O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his mercy endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his mercy endures forever... Ps 136:1-3

Do you know someone who would be interested in receiving the Weekly Digest? Subscribe HERE.

Highlights from CCUSA

Daily Advent reflections from CCUSA

Sunday, December 1, marks the beginning of Advent. Once again, CCUSA will offer daily reflections on each day's Mass readings, authored by Catholic Charities employees and other social concerns ministers. The reflections will arrive by email first thing each morning. Sign up here to receive them.

Tick-tock! The CCUSA Innovation Challenge deadline is two months away!

We’re about two months away from the CCUSA Innovation Challenge entry deadline. Tell us: 
Are you planning to apply but still have to gather information? 
Do you have any burning questions about what ideas might work? 
Do you need a partner to make your application a reality?
Visit the Discussion Board here on the Challenge microsite and we’ll help you put your mind at ease. 

Submit agency stories to the CCUSA storybank

When you share with us a story about your work and the people you serve in your local community, we can then share your stories not only with a national audience but also the lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Our government affairs team goes to the Hill often, and they are able to represent the Catholic Charities ministry more persuasively when they can share local stories that demonstrate the success and efficacy of programs and services. So please share your stories about food programs, affordable housing, family reunification, integrated health, social enterprises, and everything you do! Stories that involve the federal funding you receive are needed especially. We want everyone to know about the great work you are doing! Submit your stories here. 

December 2-6, 2019 the 11th CCUSA Applied Institute for Disaster Excellence (AIDE) training in Jacksonville, Fla. – Register Now!

Catholic Charities agencies are in the community for the life of the community. That means when a disaster strikes, the Catholic Charities network is called to be prepared and respond quickly to the needs of the community. Participants will gain a greater understanding of how to initiate and sustain disaster services in their agency, receive excellent resources and tools, and form new relationships with their peers facing similar challenges. Continuing Education Credits (CEC) for Social Work and Professional Counseling is available. This hands-on training disaster preparedness, response, recovery training is recommended for all Catholic Charities staff, including but not limited to: 

• agency/diocesan leadership
• emergency management or disaster workers 
• case-managers  
• social workers 
• business continuity planners
• program supervisors/directors/coordinators 
• parish administration/volunteers
• Catholic Charities partners (outside of the network) 

The training cost is only $400 – the hotel stay and meals from Monday to Friday night is complimentary. Click here to register. Please Note: The reduced registration cost is only available for the first 300 slots. 

Register now for the 2020 Catholic Social Ministry Gathering

Catholic Charities USA is a significant supporter of the annual Catholic Social Ministry Gathering, sponsored by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. “Bearing Witness: Life and Justice for All” is this year’s theme, scheduled for January 25-28 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC. This Gathering will bring together those working on issues impacting life and human dignity across the spectrum such as the death penalty, human trafficking, restorative justice, and issues impacting families like migration, violence, and poverty. Connect with current and emerging leaders, engage in dynamic and thought provoking plenary presentations, briefings, and workshops, and raise your voice in advocacy with members of Congress. To register or for more information visit here; act now for special initiatives for diverse leaders and young leaders.  

Catholic Charities Retreat Opportunity with Fr. Bob Dufford, SJ

Catholic Charities USA is delighted to announce a retreat with one of the best-loved modern Catholic composers: Fr. Bob Dufford, SJ, writer of popular hymns such as “Be Not Afraid,” “All the Ends of the Earth,” “Sing to the Mountains,” and “Every Valley.” As a member of the Saint Louis Jesuits, Fr. Bob is a four-time Grammy nominee for compositions such as “Here I am, Lord,” and “Earthen Vessels.”  This retreat is open to all Catholic Charities staff and board members. Spouses are welcome to register in a shared room. The registration fee is $350 for individuals and $225 for spouses, and is inclusive of all meals and a modern room with an ensuite bath. It will be held from January 28-30, 2020, at the Bon Secours Retreat and Conference Center in Marriottsville, Maryland (near Baltimore). Visit this link to register or for more information.

