When I enrolled in my first intro to social work class in college, I remember thinking, “Wait, I can do this as a job? This is who I am!” I went on to earn my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work and I’ve spent the last 20 years of my career at Catholic Charities, where I have accompanied many people who need support, while discovering there is always more we can do.
The mission and culture allow me to empower staff to empower families to be the best they can be. Every day I wake up thinking of the people we serve. They inspire me to be the best I can be.
Watching single parents facing challenging circumstances transform their lives to create stability for their children; leading behavioral health counseling services; and supporting the healing of domestic violence survivors, I have witnessed how walking with others can lead to mental wellness, self-sufficiency and a better future.
I have also witnessed the increasing need for these services as resources continue to diminish. Last year, Catholic Charities provided 61,000 mothers and families with long-term support. This is only possible through the generosity of our vast network of partners and supporters.
Our counseling services support individuals experiencing emotional and behavioral health challenges. Our Loving Outreach to Survivors of Suicide program provides counseling, support and a strong survivor network to people grieving the loss of a loved one to suicide. The Encompassing Center not only provides outreach and behavioral health counseling services, but also serves as a community center for residents of the Near West Side, North Lawndale, East and West Garfield Park neighborhoods.
Many people we serve are dealing with daily stressors like how to put healthy food on the table, how to keep the lights on and how to afford basic mental health care services without adequate insurance. Others carry the added stresses of navigating violence and trauma as part of everyday existence. These issues can compound symptoms of anxiety, depression and sleeplessness. Our team responds with compassionate, trauma-informed services, with a goal of building trust with the people we serve.
We also provide transitional housing and counseling services for domestic violence survivors and their children, providing safety, shelter and stability. Our Family Self-Sufficiency program provides five years of accompaniment and encouragement for low-income, single heads of household as they work to build independence. Our immigration experts help both immigrants and refugees acclimate to new lives and new communities.
Our work impacts the people we serve and our dedicated team who serve every day with courageous compassion. One of our therapists recently shared a story about how her work changed her. She had been working with someone who had a serious criminal history. When this person came in for help, they were experiencing severe depression, having suicidal thoughts and feeling that their life no longer mattered. Our therapist described the work she did with this person as incredibly profound.
“Week after week, I witnessed not just this person’s pain, but also their strength, and a slow and sacred transformation — no longer defined by their past, but empowered by the life they were choosing to build,” she shared. “This person’s story stays with me as a reminder that healing is always possible, even from the deepest wounds — and that every person is more than the worst thing they’ve done.”
There is a huge need for our mental health services, but it’s sometimes a challenge to connect with those in need. People have to be at a level of pain that they can’t tolerate and be strong enough to get out of bed and make that first call to us. Then, they have to build trust, tell their story, and go through the therapeutic process. When you get to the other side, it’s worth it.
The need is the greatest it’s ever been, and we’re doing the best we can to keep up with it. I’m grateful every day for the opportunity to do this work with an amazing team of people — and for the donors, parishes, and partners who support us.