Catholic Charities Indianapolis

Refugee and Immigrant Program: The program served 888 refugees. The program resettled 581 refugees this year. Included in that number the program assisted 398 Haitian and Ukrainian refugees with applying for FSSA benefits, Medicaid, TANF, and SNAP The program saw an increase in 2nd migration, providing employment and other services to the 2nd migrant clients. The program experienced an influx of Haitians seeking assistance as well. We were able to assist these clients with applying for Medicaid and food stamps. The program collected and studied measurable data to increase the number of newly arrived refugees who can work to be employed within 90 days of being in the U.S. The program reported that 84% of new employable arrivals were employed. Legal immigration services served 967 between July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023, with legal consultations and immigration case filings.

School Social Work: Since 1967, the School Social Work Program has been providing counseling, consultation and referral services, crisis intervention, and classroom preventive education programs to students in parochial schools in the Indianapolis Metropolitan area. Schools purchase the services of the program from one to four days per week. Program staff takes a strengths-based approach to their work with students and families. While acknowledging obstacles and deficits, the school social worker helps students identify and build upon strengths to successfully achieve goals. The school social worker is seen as part of a team, working with school staff, parents or guardians, and students to promote academic success, emotional well-being, and positive personal relationships. Currently, the program serves 29 Catholic schools (2 high schools and 27 grade schools). During the 2022-23 fiscal year, approximately 4500 students received services through the program. Services included individual and group counseling, parent meetings, goal setting and progress monitoring, CPS reporting, and community mental health referrals. 249 middle school students developed skills that help them enhance their self-esteem, develop problem-solving abilities, reduce stress and anxiety, and manage anger for better mental health. 3558 students acquired and applied the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, establish, and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions.

Holy Family Shelter and Transitional Housing Services (Holy Family Services) Holy Family Services has two components: Holy Family Shelter and Holy Family Transitional Housing Services. Holy Family Shelter, an emergency shelter for homeless families, addresses the increasing demand for emergency shelter in Indianapolis and central Indiana by providing residential services designed to move homeless families to permanent housing and self-sufficiency. As part of the shelter's services, sustaining and support assistance is offered to families who are unable to enter the shelter system due to a severe lack of emergency shelter space for families in Indianapolis. The emergency shelter facility provides food, shelter, basic material needs and a safe place for families in crisis to begin to heal. The cornerstone of the services is the case management where comprehensive services to assist families in setting goals and priorities, obtaining life skills such as budgeting, communication skills, parenting, stress management and more as families begin their journey to permanent housing. Holy Family Transitional Housing Services provides housing and supportive social services to homeless families once they have moved out of the emergency shelter. This program assists homeless families who face the most complex challenges and have serious, persistent issues that can quickly lead to falling back into homelessness if not supported. The combination of housing and comprehensive case management has proven to be an effective and cost-effective way to help homeless families maintain permanent housing while living a more stable, productive life. It is the goal of Holy Family Services that all families attain permanent housing as quickly as possible (Housing First) and are then able to sustain and retain stability, self-sufficiency, and long-term permanent housing, and not return to homelessness. Between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023 Holy Family Services (Shelter and Transitional Housing) served 918 people (413 under the age of 18, and 505 between the ages of 18-77).

Catholic Charities Indianapolis, Inc. offers other program services to benefit those in need including pregnancy and adoption, counseling and mental health services, senior services and other basic needs.