Date: Nov 09, 2020 at 2:00 PM EST. African American men’s health has been worse than other men and women for more than 100 years, yet we have few programs or evidence-based practices to improve African American men’s mental or physical health. In this presentation, Dr. Derek Griffith - Founder and Director, Center for Research on Men’s Health at Vanderbilt University - suggests that part of the reason we may not have succeeded in improving the health of these men is that we have not considered what it means to be African American and a man over time and in this current context. He will describe findings from his research, and he will suggest strategies to improve African American men’s health and well-being. NOTE: This webinar offers 1.0 Continuing Education Credit.  Register here. 

CCUSA Webinar - How to Educate Your Staff: A Catholic Charities of St. Louis Case Study

Date: Nov 11, 2020 at 3:00 PM EST. An overwhelming need in all organizations is to provide professional development for staff on a consistent basis. Catholic Charities of St. Louis embarked on a journey to meet that need in a coordinative fashion by creating the Federation Training Program. This program provides professional development to staff at all levels in clinical topics, management development, personal enrichment, and safety on an ongoing basis. This presentation will describe the evolution of this program, demonstrate the resources used, the multi-level evaluation processes applied, and the performance improvements to elevate this initiative on an ongoing basis. Finally, the presentation will also include the results of a comprehensive analysis to monetize the value of these trainings and discuss how these concepts can be applied in the audiences’ organizations.  Register here.

Incorporating Consumer Voice into Pantry Design and Management Webinar

Date: Nov 10, 2020 at 3:00 PM EST. Join CCUSA staff to examine how one Philadelphia Catholic Charities agency used food pantry services as a vehicle to create community. The program instituted a cooperative among those using the pantry to help run the program itself. Join our presenters to explore how this significant change resulted in leadership opportunities for those who use the pantry services, as well as a more sustainable way to address local food insecurity. Register here.

Enterprise Risk Management: Theory into Practice Webinar

Date: Nov 17, 2020 at 2:00 PM EST. Join us for an interactive session for those both new to risk management as well as experienced administrators. In this session, we will provide an Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) framework to apply in your own organization as well as dive into how to engage stakeholders and implement your mitigation plan. Following this presentation the participant will be able to define what risk management looks like within your organization; understand how to engage multiple stakeholders; and implement a successful risk management plan. Register here. 

Immigtration and Refugee Services Community of Practice meeting - November 2020

Please join us Nov. 19, 2020, at 3 p.m. EST for the CCUSA Immigration and Refugee Services Community of Practice meeting. During this meeting, we will hear from the field about pressing immigration and refugee services issues and receive a policy update from CCUSA, MRS/USCCB and CLINIC. Register here.

Using Integration Data to Build Stronger Communities for Long-Term Residents and Newcomers webinar

Date: Dec 08, 2020 at 2:00 PM EST. Join us in learning how Catholic Charities agencies across the country use Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC) created tools to collect this data and how the data has informed how they design their integration programs. Successful immigrant integration efforts help dismantle local unequal power dynamics. To accomplish this, a community must work together and address data-identified areas of inequity. This webinar will pinpoint the components of a successful integration initiative, detail how to collect important data that can enhance a currently operating integration program, and propose a plan of action for agencies interested in effectively engaging their community in integration efforts. Come learn how to garner buy-in from the agency's clients, staff, and community members. Additionally, presenters will focus on how to build an initiative designed to address the needs of the community. Register here.

Grant Opportunities and Resources

Grant Opportunity – CCUSA Financial Education AmeriCorps Program

CCUSA is currently looking for additional grantee(s) for the Financial Education AmeriCorps program to fulfill one full time slot or one half time slot or both a full time and half time slot! The AmeriCorps members in this program will use the FDIC Money Smart curriculum to educate clients of all ages on how to enhance their financial skills and create positive banking relationships. This program will help clients improve financial literacy and navigate financial decisions more efficiently.  If your agency is interested in hosting an AmeriCorps member to serve in your community, please reach out to Teiara Turner at [email protected].

Finding homes for children, youth waiting in US foster care system

 The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is leading a national effort, championed by Assistant Secretary Lynn Johnson, to garner commitments and build strategic partnerships with the goal of finding loving, permanent homes for the nearly 122,000 children and youth who are currently waiting in the U.S. foster care system. ACF has developed a public engagement section of the ALL IN Foster Adoption Challenge website to ask the public to engage in the ALL IN Challenge by committing to an activity that supports children/youth or their caregivers and then sharing a picture or video of themselves with the ALL IN sign on their social media to let others know they have committed be ALL IN. ACF asks that people use the hashtag #ALLINforWaitingKids to show their support for the challenge as well as share the link to the public engagement page so that people can learn more. For more information, visit the ALL In Foster Adoption website.

Sterling Volunteers offering FREE basic background checks to Catholic Charities agencies

Sterling Volunteers, a valued Catholic Charities USA partner, is extending a helping hand to our network to help safely mobilize trusted volunteers around essential services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sterling Volunteers is offering FREE Basic Background Checks, along with reduced pricing for MVR’s and other screening packages (click here for full details). This COVID-19 special offering has been extended through December 31, 2020. If interested, CLICK HERE to connect with Sterling on this offering and any other specific needs. Please note, the special pricing is not retroactive nor automatic for existing customers; please contact SV if you are interested in utilizing the discounts.

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. 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.