Throughout the year, CCUSA shares the stories of several people whose lives have been changed through a wide variety of Catholic Charities programs and services. The story below is from Catholic Community Services of Utah.
Catholic Social Services in Anchorage, AK and its Refugee Assistance & Immigration
Catholic Social Services in Anchorage, AK and its Refugee Assistance & Immigration Services program stands out among the Catholic Charities network. The program not only resettles refugees, but also helps refugee families achieve sustainable self-reliance so that the family’s basic needs are fully met on a long-term basis. The program offers a wide range of bilingual and bicultural services, including case management, life skills orientation, and job readiness classes.
During the 2012 fiscal year, the Refugee Assistance & Immigration Services program served 337 clients. 79% of all employable adults engaged in the program were gainfully employed and 94% of those retained their initial employment. By the end of their first year in Alaska, 79% (on average) of the refugee families no longer relied on public assistance.
Family preservation helps families remain intact through intensive services to improve parenting and family functioning. Other family-focused services such as family literacy and parental educational programs help both parents and children take advantage of educational opportunities.
Catholic Charities USA knows that one of the best ways to serve vulnerable children and families is to work to strengthen families as a whole, through family-focused services. When families are strong and stable, everyone in the family does better and the community benefits – this is the premise that family-focused services are built on.
