CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF LOUISVILLE INC

CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES: BAKHITA EMPOWERMENT INITIATIVE, AN ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING PROGRAM, WAS CREATED IN 2007, WITH A MISSION TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING, PROVIDING TRAINING, AWARENESS AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, ENGAGE PREVENTION WORK, OFFER OUTREACH TO HIGH-RISK POPULATIONS, PROVIDE DIRECT SERVICES TO SURVIVORS OF TRAFFICKING, AND INCREASE CAPACITY TO ADDRESS HUMAN TRAFFICKING ISSUES IN KENTUCKY AND THE LARGER ANTI-TRAFFICKING FIELD. BAKHITA'S VISION IS TO DISMANTLE SYSTEMS THAT PROMOTE HUMAN TRAFFICKING, SUPPORT SURVIVORS, AND BUILD CAPACITY TO ADDRESS HUMAN TRAFFICKING AT ALL LEVELS. TODAY CCL'S PROGRAM EMPLOYS 4 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES LOCATED IN LOUISVILLE AND OWENSBORO TO PROVIDE STATEWIDE SUPPORT TO SURVIVORS OF ANY AGE OR GENDER, WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED SEX OR LABOR TRAFFICKING. BAKHITA SUPPORTS FOREIGN BORN AND DOMESTIC SURVIVORS, ENSURING THAT CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES ARE INDIVIDUALIZED TO BEST SUPPORT EACH INDIVIDUAL. SUPPORT WAS PROVIDED TO 75 SURVIVORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING THROUGH BAKHITA, INCLUDING CASE MANAGEMENT, PROVISION OF BASIC NEEDS (FOOD, CLOTHING, ETC.), LEGAL ADVOCACY, INTERPRETER SERVICES, IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES, THERAPY SERVICES, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND HOUSING ASSISTANCE. SUPPORTIVE SERVICES HELP TO ENSURE THEIR PERSONAL SAFETY, INCREASE STABILITY, ENCOURAGE EMPOWERMENT, AND IMPROVE THE OVERALL WELL-BEING OF SURVIVORS. 662 PROFESSIONALS WERE TRAINED ON ISSUES RELATED TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING. 105 YOUTH WERE REACHED THROUGH PREVENTION EDUCATION AND AWARENESS.THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES GROUP ENCOMPASSES SEVERAL PROGRAMS THAT CATER TO THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY FROM BIRTH TO DEATH. ORIGINALLY CALLED FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES, COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES (CSS) BEGAN AS THE MOTHER INFANT CARE PROGRAM IN 2000 TO CONTINUE THE MISSION OF HELPING YOUNG PREGNANT WOMEN IN OUR COMMUNITY AFTER THE CLOSURE OF LOUISVILLE'S INFANT HOME. WITH PARTIAL FUNDING FROM THE QUEEN'S DAUGHTERS ORGANIZATION, FSS HAS GROWN FROM PROVIDING MOTHER/INFANT CARE CLASSES TO SUPPORT GROUPS FOR PARENTS OF TODDLERS, DIRECT AID (RENT, UTILITIES, AND BABY SUPPLIES, APPROXIMATELY $30,000) TO STRUGGLING FAMILIES, A PARISH-BASED WALKING WITH MOMS IN NEED PROGRAM, AND NOW A FAMILY STABILITY PROGRAM. THE FAMILY STABILITY PROGRAM WILL EMPHASIZE LEARNING FUNCTIONAL SKILLS SUCH AS FAMILY BUDGETING, PARENTING, ACCESSING COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND TENANT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES. WITH THE ADDITION OF ACCESS TO SECTION 8 VOUCHERS THE GOAL IS TO PREVENT FAMILIES SLIDING INTO EVICTION AND HOMELESSNESS. FAMILY MINISTRIES IS ALSO AN INTEGRAL PART OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES AND WITH OUR COLLABORATION WITH THE ARCHDIOCESE THROUGH A SHARED STAFF MEMBER, PROGRAMS SUCH AS WALKING WITH MOMS IN NEED, SENIOR RETREAT, PROGRAMS FOR FAMILY CAREGIVERS OF ILL FAMILY MEMBERS, AND GRIEF PROGRAMS ARE ALL BEING FACILITATED. LOOKING FORWARD, RESEARCH INTO A "GRANDPARENTS