mask that hides their shame to heal their “core hurts’. An interesting thing happens as they expose these wounds and deal with the feelings of unlovablity, powerlessness, etc they were covering up. Their internal beliefs, beliefs about themselves, change. They discover their own lovability and internal power to regulate their own emotions (as opposed to their external power over others.). In the beginning of this compassion for self, they start feeling better about themselves, more worthy of love. And how does a person worthy of love treat others? Many of these men have found that they treat their partners, their children, and their co-workers with more compassion. They realize that both the capital “V” violence and the small “v” violence hurt their loved ones’ ability to trust, love, and connect. The men who do this work can hear and understand the hurt they caused others, and start to make amends.

For the men who dig in and work on themselves, their work does not stop when the treatment ends. About half the men who complete the program volunteer to come back to our “Passing It On” night where they help new group members have the courage to look inside themselves. When the men look behind this mask, the false manhood, the addictions, the aggressions, even the passive withdrawal into stonewalling, they see that they have discarded their own humanity. When the men do the work, one of the most common phrases we hear is “I got myself back”. “Myself” has been there the whole time waiting to be discovered. None of this means that these men should not be held accountable for their actions; they are totally responsible for their behavior no matter what the other person does. However, once inside treatment programs, if we want their humanity to re-emerge, we follow what these men have taught us: Create a safe place where shameful hurts can heal, and the humanity and compassion in the human spirit grows. We have seen men who have the courage to do this work change their definition of manhood to include expressions of sadness, allowance of fear, inadequacy, and imperfection. Compassion becomes a practice and self-responsibility becomes a discipline. The men start connecting with others with more humanity, more humility, and more acceptance.

Protecting women by providing shelters and supportive services is essential. So is holding the men accountable through the legal system. Most men do not come unless there are external forces. At the same time, creating a safe place for men to heal the shame and pain behind their violence will further this effort.

David J. Thomas, LCSW, LMFT, DVS
Program Supervisor, Family Growth Program of Catholic Charities, Trenton
Thomas has worked at Catholic Charities with family violence since 1977

CC Calendar: A Showcase of Hope
January 24, 2008

The Monitor, the weekly newspaper of the Diocese of Trenton, featured an article on Partners in Recovery's first consumer-made calendar.  The article interviewed several of the contributors, including Ramon D., the cover artist ,at the Partners' Art Show on January 10.  The calendar project's purpose was to showcase artwork created during art therapy sessions, which provided consumers with a chance to heal through self-expression.  Creating art not only provides a therapeutic outlet but gives something valuable back to the community.  The calendars were sold for a suggested donation of $5, in which all proceeds went directly the program for art supplies. 

Seeking a rewarding career? Positions now available!
March 7, 2008

Join Catholic Charities’ Behavioral Health Services (BHS) in our mission to renew lives and restore hope for individuals and families who struggle with mental illness and addictions.

Positions are now available for individuals with a bachelor’s degree in the Human Services field in our housing and partial care programs and for individuals with a bachelor’s degree and two years experience in our Programs of Assertive Community Treatment. Individuals with master’s degrees and licensed practitioners are utilized throughout our extensive service system and are also encouraged to apply.  

Contact the BHS recruiter at sthomas@cctrenton.org or fax at 609-396-6280 for more information. 

Employee Profile:  Dedication to compassion and change

Through our ongoing training and support opportunities, BHS seeks to create compassionate and visionary leaders in the community.  One of our many inspirational employees is Diana Pasca, program supervisor of vocational and self-help services.  Diana was New Jersey Association of Mental Health Agencies' 2005 "Courage to Change" award recipient and was nominated by Catholic Charities because of her compassion and desire to make positive changes in the way mental health services are provided. 



BHS is dedicated to being the behavioral health services provider of choice through excellence in practice. 

CLICK ON THE DOCUMENT LINK BELOW FOR A LIST OF CURRENT OPENINGS and ONGOING OPPORTUNITIES!

Catholic Charities to be honored by Mercer County College
November 15, 2007

On December 5, Mercer County Community College will honor Catholic Charities at the "Creating the Future; Celebrating Success" event.  The event, designed to showcase the achievements of MCCC students and programs, will honor Catholic Charities for being a long-standing community partner.

The event is scheduled from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at MCCC's Conference Center at the West Windsor Campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road.

Counting Crows Partner with Providence House

The Counting Crows, a rock band that invites local social services agencies to exhibit at their concerts recently extended an invitation to Providence House domestic violence services of Catholic Charities to table their concert on August 22nd at First Energy Park in Lakewood.  A band member will introduce each community group and offer a brief description of their services.  Mary Pettrow and Debbie Swiercz will be on hand to answer questions and provide information about Providence House and domestic abuse to concert-goers.  
www.countingcrows.com

Congressional reception to end homelessness is a success
July 11, 2007

All 13 of New Jersey’s congressional representatives were invited to attend a reception, hosted by U.S. Senators Robert Menendez and Frank R. Lautenberg and sponsored by the Mercer Alliance to End Homelessness, Corporation for Supportive Housing, Monarch Housing Associates, and Catholic Charities of the Trenton Diocese. The briefing and informal reception was held on July 11, 2007 at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, DC.

Affordable housing advocates and formerly homeless residents gathered at the reception to brief members of New Jersey’s congressional delegation on homelessness, its policy implications and plans to eradicate it in the state. Catholic Charities’ staff and board members joined other advocates from across the state.

The event was a huge success, and the second congressional reception is already scheduled for July 16, 2008. 

Nine-year-old girl organizes toy drive in Ocean County
June 7, 2007

The Jackson/Howell Reporter ran an article on nine-year-old Victoria Migneco who organized a toy drive to benefit Ocean Emergency and Community Services. She, along with her seven-year-old sister, Erin, organized the drive with her school and karate school.

Lakewood woman receives helps from Ocean ECS
May 20, 2007

Nancy Sanchirico, a consumer of Emergency and Community Services in Lakewood, was featured in the Asbury Park Press after beating her alcohol addiction.  On her experience with ECS, Nancy said:  "Those people were such an inspiration.  They gave me so much support, and they didn't even know me."

Providence House renovates room
May 3, 2007

The Monitor highlighted Providence House-Burlington's newly renovated room for the PALS (Peace a Learned Solution) Program.  PALS offeres a multitude of free services for child victims of domestic violence.  Present at the April 26 ribbon cutting event were the Dow Jones Family Center and Bright Horizons Foundation, organizations that provided planning, funding, and volunteers for the project.