A great prophet has arisen in our midst
and God has visited his people. Lk 7:16

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Highlights from CCUSA

 Save the Date! Join us in Cleveland for the 2020 Annual Gathering for “Innovation Now”

When: October 27-30, 2020. Where: Hilton Cleveland. Plan ahead, mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details! Still need convincing? See what your colleagues said about the 2019 Annual Gathering: “Workshops/topics and presentations were great – wonderful diversity.”  “Learning from sister agencies – getting ideas that we could bring back to our agency.”  “Connections I made, people I met, bonding with colleagues.” Questions? Send an email here.

 Would you like to share your program knowledge with others in the Catholic Charities ministry?

The Call for Proposals for the 2020 Annual Gathering is now open!  Think about your agency’s program successes, best practices and lessons learned and consider submitting a proposal for review. Share your expertise with colleagues across the network and gain the opportunity to learn from others.  Please go to www.ccusaannualgathering.org to view the Guidelines and Proposal Form.  Completed Workshop Proposal Forms must be submitted by the deadline of Tuesday, March 17, 2020.

 2019 Annual Survey Preparation Webinar 

 The next CCUSA Annual Survey is quickly approaching! The 2019 Annual Survey is scheduled to go live on Friday, February 7. In preparation, please join us on Thursday, February 6, at 3:30 PM EST for the 2019 Annual Survey Preparation Webinar. We will highlight notable changes to this year’s instrument, overview the survey’s timeline and methods of technical assistance, and introduce the new Respondent Aggregation Tool. Any staff or leadership that may contribute to your agency’s Annual Survey submission are highly encouraged to participate in this instructional webinar. The recording and slides will be sent directly to all registrants; please register even if you are unable to attend to ensure receipt of further survey communications. Feel free to direct any questions or contact modifications for survey communications to Ashley Rininger.

Catholic Charities USA Launches the 2020 National Volunteer of the Year Award Nomination Process

Over 12.5 million individuals received services from Catholic Charities agencies across the country in 2018 with the help, commitment, and compassion of over 300,000 volunteers. The Volunteer of the Year Award recognizes this impact and honors one an individual who embodies the mission of CCUSA, demonstrates real impact, and reflects an innovative approach to help those in poverty. Honor your all-star volunteer and nominate them for this prestigious honor! The finalists of the 2020 National Volunteer of the Year award will be profiled in the spring issue of CCUSA's magazine, Charities USA, and the winner will be featured in the summer issue of Charities USA and recognized at the 2020 CCUSA Annual Gathering in Cleveland, OH (expenses paid). The deadline for all nominations is Wednesday, March 4, 2020. Finalists will be notified the week of March 9-13, 2020. Submit your nomination here! For more information, email us here.

CCUSA's O'Grady Leadership Institutes

Save the dates for CCUSA’s 2020 O’Grady Leadership Institutes, scheduled for May 11-15 at the beautiful Bethany Center near Tampa. The Advanced Leadership Institute (2.0) is for diocesan directors and other senior Catholic Charities leaders; the Leadership Institute (1.0) is for emerging leaders, administrators, and program directors. Space is limited, and early interest has been strong. Formal registration is now slated to open in mid-February, but interested persons may contact Scott Hurd to preregister and benefit from instructors such as CCUSA’s president Sr. Donna Markham and Harvard’s Rev. Bryan Hehir. As one recent participant observed, “The entire week was one of the best I’ve ever spent.”

Events and Webinars

 Build Your Fundraising Plan Now!

Get the fundraising plan off your to-do list and into action with this four-week course that walks you through every step needed to create an effective and comprehensive fundraising strategy. You’ll learn how to assess where you are, look ahead to see where you want to be, create a comprehensive fundraising plan, and then receive an entire toolkit of sample materials and resources to help you execute on that plan.  Length of Course: Five weeks. Type of Course: Self-paced (during a five-week course run); Instructor-led. Dates: March 30 - April 26, 2020. Price: $325 (Alliance partners and CNPs receive a 20% discount. Use code: NONPROFITPARTNER). Register and learn more here.   

