El Centro serves as model to other Catholic Charities agencies
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
In conjunction with receiving Catholic Charities USA’s Family Strengthening Award, El Centro de Recursos para Familias hosted a three-day site visit for representatives from Catholic Charities agencies across the United States.
A group of 19 Catholic Charities employees, some coming from as far as Oregon, Washington state and Arizona, received a tour of El Centro’s facilities and an overview of their program Oct. 19-21. Jane Stenson, senior director of poverty reduction strategies for Catholic Charities USA, said that she and the other participants in the site visit were impressed with the range of services El Centro provides.
In particular, Stenson noted the unique aspect of providing counseling and health services to the immigrant community, which she said is a challenge for many Catholic Charities agencies.
“Most agencies see the need, but they either can’t afford to provide that service, or the other obstacle is finding qualified bilingual, bicultural therapists,” Stenson said. “But they have that here, and there were a lot of questions about how you can do that.”
The visitors also gained valuable tips about how to form partnerships with other agencies in the community, Stenson said.
“They took a lot of ideas about how to reach out to their educational partners, to volunteers… That was a real ‘a-ha’ moment for the folks here,” she said.
The final day of the site visit included a panel discussion on the campus of The College of New Jersey, Ewing, which provides services and student volunteers to El Centro. Among those who came to voice their support for the work of El Centro was Congressman Chris Smith, representative for New Jersey’s fourth district, who said that El Cento embodies the Gospel call of Jesus to serve those most in need.
“El Centro is another one of those examples of [Catholic Charities’] mission to try to help people be integrated into a society,” Rep. Smith said. “This is a one stop shop where people can learn how to better advance themselves and keep the family unit together… It is really exemplary.”
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In conjunction with receiving Catholic Charities USA’s Family Strengthening Award, El Centro de Recursos para Familias hosted a three-day site visit for representatives from Catholic Charities agencies across the United States.
A group of 19 Catholic Charities employees, some coming from as far as Oregon, Washington state and Arizona, received a tour of El Centro’s facilities and an overview of their program Oct. 19-21. Jane Stenson, senior director of poverty reduction strategies for Catholic Charities USA, said that she and the other participants in the site visit were impressed with the range of services El Centro provides.
In particular, Stenson noted the unique aspect of providing counseling and health services to the immigrant community, which she said is a challenge for many Catholic Charities agencies.
“Most agencies see the need, but they either can’t afford to provide that service, or the other obstacle is finding qualified bilingual, bicultural therapists,” Stenson said. “But they have that here, and there were a lot of questions about how you can do that.”
The visitors also gained valuable tips about how to form partnerships with other agencies in the community, Stenson said.
“They took a lot of ideas about how to reach out to their educational partners, to volunteers… That was a real ‘a-ha’ moment for the folks here,” she said.
The final day of the site visit included a panel discussion on the campus of The College of New Jersey, Ewing, which provides services and student volunteers to El Centro. Among those who came to voice their support for the work of El Centro was Congressman Chris Smith, representative for New Jersey’s fourth district, who said that El Cento embodies the Gospel call of Jesus to serve those most in need.
“El Centro is another one of those examples of [Catholic Charities’] mission to try to help people be integrated into a society,” Rep. Smith said. “This is a one stop shop where people can learn how to better advance themselves and keep the family unit together… It is really exemplary.”
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