Our Mission

The Community Outreach Program is dedicated to offering life enriching programs and supports to individuals with mental retardation and their families, while they live at home within the community. In addressing the individuals' full range of life needs, they come to experience their own uniqueness in God's family, and therefore reach new levels of personal wholeness.

History

In the Spring of 1997 Catholic Social Services addressed the need to offer specialized case management services to families living with an individual with developmental disabilities.

Families came for help from many directions. Many were in need of support in navigating their County's Office of Mental Retardation system. Some families sought placement services and were disappointed when they were not able to secure the facility of first choice for their son or daughter, or learned of their family's need to wait for placement.
Meanwhile life went on, and these individuals and families needed help in addressing basic life needs. Case management services to assist these families in making maximal use of the services available to them from a multitude of sources therefore began, first in Delaware County and then branching out into the entire Archdiocesan area. These services are available through the Catholic Social Services' Family Service Centers in each county.

As the case management program matured and spread, case managers were able to focus on the individuals' and families' requests for supports beyond basic life needs. Social, recreational, and spiritual components were recognized as necessary additions to a full life. In the winter of 1998 planning was initiated to develop a new program. By July 1999 The Community Outreach Program had begun to offer services to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. Catholic Social Services heard the call and responded.

Spirituality

Attention to the wholeness of each individual in the Program is an essential component of this ministry.

Monthly, a seminarian, sister, or priest facilitates a group of individuals and families in a spiritual time entitled Conversations of the Spirit. The group meets as a whole, or in a divided setting to allow for unique sharing opportunities. This time of reflection in a small, safe and comfortable environment fosters trust in the members and encourages an unusual openness.

The Community Outreach supervisor is scheduling local Masses and mini-retreats. These opportunities are offered through local parishes, County Service Centers of Catholic Social Services, and residential facilities of CSS Mental Retardation Services. Sites will be selected in each county of the Archdiocese. Opportunities to worship together in appreciation of God's unique gifts offer experiences of joy and grace to all gathered in His name.

Home visitation by a priest, sister or seminarian is available to individuals and families living within the community. Reconciliation, Eucharist, and personal spiritual direction are all included in this life giving program to reach those of God's children who are isolated, confined to the home environment, or otherwise opening their home to us.

Community Outreach Program

Membership

The Community Outreach Program welcomes any adult individual with a developmental disability who lives at home with family, friends, or alone.

There is no membership fee. However, some programs have a minimal fee to help cover the costs of the activity.

The Program Supervisor meets every interested family or individual personally to help foster the new member's comfort level, and to help assure that the potential member's interests are known and recorded. Other pertinent information is also gathered during this first meeting.

Kathy, Francis, Amy, Kathleen, Avelina, Trudy, Terry, and Catherine T. Fitzgerald, Program Supervision, enjoy the benefits of each other's company and support.

Sara Fisher, Catholic Social Services Case Manager, Wayne, Terry, Kathy, Trudy, Joan, Tara Margaret, Ira, Francis, and Catherine T. Fitzgerald, Program Supervisor, display flower pots created at a "Make and Take" gathering.

Programs

The desires of the membership shape the content of programs offered. All participants on the mailing list receive monthly calendars. These calendars include activities offered to the community through the residential care facilities of CSS Mental Retardation Services. The Cardinal Krol Center, Don Guanella Village, Divine Providence Village and St. Edmond's Home for Children all have activities directors who can then be contacted about a specific event. Some programs included are: aerobic dancing, bowling, music therapy, sports events, exercise, boys' scouting, dances and open Masses.
The monthly calendar also lists, when known, programs offered by other agencies serving individuals with developmental disabilities.
To date, program members have suggested the following programs: arts and crafts, day events, movie matinees, picnics, educational presentations, hobby gatherings, spiritual times, and an E-Mail Among Special Friends group for those interested in the computer and e-mail conversation. Program members are often involved in the actual planning and follow-through of an event.

Community Outreach Program

Volunteers

An active group of volunteers is utilized for the continued advancement of The Community Outreach Program.
Someone By My Side is the volunteer component of the Program. For every activity presented, reliable volunteers help by planning, setting-up, monitoring and participating with the membership. This shared involvement adds to further everyone's enjoyment of the Program. Everyone wins!

After first contacting The Community Outreach Program, volunteers are screened and registered through the Catholic Social Services' Volunteer Program.

Keith, Trudy, Amy, Francis, and Father Romano Di Ruscio share time and spiritual concerns in "Conversations of the Spirit."

Opportunities for Giving

Donations to the Community Outreach Program are used to provide materials for program activities, instructors for activities, for postage of regular informational mailings, to provide educational speakers to address pertinent subjects of interest for the individuals and families, for printing and publication, and to assist the membership in purchasing tickets, personal supplies or transportation to Program activities. As the Program grows, so does the need for financial support.

Mark Celebrates his Eagle Scout accomplishments.

Location

The Community Outreach Program is housed within CSS Mental Retardation Services. The office is located on the second floor of the Don Guanella School Building.