Press Release: Catholic Charities’ Immigration Services Receives Local Grant
Catholic Charities’ Immigration Services Receives Local Grant
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (July 11, 2023) – Thanks to a generous grant from the St. Joseph Community Health Foundation for $75,000, Immigration Services at Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend (CCFWSB) will grow to accommodate the needs of migrants in northern Indiana. This support comes at a vital time, as the war in Ukraine and civil unrest in Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela, and Nicaragua continue to unfold and the Department of Homeland Security has rolled out new humanitarian programs for individuals seeking temporary protections. As a result, immigration agencies across the country are expected to see an increase in demand for services.
For decades, CCFWSB has worked hard to provide accurate, safe, and affordable legal care for immigrants in the region. This spring, CCFWSB Immigration Director, Luz Ostrognai, was approved to renew her status as a fully accredited representative with the Department of Justice. This designation ensures that the organization remains qualified to provide immigration legal services through non-attorney staff members or volunteers in accordance with federal regulations. The Department of Justice, through the Office of Legal Access Programs (OLAP) confirms that Ostrognai possesses the character and fitness, broad knowledge and adequate experience in immigration law and procedure, as well as the necessary skills for effective litigation, and the training related to trial and appellate advocacy that are required to practice before the Immigration Courts, Board of Immigration Appeals, and Department of Homeland Security.
“For 22 years, our agency has provided immigration legal services to immigrants and refugees needing to adjust their legal status,” says Ostrognai. “This grant will help us maintain the quality of our legal services, as well as keep up with the demand.”
CCFWSB is proud to continue to provide this much needed service to the community, and grateful for the generosity and support of St. Joseph Community Health Foundation. This gift will provide at-risk migrants with access to their legal rights and aid them in finding safety and security in their new home. The agency expects to see an increase of migrants in northeast Indiana, and remains committed to providing immigration services, including family-based petitions, naturalization, and humanitarian aid applications.
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About Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend:
Catholic Charities is a private 501 (c) 3 incorporated in the state of Indiana to act as the coordinating and administrative agency for the charitable activities assigned to it by the Bishop of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend; to plan for, initiate, direct, support and coordinate Catholic social-services programs for the spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical welfare of persons in need; to seek and determine the causes of social problems in order to better promote preventative social-action programs; to participate in community planning and organization, and work cooperatively with other individuals and groups in the field of social work. The service area for Catholic Charities includes the 14 counties of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, encompassing 2,236 square miles, with a population of 1,247,850. Currently, Catholic Charities has offices in Fort Wayne (Allen County), Auburn (DeKalb County), and South Bend (St. Joseph County), Indiana. In Fiscal Year 2021-2022, CCFWSB served almost 20,000 individuals at a fiscally responsible rate of 88 cents of every dollar dedicated to client services. The agency’s mission is to serve all those in need as Christ calls us to do.
About the St. Joseph Community Health Foundation:
The St. Joe Foundation is sponsored by the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ and works to serve vulnerable populations in four impact areas: Prenatal & Infant Care, Nutrition & Food Insecurity, Access to Quality, Affordable Healthcare, and Refugees & Immigrants.