The WordA newsletter of Catholic Charities of Central Texas

WINTER 2015

The Gabriel Project Life Center“Coming here has helped us get closer as a family.”Moms and dads achieve a healthy start for their babies with support from Catholic Charities of Central Texas

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WH

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: Thank you to the numerous sponsors who made the 4th Annual Celebrate Life Benefit such a success!

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Catholic Charities takes “show on the road” with Executive Action Workshops and ILS-101 sessions.

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On the Horizon:ED Sara Ramirez shares what’s com-ing up for CCCTX in 2015.

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When Maria Gonzalez first found out she was

pregnant, she was apprehensive, remembering the sadness and depression she felt after the births of her first two babies.

“When I went to the clinic, and they told me I was pregnant, I thought, ‘I don’t know,’” Gonzalez says. “The country is all new to me, and we had had so many problems with postpar-tum depression.”

The clinic staff told Gonzalez there was a place she could get help: Catholic Charities.

Gonzalez began attending educational classes at the Gabriel Project Life Center in Bryan, as well as meeting one-on-one with Catholic Charities Pregnancy Consultant Nancy Vivas-Valdez. Gonzalez learned she wasn’t alone in her struggle with postpartum depression. She also learned the importance of proper nutrition and exercise during pregnancy, which resulted in an easier delivery and no time in the NICU for her third child.

“My boy is wonderful and healthy,” Gonzalez says of 6-month-old Jayden.

The Gonzalez family is just one of the hundreds helped each year by Catholic Charities’ Gabriel Project Life Centers in Austin and Bryan. In November, the pro-gram received the 2014 Journey for Life Award from the Texas Pregnancy Care Network (TPCN) for having the highest client retention rate among non-materni-ty home providers. A provider’s retention rate is determined by the number of times a client returns for services during a preg-nancy or the first year of a child’s life.

TPCN administers the state-funded Texas Alternatives to Abortion Services Program, a network of pregnancy support

centers, maternity residences and social services agencies. The Gabriel Project Life Centers, which are partially funded by TPCN, offer expectant and new parents

mentoring and support through one-on-one consultations and an “earn while you learn” program. Parents and parents-to-be can earn points toward needed baby items as they attend classes on topics such as child safety and nutrition, prenatal and postpartum health, and breastfeeding.

“The foundation of our program is building relationships with women and men as they experience pregnancy and grow as parents,” says Allison Cavazos, director of social services. “Our clients

celebratelife 2015

thank you!

Rosa and Cesar Hernández attend classes at the Gabriel Project Life Center in Bryan with their 10-month-old daughter Keila, who is teething.

Catholic Charitiesleadership

Steve Wohleb President

Rev. Mark Hamlet Vice President

John Donna Secretary

Parker F. Pieri, CPA Treasurer

Barbara Budde

Tom Howard

Mary Beth Koenig, CPA

Terry McDaniel

Mike Millard

Joanne Sanders

Manuel Torres, MD

Sara Ramirez Executive Director

(continued from page 1)Gabriel Project Life Center

repeatedly tell us that while the ‘earn-while-you-learn’ program is their initial draw to Catholic Charities, they keep coming back for the knowl-edge and support we provide.”

That information is invaluable to Rosa and Cesar Hernández, who were referred to Catholic Charities by a family member. Rosa confirmed her pregnancy by taking a self-administered pregnancy test at Catholic Charities. Ten-month-old Keila is her third child, joining a 16-year-old sister and a 10-year-old brother.

“With my first pregnancies, I didn’t have a lot of information,” Rosa Hernández says. “Now, I do.

I know about healthy food. And with my first babies, I didn’t exercise. Now I know that exercise is healthy for me and for my baby.”

The couple keeps class handouts in a binder for easy reference—not only for them, but also for their older children. Cesar Hernández says that the knowledge he has gained in class has helped him better understand his wife’s experiences with pregnancy and a new baby.

“Sometimes as men, we get frustrated,” he says. “But now I know what my wife is feeling about taking care of the baby. Coming here has helped us get closer as a family.” •

Foundations support CCCTX

Catholic Charities of Central Texas could not offer the high quality, free or low-

cost services to those most in need without the generosity of the community. One very impor-tant source of support is private and community foundations.

Thanks to support from the foundations listed below, Catholic Charities has expanded and enhanced the following programs: Immigra-tion Legal Services, Gabriel Project Life Center, Financial Stability, and Parish Relations. •

• Austin Community Foundation

• Dehan Family Foundation

• The Rachael and Ben Vaughan Foundation

• Raskob Foundation for Catholic Activities, Inc.

• Scanlan Foundation

• Strake Foundation

• Texas Bar Foundation

• Wells Fargo Foundation

One third of Americans are just one pay check away from homelessness.

Did you know?Consider helping CCCTX keep families together and safe by making a $100 donation.

Donate at: www.ccctx.org/donate

or by mail to: Catholic Charities of Central Texas1625 Rutherford LaneAustin, TX 78754

Layoffs, injury and illness are the leading cause of homelessness for working-poor families. Without help, these families often end up living on the streets, seperated and without hope.

