In 2015, we were startled by the great need we uncovered for a trustworthy Catholic resource for professional counseling. To meet the many needs of our parish priests and Catholic schools personnel, we are undertaking our Hope to Healing capital campaign.

Catholic Charities is uniquely qualified with expertise in both mental-health services and Catholic teaching. We are the arm of the Church that is called upon to respond to physical, emotional, mental and spiritual needs.

"Many of our family members, friends, or colleagues will encounter mental-health challenges at some point," says Hope to Healing co-chair Helen Nill. "So a sustainable counseling program is vital to creating a more mentally healthy diocese."

We have started by hiring a clinical liaison to help parishioners navigate the mental-health system. In South Bend, we have also hired a therapist who is serving the students and families of three Catholic schools. However, there is much more we need to do.

  SCOPE OF NEED 

160,317 Catholics in our diocese	13,668 Students in Catholic schools	18,000 Served by Catholic Charities Annually
20,000 will need help in their lifetime	1,640  will need help in their lifetime	2,160 will need help in their lifetime

Listen to CEO, Gloria Whitcraft, explain why the Hope to Healing Initiative is so important to our diocese and why Catholic Charities is uniquely equipped to provide this program on the Kyle Heimann Show.

 INITIATIVE COMPONENTS 

  MAKING AN IMPACT  

At present, we have one full-time counselor who is serving several Catholic schools in Allen County and one part-time counselor in South Bend, as well as a Clinical Liaison. We additionally offer Catholic schools, priests and parishes, at their request, staff and community training on a variety of topics related to mental health, such as: appropriate responses to disruptive behavior in the classroom, challenges presented to parents by children of all ages, and recognizing early signs of potential drug use, mental health in the electronic age, as well as build custom workshops. 

Read about how counseling changed Caroline's family here. 

 HELP US EXPAND 

Our vision for this initiative is to have additional therapists and clinical liaisons to help serve our 14-county region. 

PLEASE SUPPORT CATHOLIC CHARITIES' COUNSELING PROGRAM

“I am honored to be a part of this project that helps with the mental health issues our family, friends and neighbors struggle with every day.” - Paulette Davis, Board Presidents and CoChair	“I feel strongly that Catholic Charities through the Hope to Healing Initiative will help to build a healthier community for us all.” - Helen Nill, CoChair

 PARTNER WITH US TODAY 

If you are interested in joining the Hope to Healing Committee, volunteering to the Hope to Healing Initiative or hosting a Hope to Healing event or workshop, please contact Nicole Kurut at nkurut@ccfwsb.org or call at 260-422-5625.