Effective Staff Supervision  

Effective staff management is a powerful tool that should be added to every supervisor's toolbelt – and the Effective Staff Supervision course will do just that. This 8-week course begins by introducing you to the art and science behind effective supervision. The course will dive into more tactical issues such as effective hiring, monitoring and feedback strategies. It will also push you to flex your leadership capacity, understanding your unique style and how to use your strengths to build a cohesive, high-performing team. By the end of the eight weeks, you will have the strategies and knowledge needed to be a highly effective manager. Length of Course: Eight weeks. Type of Course: Self-paced (during eight-week course run); Instructor-led. Dates: April 19 - June 14, 2020. Price: $600 (Alliance partners and CNPs receive a 20% discount. Use code: NONPROFITPARTNER). Register and learn more here. 

Essential Communication Skills for Nonprofit Leaders

Effective communications is, without question, the most critical determinant of leadership success (especially for those in the nonprofit sector). This is how we develop and sustain key relationships that allow us to achieve a common purpose. But what makes a leader an effective communicator? In this three-week course, you will learn time-tested communications strategies that have helped thousands of executives become highly-successful leaders. Length of Course: Three weeks. Type of Course: Self-paced (during a three-week course run); Instructor-led. Dates: January 27- February 16, 2020. (Alliance partners and CNPs receive a 20% discount. Use code: NONPROFITPARTNER). Register and learn more here.  

Designing Nonprofit Programs for Long-term Sustainability

You will leave this course with knowledge of:

 •Needs assessments, asset identification and other research findings that identify authentic community need;
•Mission-driven program design and outcomes (designing programs for impact);
•How to adequately allocate and advocate for resources (staffing, space, funding, etc.);
•The basics of effective program design, including program logistics; program marketing, paid and volunteer staffing, volunteer roles and evaluation; and
•Designing Inclusive programming.

In addition, you will have the opportunity to develop a logic model for a nonprofit organization.Length of Course: 5-weeks, Type of course: Self-paced (during five-week course run); Instructor-lead, Course access: Learner may access the course for up to 90 days, Dates: February 10, 2020 - March 16, 2020. Alliance partners and CNPs receive a 20% discount. Use code: NONPROFITPARTNER). Register and learn more here.

Trauma-Informed Care and Healthcare Integration webinar

Join us on Trauma-Informed Approach to Care and how that lens impacts the work of integrating healthcare services. Catholic Charities of Eastern Washington has several exciting healthcare integration programs and new pilots in partnership with local healthcare systems and behavioral health providers. These programs are utilizing the TIA to Care. Following this presentation attendee will be able to:

1. Describe the basic principles, goals, and benefits of the Trauma-Informed Approach to care.
2. Define the need for healthcare integration in a social service setting.
3. Identify innovative ways to address homelessness as a healthcare issue.

This webinar offers 1.0 Continuing Education Credit. Course completion requirements - To earn CE credit, participants must log in at the scheduled time, attend the webinar and complete an online course evaluation and CEC post-test. Certificates of credit will be emailed within 10 business days of each course completion. Date: Feb. 21, 2020, at 2:00 PM EST. Registration link.

Grant Opportunities and Resources

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Baton Rouge staff member awarded congressional award

Catholic Charities Clinical Director Paula C. Davis, LCSW, was nominated by Senator John Kennedy to receive a 2019 Congressional Coalition Institute Angels in Adoption Award. Senator Kennedy presented the award in his office on Thursday, November 14, 2019. The Angels in Adoption program honors individuals, couples, families and organizations nationwide that have made an extraordinary contribution on behalf of children in need of permanency. Since the program's inception in 1999, more than 2,600 awardees from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have been recognized for their commitment to the adoption and foster care community. Learn more about the Angels in Adoption program here.

The 2020 Earth Day educational program might be exactly what you need!

