Memorial of Saint Agnes, virgin and martyr

Jesus said to his disciples:
"The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field,
which a person finds and hides again,
and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant
searching for fine pearls.
When he finds a pearl of great price,
he goes and sells all that he has and buys it." Mt 13:44-46

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Highlights from CCUSA

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 6th 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.

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! Registration will open in January, 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.”

Check out our latest Challenge update!

Check out CCUSAInnovates.org for more information and to apply today.

Children, Youth, and Family Section Steering Committee Member Recruitment

Catholic Charities USA is recruiting for additional members to join the Children, Youth and Family Section (CYFS) Steering Committee. The purpose, mission and vision of the CYFS Services Professional Interest Section is to provide information, formation and networking opportunities to staff and volunteers working with children, youth and families. If you are interested in becoming a steering committee member for this section please click here to request more information! Your participation on the committee will bring valuable expertise which will continue to enrich and build upon the knowledge of our network. The deadline for submission of applications is Friday, January 31, 2020.

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.   

Maximizing Impact Through Public-Private Partnerships webinar 

Dorothy Day Place, a development of Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, is the largest Public/Private Partnership in Housing and Social Services in the history of Minnesota. At over $100M, the project includes permanent apartment homes, an emergency shelter, on-site community clinic, and an opportunity center, among other resources. Join us to learn about the public-private partnership that enabled this project to be implemented and how those lessons can help you fulfill your own housing and program objectives. Register here. Date: Jan. 21, 2020, at 2 PM EST. 

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

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.