Greetings!

Since 1931, Catholic Charities has been continuously evolving to respond to the ever-changing social needs in our Archdiocesan communities.  We have a small, but mighty staff of 30 people working in 10 sites across our 30 county territory.  We have made a deliberate decision to spread our resources across multiple locations to be geographically present in as many locations as possible. 
 
Transportation continues to be a barrier indicated by our clients as to why they don’t seek social services they need.  Having a reliable, affordable vehicle can be costly when living on extremely limited budgets, not to mention the added expense of gas and insurance. 
 
In response, Catholic Charities has partnered with Holy Family in New Hampton to offer counseling and Immigration legal services at the St. John School of Religion.  In addition, we continue to explore and expand telehealth services (virtual counseling services utilizing a computer) to offer counseling services in more locations throughout the Archdiocese.  We have been offering telehealth services in Cedar Rapids for 8 months with success and growing interest.  This allows clients to travel a short distance from their home to access services that before required an hour plus drive. Stay tuned as we seek to add additional locations throughout the Archdiocese. 

God Bless,

Tracy Morrison, Executive Director
JPM


Call to Action!!



Volunteers needed to help more people like Nicole





Catholic Charities is looking for enthusiastic, service-oriented, and dedicated individuals to join our team of volunteers. Our Jail & Prison Ministry community re-entry program depends on volunteers to contribute to the success of ex-offenders as they work toward positive re-entry into family and community life.  Volunteers will receive training to learn how to help support clients, establish positive relationships, experience healthy social activities, and connect with community resources that can aid in finding work, affordable housing, and meeting basic needs. We need volunteers to serve as mentors and members of Circles of Support groups in the WATERLOO and MASON CITY areas. If you have questions about this opportunity, please contact Stacy Sherman, Outreach Director, at  s.sherman@dbqarch.org  or 563-588-0558.

Thank you to the United Way of Dubuque Area Tri-States for their support of our Jail & Prison Ministry program and for the video below about one of our clients, Nicole. To learn more about our Jail & Prison Ministry/Re-Entry Program, please visit our website by clicking here  and/or to fill out a volunteer application, click here . 



September is Disaster Preparedness Month

National Preparedness Month is recognized each September to promote family and community disaster and emergency planning now and throughout the year.

The 2019 theme is "Prepared, Not Scared."
Ready.gov has prepared the below easy resources to help guide you and your family!




  • Week 1: Are you financially prepared? Learn tips on how to save money for emergencies and disasters by clicking here
  • Week 2: Your family may not be together if a disaster strikes; know how you’ll contact one another and reconnect if separated. Establish a family meeting place that’s familiar and easy to find. Click here to make a plan today.
  • Week 2: Teach children what to do in an emergency if they are at home or away from home. Find resources here.
  • Week 4: Every community has voluntary organizations that work during disasters. Visit the Iowa Disaster Human Resource Council to see what organizations are active in your community.
Telehealth Counseling Services
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Are you looking for affordable, accessible, and convenient counseling? Catholic Charities offers TeleHealth Counseling Services in the Cedar Rapids office at 420 Sixth Street, Suite 220. 

Telehealth is the delivery of counseling services to clients using technology. This technology uses videoconferencing to conduct visits by interactive video, with the counselor and client in different locations.   The experience of Telehealth will be similar to face-to-face counseling in that, within the privacy of an office, you will be talking with a Catholic Charities counselor through the computer. The computer will be equipped with HIPAA compliant video software, as well as high speed and confidential internet capabilities. Qualified staff will assist you in getting settled in the counseling office, troubleshooting any technical problems that might arise, and connecting you with a counselor on the other end.

If you are from the Cedar Rapids area and are interested in scheduling an appointment for Telehealth Counseling, please call 800-772-2758 or 563-588-0558 to schedule an appointment.
Heartland East
Open House October 2nd
Join us as we officially announce Heartland East, Catholic Charities' newest affordable housing property in Maquoketa, Iowa.
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Keeping Families Together

You may be wondering why you are no longer seeing articles regarding Catholic Charities’ Immigration Legal Services in our newsletter. We are happy to share that we now publish a separate newsletter, Keeping Families Together, focusing attention entirely on ever changing Immigration updates and stories. Be sure to sign up here to receive this quarterly newsletter. You won’t want to miss it.
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Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Dubuque
1-800-772-2758