Catholic Charities offers financial stability services that provide financial assistance and case management for up to 12 months. Fa

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To learn more about Catholic Charities of Central Texas,

call 512.651.6100or visit our website at www.ccctx.org

thank you!celebrate life 2015

Catholic Charities reaches new areas with executive action workshops

Even before President Obama announced his executive action on immigration in November, the Catholic Charities of Central Texas staff

was developing a plan of action to increase services to all eligible individuals throughout our 25-county service area. An estimated 37 percent of the undocumented immigrant population in Texas lives at or below the federal poverty line, according to the Migration Policy Institute, so asking families to travel to Austin to receive immigration legal services presents a barrier to service. The expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and the new Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA) programs presented an ideal opportunity to take our services on the road.

In January, Catholic Charities began conducting “Immigration 101” information sessions in eight locations throughout Central Texas. These will be followed by four daylong DACA workshops and eight daylong DAPA workshops at which eligible individuals can receive assistance completing their applications for deferred action.

You can learn more about executive action at www.ccctx.org/ils/executive-action. We’re also seeking volunteers to help us at our daylong DACA and DAPA workshops. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Director of Advancement Christina Vehar at christina-vehar@ccctx.org. •

Waco

MarbleFalls

Killeen

San Marcos Bastrop La Grange

Austin

Bryan

101, DACA & DAPA

101 & DAPA

• Scanlan Foundation

• Strake Foundation

• Texas Bar Foundation

• Wells Fargo Foundation

Seraphim SponsorAnonymous

Cherubim SponsorsFriend of Catholic CharitiesJessica and Royce GerngrossRaymond HanniganSt. Anthony Catholic Church

Archangels SponsorsSt. Thomas Aquinas Catholic ChurchWe Sew Fabulous!

Choir of Angels SponsorsAggie Knights of ColumbusHoly Rosary Catholic Church - FrenstatLaw Offices of W. Jeff Paradowski, P.C.Richard KonzenRandall LightRobert ManningMr. and Mrs. James OlsonAnne and Kevin O’NeillRED-C Catholic RadioSanta Teresa Catholic ChurchBrien L. Smith, CFP and Spirit Fiduciary PartnersSt. Joseph Health SystemSt. Mary’s Catholic CenterSt. Mary’s Catholic Church – CaldwellSt. Thomas Aquinas ACTSSt. Thomas Aquinas Women’s GuildMost Rev. Joe S. VásquezVilla Maria StorageWomen’s Guild of St. Joseph Church

UnderwritersClotilde Pichon, R.E.C. Industries, Inc. Sarah Schwind, Eliana and David Vehar

In-Kind DonorsJudy Edwards, Fruit Your Fancy, HEB Bryan, J. Cody’s Steaks and BBQ, Kappa Theta Beta, Fifth-C Fine Jewelry, RED-C Catholic Radio, Memorial Funeral Chapel, Sam’s Club, St. Joseph Catholic School

*As of 2/2/2015

W e’re just a few weeks into the new year, and Catholic Charities

of Central Texas is already growing and expanding our ability to serve.

We hit the ground running with the start of our executive action workshops (see page 3 for more). This is an exciting time for us as we offer services on the road in both rural and urban areas. Our goal is to keep families together and safe—and with the work authorizations available under the expanded DACA and new DAPA programs, many immigrant

families will be able to have two wage-earners for the first time and begin moving out of poverty.

Our staff has recently grown to include a new intake specialist and pregnancy consultant in the Brazos Valley and three new legal assistants and a new case manager in Austin.

A new program is on the horizon! We are pleased to announce that Catholic Charities will soon offer clinical counseling services. Stay tuned for more information! •

Questions for SaraWhat’s on the horizon for Catholic Charities in 2015?

12 p.m. April 15, 2015AT&T Conference Centeron the University of Texas campus

Join us at the9th Annual

Creating Hope BenefitDuring this unforgettable event, the mission of

Catholic Charities of Central Texas will be shared by those whose lives it has touched. You’ll enjoy a complimentary

luncheon as you discover how you can be a part of the Catholic Charities legacy.

To attend, please contact Annie Chavez at (512) 651-6118 or annie-chavez@ccctx.org.

www.ccctx.org/creatinghope2015

Upcoming CCCTX events

CC101........................ noon - 1 p.m. Feb. 18, March 4, March 18, April 1

Get to know Catholic Charities of Central Texas at one of our free bimonthly CC101 lunch-and-learn events. Enjoy a delicious lunch provided by sponsor Blue Baker, and take a tour of Catholic Charities.

Contact Associate Director of Development Annie Chavez at annie-chavez@ccctx.org or (512) 651-6118 to learn more and to RSVP.

www.ccctx.org/events/get-to-know-catholic-charities

facebook.com/ccctx @CCcentraltexas1625 Rutherford Lane | Austin, TX 78754