Catholic Charities Announces New Director of Clinical Services

We are delighted to announce the hiring of our new Director of Clinical Services, Stacie Kreiger. After years of working in private practice, Stacie joins Catholic Charities to take a leadership role in the development of an increasingly robust mental health treatment program. Stacie will direct the team building process as we strive to serve those with counseling and mental health needs in our diocese. Welcome Stacie!  

Chris Nowak will continue as our Clinical Liaison, supplying parishioners, families, and students with timely referral services to vetted therapists. In a very short period, Chris has made a profound impact on our Clinical program! Thank you, Chris!   

During our fiscal year ended June 30, 2022, requests for counseling services at Catholic Charities rose over 65% — as well as a dramatic increase in help for addiction support. We now serve eleven of our diocesan schools with counseling services at discounted rates — saving these schools much-needed financial resources and providing students and their families with quality, Christ-centered support. 

One of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic has been a growing need for mental health support. Research has shown that students who went through one or two years of school on Zoom, physically separated from their peers, suffered in many areas of their social development. 

“The pandemic changed our world,” says Stacie, “and it has negatively impacted our families in ways that we have never seen. The children are the most deeply affected; they simply are not equipped to handle so many new disruptions in their lives. We need to assist them by offering counseling and therapy, providing stability and hope that helps them avoid poor choices and harmful lifestyles as they become young adults.”

“The work of our counseling services fits squarely into our mission,” says Dan Florin, CEO of Catholic Charities of Fort Wayne-South Bend. “We have an obligation to serve our local parishes and schools in this uniquely Catholic way.” 

“Our approach to mental health allows us to address the most vulnerable, the most fearful, and the most broken. Christ gives us the strength to offer care and support in ways that help hold our families together,” adds Kreiger. “This is healing as it should be: in our shared faith, with compassion, led by God. You do not get any better than that.”

The increase in demand is driving the need for additional counselors! Qualified candidates can submit their resumes to ldwire@ccfwsb.org, or apply online at www.ccfwsb.org.