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.

2018 Member Agency Profiles

The 2018 Member Agency Profiles visualization is now live! Select a Diocese from the drop-down menu to review key information about each agency’s operations, programs, and services. Find the updated Member Agency Profiles through the CCUSA Members Portal, under ‘Annual Survey Resources.’ (11/18/19)

Member Agency FTE Visualization

This newly developed visualization enables member agencies to compare their reported full time equivalent (FTE) staff count to the broader network and identify agencies of comparable size. Such comparisons may be useful for benchmarking, enhancing regional or national context, or in considering partnership opportunities among Catholic Charities agencies. Access this resource through the CCUSA Members Portal under ‘Annual Survey Resources.’

Events and Webinars

Trauma-informed care for the Child-Teen Migrant webinar

Join our experts in outlining trauma/mental health issues affecting immigrant children/teens and the effects that trauma causes on this vulnerable population. We will address how providers can use strengths-based approaches to build resilience and heal trauma in this population as well as explore how to utilize care coordination models to provide trauma-informed care. Leave with tips for preventing re-traumatization in infancts and toddlers, young children, school-aged children, and adolescents. PLEASE NOTE: This webinar offers participants 1.0 Continuing Education Credits. Course completion requirements: To earn CE credit, social workers must log in at the scheduled time, attend the entire course and complete an online course evaluation. Certificates of completion will be emailed within 10 business days of course completion. Date: November 20, 2019, at 2:00 PM. Register here.

Another positive way to impact refugee and asylum-seeking families

Miles4Migrants (M4M) has been selected as an inaugural participant for the “Miles on a Mission” United Airlines campaign to raise 5 million miles by November 22, an amount enough to provide flights for over 250 individuals. The campaign allows M4M to raise more miles to support additional refugee and asylum seeking families. It also greatly improves the efficiency of the flight booking process, a huge benefit for partners, donors, and refugee and asylum seeking families. The minimum donation amount is 1,000 miles, an attainable amount for donors to contribute and play a part in reuniting the next well deserving family! Donate here.

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: January 13 - February 9, 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: January 27 - March 22, 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.

Grant Opportunities and Resources

Management & Administration Benchmarking Project Inventory

Since 2015, Catholic Charities of St. Louis has conducted several benchmarking projects in conjunction with the Taylor Community Consulting Program (TCCP) of the Olin School of Business at Washington University, CCUSA, and other Catholic Charities agencies. These benchmarking projects focus on programming and administrative services prevalent across the Catholic Charities network with the ultimate goal of providing measurable results and developing a protocol for additional benchmarking opportunities. View an inventory of past benchmarking projects in the ‘Resource Center’ of the CCUSA Members’ Portal or by viewing either the Management and Administration or the Research and Evaluation section pages: Click here.

Grant Opportunity: Jesuit Volunteer Corps taking applications for new Placement Sites

The JVC Admissions Team is excited to announce that the Jesuit Volunteer Corps Placement Site application for the 2020-2021 program year is now live. You can access the application page here. Applications are accepted until December 1, 2019. To review applicable locations as well as expected costs, please review their Request a JV page here. If you have additional questions, send emails here.

National Collection to Help Break the Cycle of Poverty to Take Place on November 23-24

For nearly 50 years, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) has been the official domestic anti-poverty program of the Catholic bishops in the United States. Raising public awareness about poverty, its causes, and working to break the cycle in the U.S., the annual collection is coordinated nationally by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) to be held in parishes the weekend of November 23-24. More than 38 million people live in poverty in the United States. This collection assists community leaders who work to expand access to affordable housing, health care, and education. The collection also supports the development of worker-owned businesses, and advocates for changes to structures that keep people in poverty.This national collection is the primary source of funding for CCHD’s community and economic development grants, as well as its education programs aimed at raising awareness of poverty and fostering hope in communities across the nation. 

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.