BUFFALO, N.Y., July 29, 2011 – Catholic Charities of Buffalo has received a grant from Fidelis Care, the New York State Catholic health plan, for $59,700 to support its In-School Social Work program for several Buffalo grade schools. It is the seventh year Fidelis Care has made possible funds for the program, which supports students and their families in school and the community.
The grant reflects a part of the funds made available through the 2010 Fidelis Care Community Grant Fund, which are distributed across New York State’s eight Roman Catholic Dioceses to non-profit organizations with similar missions and values of service to low-income, vulnerable individuals.
The program focuses on prevention and intervention social work, providing services to address the needs of youth at risk of educational failure and/or engaging in harmful behaviors. The family social worker/counselor can help address emotional issues and family dynamics that correlate with an individual that leads to high risk behavior.
The CCISW program serves five Catholic schools in the Buffalo/Niagara region: St. Margaret , Our Lady of Black Rock and St. Joseph-University, all in Buffalo, and Catholic Academy and St. Dominic Savio Middle School in Niagara Falls.
In 2010, CCISW was available to about 2,000 students and directly assisted about 425 students and their families and schools.
Catholic Charities Chief Executive Officer Dennis Walczyk noted the significance of the support.
“The Catholic Charities In-School Social Work (CCISW) program has a history of excellent outcomes around improving students’ academic achievement and decreasing negative behaviors,” said Walczyk. “We are especially grateful for this continued investment by Fidelis Care because it will help us realize our long-term goal of closing the academic achievement gap between children who live in poverty and their more affluent peers.”
Fidelis Care President and Chief Executive Officer Mark L. Lane said, “Fidelis has always valued and understood the importance of a strong community presence and enduring partnerships with community organizations that share our healing ministry.”
Catholic Charities is the most comprehensive human service provider serving all eight counties of Western New York, with 70 programs and 61 locations. Founded in 1923, Catholic Charities provides, without regard to religious affiliation, comprehensive counseling services for children and families, anti-domestic violence programming and emergency services, among other social and mental health services.
Fidelis Care offers free or low-cost health insurance through New York State's Child Health Plus, Family Health Plus, and Medicaid Managed Care programs. Members are covered for regular checkups, preventive care, routine screenings, hospital and emergency care, eye exams, dental care, and more. Fidelis Care also offers a variety of benefit options for seniors through Fidelis Medicare Advantage, Dual Advantage, Medicaid Advantage Plus, and Fidelis Care at Home programs, available in certain counties.
Catholic Charities Chief Executive Officer Dennis Walczyk accepts the check for the grant to support the In-School Social Work Program from Fidelis Care Marketing Director Laura Mongeon.
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