PARENTING GRANDCHILDREN" PROGRAM HAS BEGUN WITH THE GOAL OF ESTABLISHING SUPPORT GROUPS FOR THIS INCREASING DEMOGRAPHIC. THE FATHER JACK JONES FOOD PANTRY STARTED 3 YEARS AGO IN THE BASEMENT OF HOLY NAME CHURCH'S RECTORY. IT HAS EVOLVED INTO A FOCAL POINT OF SUPPORT FOR THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. IN FY25 FJJFP SERVED 25,245 INDIVIDUALS. THE FOOD PANTRY COULD NOT OPERATE WITHOUT ITS TEAM OF EXTREMELY DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS WHO LOGGED APPROXIMATELY 3,000 HOURS. DONATIONS DIRECTLY TO THE FOOD PANTRY ENABLE THE DISTRIBUTION OF MEAT AND OTHER PROTEIN SOURCES EVERY WEEK TO SUPPLEMENT THE FOOD THAT DARE TO CARE PROVIDES. THE HISPANIC SERVICES PROGRAM SERVES ASYLUM SEEKERS AND NEWLY ARRIVED HISPANIC COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WITH REFERRALS TO RESOURCES TO START THEIR LIVES IN LOUISVILLE. THE INDIGENT BURIAL PROGRAM BEGAN IN ITS CURRENT FORM IN JULY 2021. INDIGENT BURIAL PROVIDES END OF LIFE SERVICES FOR JEFFERSON COUNTY RESIDENTS AT LITTLE OR NO COST TO FAMILIES THROUGH OUR WORK WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS SUCH AS THE CORONER'S OFFICE, HOSPITALS, VETERANS AFFAIRS, FUNERAL HOMES AND OTHERS. WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE DIGNIFIED AND RESPECTFUL BURIALS OR CREMATIONS TAILORED TO THE INDIVIDUAL'S FAITH PRACTICE. ESPECIALLY IN CASES WHERE THERE IS NO FAMILY OR COMMUNITY TO BE PRESENT AT THE BURIALS, VOLUNTEERS STEP IN.CCL HAS HOUSED THE LONG-TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM (LTCO) IN THE LOUISVILLE AREA FOR MORE THAN TWENTY-FIVE YEARS. THE LTCO PROGRAM IS FUNDED WITH STATE AND FEDERAL DOLLARS AND IS DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE LIVES OF OVER 11,500 RESIDENTS WHO LIVE IN LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES IN THE KIPDA AND LINCOLN TRAIL DISTRICTS. OMBUDSMEN OFFER SUPPORT, EDUCATION, AND EMPOWERMENT TO RESIDENTS AND FAMILIES TO INVESTIGATE AND RESOLVE CONCERNS. OMBUDSMEN PROVIDE LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL ADVOCACY TO INITIATE, CREATE, AND PRESERVE LAWS THAT BETTER PROTECT OLDER AND DISABLED KENTUCKIANS. THE LTCO PROGRAM SERVES RESIDENTS OF LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES, ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES, PERSONAL CARE HOMES, AND FAMILY CARE HOMES. LTCO STAFF PROVIDE TRAINING TO FACILITY STAFF ABOUT RESIDENTS' RIGHTS, ELDER ABUSE, AND REGULATORY COMPLIANCE.THE SISTER VISITOR CENTER (SVC) PROVIDES CRITICAL EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES FACING FINANCIAL CRISIS AND FOOD INSECURITY IN WEST LOUISVILLE. ROOTED IN SOLIDARITY WITH ECONOMICALLY VULNERABLE NEIGHBORS, SVC WORKS TO STRENGTHEN THE PORTLAND, RUSSELL, AND SHAWNEE COMMUNITIES BY ENSURING ACCESS TO BASIC NEEDS AND STABILIZING SUPPORTS. SVC OFFERS A SUPERMARKET STYLE CHOICE FOOD PANTRY; ESSENTIAL ITEMS FOR BABIES AND TODDLERS AND PETS; EMERGENCY SUPPLIES FOR NEIGHBORS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS; EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR RENT, LG&E, AND WATER; ONE ON ONE SUPPORT IN THE WAY OF REFERRALS AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES; AND SNAP ENROLLMENT ASSISTANCE. IN FY25, SVC SUPPORTED 5,116 UNIQUE HOUSEHOLDSREPRESENTING 10,577 UNDUPLICATED INDIVIDUALSWITH FOOD, CLOTHING, CASE MANAGEMENT, AND RENT AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE. OF THOSE UNDUPLICATED PEOPLE SERVED, 6,932 RECEIVED FOOD ASSISTANCE, INCLUDING 793 SENIORS.