Adoption of infants and children is one of the largest programs of Commonwealth Catholic Charities.
From Left: CCC volunteers Maureen Ford and Kim Elder help manage the HELP program. The CCC food pantry provides emergency food to hundreds of individuals and families each year. Donations of non-perishable food items are always needed.
From left: Shelly, CCC foster mother, Baby Alana and Lisa, Alana's adoptive mother
Volunteers and staff are dedicated to providing therapeutic foster care for children with physical, mental and emotional disabilities.
The annual Holiday Festival of Music, fundraiser for Commonwealth Catholic Charities, is one of Richmond's most popular holiday events.
Commonwealth Catholic Charities needs foster parents for infants and older children.
CCC foster children tap their musical talents with the help of Art 180 instructors and volunteers.
From left: Audrey Mills receives massage therapy from Lisa Krackow and Lynn Freeman, Jefferson College of Health Sciences staff.
Currently underway in Vinton, Virginia, Independence for Seniors (IFS) addresses the needs of the aging population.
From left: Elijah Anyieth, a Sudanese refugee, received a warm handshake from President George W. Bush last spring at the White House. Elijah was assisted by the CCC Unaccompanied Refugee Minors Program. Today Elijah attends the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Engineering.
The Unaccompanied Refuee Minors Program Assists Children forced to flee their war-torn countries. Foster parents, as well as volunteer mentors and tutors, help these young people adjust to new lives in the United States.
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Mission
To provide quality, compassionate human services to all people, regardless of faith, especially the most vulnerable.
Vision
To empower individuals, strengthen families and build communities through faith and service.
Faith at Work
Since 1923, Commonwealth Catholic Charities has been deeply committed to providing life-changing human services to vulnerable individuals and families throughout central and southwestern Virginia.
A Modest Beginning
Catholic Charities, a private, non-profit 501(c)(3)
social service agency, began in 1922 as the Bureau of Catholic Charities and was incorporated in 1923. A
goal of the agency was to coordinate the charitable
efforts of individual parishes and offer professional
social case work, with a Catholic philosophy.
In 1923, the Richmond Community Fund, precursor of
the United Way Services, was established, and the Bureau
of Catholic Charities became a charter member. During these early years, the agency focused on providing pregnancy counseling, adoption services and counseling services for families and children.
In 1938, the National Conference of Catholic Charities held its annual meeting in Richmond. The convention was one of the largest ever hosted by the city at the time.
In 1962, the Board of Directors voted to change the name of the agency to Catholic Family and Children's Services of Richmond.
A Presence in Southwestern Virginia
In 1967, Monsignor John J. McMahon spearheaded the establishment of Catholic Family and Children's Services of Roanoke Valley and Western Virginia. The agency focused on providing services to unmarried pregnant women and their babies.
In 1989, the Roanoke-based agency changed its name to Catholic Charities of Southwestern Virginia and offered four programs including Adoption Option for pregnancy counseling and domestic adoption services, Intercountry Adoption, The Family Place for counseling services and Full Circle Senior Services for the elderly and disabled.
Meeting the Needs of a Growing Community
In 1985,Catholic Family and Children's Services of Richmond changed its name to Catholic
Charities of Richmond, Inc. Family
and Individual Counseling and Domestic
Adoption Services were the agency's key programs. But a growing community called our for additional services. The agency responded by establishing the following new programs: Crisis
Pregnancy Counseling, Intercountry Adoption, Foster
Care, the Refugee Unaccompanied Minors
Program, the Communication
Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Respite
Care Services for the Elderly and Disabled, and
statewide services to families and children through
the Connections Program.
In 1995, Reverend David J. Bergner became executive director. With new leadership in place, the Board of Directors recognized an opportunity to serve more individuals and families by establishing a partnership with Catholic Charities of Southwestern Virginia. the newly merged organization became Commonwealth Catholic Charities (CCC) which today serves central and southwestern Virginia.
By the early 1990s, the agency had grown to a staff of 40. Respite Care Services became known as Managed Home
Care and expanded its services to
include Case
Management for people living with HIV/AIDS.
Providing the Best Care
In 2001, CCC became accredited by the Council on Accreditation and Family Services (COA). Recognition by this prestigious, professional organization upholds that Commonwealth Catholic Charities meets the highest degree of standards in providing human services. In 2005, CCC completed requirements for re-accreditation -- endorsement from COA that CCC meets standards of excellence in the operation of programs and delivery of care.
Aid for the Homeless
In 2004, CCC established Homeward Central Intake, a new program designed to help homeless individuals and families find immediate shelter and related services. No longer must a person walk from shelter to shelter in search of a bed. One central office now provides up-to-the-minute information on available space for those experiencing a housing crisis. Homeward Central Intake partners with other local human service agencies to provide services designed to address the problems of homelessness and help individuals regain self-sufficiency.
Services for the Older Individual
Americans are living longer, and many older individuals wish to "age in place" and continue living independently in the comfort and familiarity of their homes. Independence for Seniors (IFS) was launched in Vinton, a Roanoke Valley town that has become a naturally occurring retirement community.
Planning for the Future
From the 1920s to the 1990s, abuse, poverty, child welfare and mental health were issues of major concern. Today,
under the leadership of Joanne Nattrass, CCC staff and volunteers confront these and new challenges with renewed commitment and the steadfast dedication of caring individuals and partnering organizations.
To meet the demand for services in the years ahead, CCC will continue to evolve through expansion of fundraising efforts and growth of the CCC endowment fund.
A unique partnership of devoted friends and volunteers, generous contributors and skilled staff is poised to embrace whatever human service challenges the future may hold.
Commonwealth Catholic Charities is here to provide support, counseling, emergency aid and disaster relief to individuals and families, especially the most vulnerable, regardless of faith.
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