Catholic Charities of Los Angeles, Inc.

2001-2002 Annual Report

Family Support

Programs which strengthen families have been a major focus of Catholic Charities since the agency was established in 1919. These services support families while they work toward more stable lives and, eventually, become self-sufficient.

Catholic Charities provides several ESL (English as a Second Language) classes. At St. Catherine of Alexandria Center in South Central Los Angeles, participants practice their reading, writing and speaking skills.

Guadalupe Community Center, Canoga Park, completed Phase I of its capital improvement project to expand Center facilities. In attendance at the Dedication were, left to right: Moeed Khan, Director of the San Fernando Region; Most Rev. Gerald Wilkerson, Auxiliary Bishop, San Fernando Region; Margaret Pontius, Guadalupe Center Coordinator; and Monsignor Gregory A. Cox, Executive Director of Catholic Charities.

• In collaboration with the East Valley Community Health Center, and funded by the Los Angeles County “Children and Families First” Proposition 10 Commission, free parenting and pre-natal classes are available in the San Gabriel Region, at Catholic Charities’ El Monte Community Services Center. The classes teach the importance of securing medical attention during pregnancy and how parents can help their children learn good behavior, manners, and develop self-respect.

• Padres de Guadalupe (Parents of Guadalupe) meets monthly at San Fernando Region’s Guadalupe Community Center in Canoga Park. Parents join together to plan safe, family oriented activities and field trips for their children. Events include a trip to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley and parties at Halloween, Christmas and Easter.

• Catholic Charities operates thrift stores in Our Lady of the Angels Region-Metro and Western Areas, San Fernando and Santa Barbara Regions. These stores provide the opportunity for families to purchase clothing and household items at low cost.

• Mahar House Community Center, San Pedro Region, is a collaborator in the Family Development Network which provides services in San Pedro, Wilmington and the Harbor Gateway area. As a member of the Network, staff provide advocacy for family issues, case management, referrals for employment and jobs skills programs, immigration services and counseling. All services are provided to the clients free of charge.

	*“I feel like I was treated with respect and cared about.”* Graduate of a domestic violence group

As a supplement to other emergency services, Catholic Charities operates thrift stores, which enable individuals and families to purchase clothing at low cost.

A client receives assistance from a case manager in Catholic Charities’ San Gabriel Region.

Two young girls read together at El Santo Nino Community Center. Children are encouraged to read, draw pictures and write their own stories in order to develop reading skills.

• At the 28 Community Centers operated by Catholic Charities in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, case management services are available for the clients. Staff work with families to assess their needs, create a service plan, provide referrals for assistance, and offer encouragement, support and follow-up.

• Each week, parents and children read and discuss a book as participants of the “Mother Read” program at El Santo Nino Community Center in Los Angeles. The program teaches parents, using a support group structure, how language can offer a new way to look at their own personal development, while improving communication with their children. Many of the primarily Spanish-speaking parents learn English and develop reading, writing, speaking and listening skills through the program.

• Located at 32 sites in Catholic Charities’ Regions, the Archdiocesan Elementary School Time Enrichment (ADESTE) program provides access to low-cost, before-and-after school child care for working families. The program offers a safe environment for children, ages 4 years nine months to 13 years, to participate in age-appropriate activities that enhance their social, physical, mental and emotional development needs.

• St. Catherine of Alexandria Center, in South Central Los Angeles, serves its neighbors a full course Easter dinner and distributes Easter baskets to children.

Involvement in the ADESTE before-and-after school program equips children to handle group situations, learn how to problem-solve and interact with their peers.

Parents learn about child development at parenting classes held weekly at El Monte Community Services Center.

When asked about the assistance he received from Catholic Charities’ San Pedro Region, “Terry” said: “they kept in contact with me, even when I didn’t want them to. They wouldn’t take no for an answer. They gave me hope.”

“Terry”, San Pedro Region

If you would like a copy of this page as it appears in print, click here to download. The file can be viewed and printed from your desktop with Adobe Acrobat Reader.