Our Core Programs

Family & Community Services

Catholic Charities Family & Community Services fights poverty by providing a broad array of social services that stabilize families. Our program is a resource for low-income families that are at risk of losing access to basic needs such as food, housing, utilities, clothing, transportation, and health services. Casework staff takes a comprehensive approach to stabilizing individuals and families in duress by addressing financial, social, emotional and physical needs, so families helped may move forward with their lives and envision a future characterized by greater self-sufficiency.

Immigration Services

Immigration Services provide information, assistance and BIA-accredited consultation to help non-citizens navigate the application process for naturalization, adjustment of status, work permits, fiancé visas, green card replacement, and other immigration remedies.  Trained volunteers provide citizenship classes designed to assist prospective citizens in preparing for the USCIS naturalization interview and exam. Additionally, Catholic Charities is also Refugee Resettlement Agency authorized by the federal Department of State.  Staff provide a range of supportive services to successfully resettle families from around the globe in our region.

Counseling Services

Therapists and group facilitators provide a range of crisis-based and preventative counseling services to promote safe, healthy and stable families. Areas of expertise include child abuse prevention and intervention, family counseling, school counseling services, trauma counseling for youth, parent education, anger management, and domestic violence support services. Counseling staff are master’s degree level therapists under the supervision of a licensed professional.  Additionally, facilitators provide intensive training program for residents in our local communities interested in para-professional skills to assist them in their human service volunteer activities.

Special Initiatives

Higher Education Student Investment Programs:

  • Master’s Degree University Field Placements

Master’s Degree graduate students receive course credit and are placed at Catholic Charities for 16-20 hours per week as required by their academic program.  They are supervised by Catholic Charities staff to obtain training and practice skills in their academic field.

  • Non-Profit Social Work (MSW) Fellowship Program

Established in 2009 and in partnership with CSUSB School of Social Work, Catholic Charities’ prepares the next generation of master’s degree level social workers as leaders in the non-profit sector.  Each academic year, Catholic Charities accepts four MSW students and provides 50% tuition scholarships, senior staff mentorship, and 60 hours of direct exposure to the mission, operations, and programs of Catholic Charities as a premiere multi-service non-profit organization that serves the most vulnerable in our communities.

  • “Providing Help, Creating Hope” Community College Scholarships

Annually, Catholic Charities funds a $500 Community College Scholarship at each of the ten(10) Community Colleges in the two-county area.  Eligible students are selected by each Community College based on financial need and an eagerness to work in a human service profession upon completion of their AA degree or graduation from a local university.

  • Poverty Simulations

The Poverty Simulation is designed to help people in the community better understand the challenges, stresses, and compounding factors that contribute to poverty. Most people see poverty as a stand-alone issue, but the poverty simulation allows individuals to walk a month in the shoes of a poor family and understand how complex and interconnected the issues of poverty are in a community.