Pre-Register for Earth Day 2020 Program. The free one-hour educational program, “Earth Day at 50/Laudato Si’ at 5: An Urgent Appeal for Action,” is designed for parishes, schools, and religious communities facing the growing calls for urgent action on climate change. The program is perfect for commemorating the 50th anniversary of Earth Day (April 22nd or another date of your choosing) and/or the fifth anniversary of Laudato Si’ which spans from the week of May 16th-24th (i.e., the global Laudato Si’ week) through June 18th (the day Laudato Si’ was released to the world). The program could also be used by anyone looking for ways to participate in the new U.S. Catholic Climate Project. This year’s hour-long program includes prayers, readings, a short video, discussion questions, and suggested actions. Pre-register now and you will automatically receive the program in your inbox in mid-February. Questions? Contact Paz Artaza-Regan.

Catalyst Kitchens (by FareStart) in collaboration with CCUSA to offer "Train the Trainer Workshop"

The Catalyst Kitchens Train the Trainer workshop brings together members working directly with students in the kitchen, classroom, and as case managers to discuss how to coach students to reach their fullest potential. Topics include: Strategies to establish a culture of learning; classroom and kitchen instruction skills for diverse learners; and writing techniques for productive student evaluations. Take advantage of your CCUSA partnership discount and receive $125 off the workshop fee. Use discount code CKPARTNER at checkout to redeem. Upcoming workshops: Washington, DC, hosted by DC Central Kitchen, Feb. 27-28; Seattle, Wash., hosted by FareStart, July 30-31; Phoenix, Ariz., hosted by UMOM New Day Centers, Oct. 15-16. Click here to learn more.

Catalyst Kitchens (by FareStart) in collaboration with CCUSA to offer "Foodservice Job Training Programs 101"

The "Foodservice Job Training Programs 101" course goes behind the scenes with FareStart's 28 year program. If your nonprofit program prepares meals for the community on a regular basis, serves vulnerable populations seeking employment and economic stability, is looking to increase their community impact, then Foodservice job training could be your program’s next step! The Foodservice Job Training 101 Workshop is an exclusive look at what makes this program model successful. Walk away with the framework you need to champion this program model or grow your program’s social impact. Date: March 11-12 at FareStart's headquarters in Seattle, Wash. Learn more about the workshop here.

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention FY 20 Second Chance Act addressing the needs of incarcerated parents and their minor children

This program will provide funding to support states and units of local government to develop programs within detention or correctional facilities to respond to the needs of incarcerated parents who have children younger than age 18. This program supports activities that foster positive family engagement between incarcerated parents and their children within detention and correctional facilities, and implement programs and services that support the children of incarcerated parents to reduce the likelihood of antisocial behaviors and future involvement in the juvenile justice system. All applications due March 10, 2020. 

DOJ FY 2020 Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS)

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is seeking applications for funding to improve public safety and victim services in tribal communities. This solicitation provides federally recognized tribes and tribal consortia an opportunity to apply for funding to aid in developing a comprehensive and coordinated approach to public safety and victimization.The grant programs outlined in this CTAS solicitation are referred to as purpose areas. Applicants may apply for funding under the purpose area(s) that best address tribes’ concerns related to public safety, criminal and juvenile justice, and responses to domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault, and other crimes. All applications due February 25, 2020.

Employment Opportunities

Catholic Charities job opportunities now listed on CCUSA website

Anyone can view the job opportunities by clicking on the "Careers" tag on the footer of the CCUSA webpage. To post a job opportunity, one must be a member and have access to the members' portal in order to fill out the submission form (click on "Careers" tag on members only portal homepage). If you have any questions about the new job opportunities submission form, please contact David Werning or Lily Stewart. Please click here to access job opportunities.

CCUSA Photo Gallery

Did you know that one of the benefits CCUSA provides to member agencies is access to a professional photo gallery? Visit our Flickr photo pages to explore our albums and photos. If you would like a high-resolution version for your agency's use, please email CCUSA with photo number.