We are so proud of our Northern Arizona team! Catholic
Charities was recently named Organization of the Year
by the Arizona Daily Sun. According to Sandi Flores,
Senior Programs Director, Northern Arizona, the award
helps to validate and celebrate the work the team
has always been proud to do. “Dignity is at the heart
of everything we do. We work with compassion and
empathy and embrace those we help, and we are so
proud of the work we do every day.”
The Flagsta team’s goal is to meet the most
vulnerable where they are in life — whether it’s a foster
child, a homeless veteran, someone struggling to
rebuild his or her life after addiction and incarceration,
or just someone who needs help stretching the grocery
budget. The team members walk them through the
process toward a new life. Catholic Charities in
Flagsta provides more than 15 programs and services,
and partners with other agencies in the community to
help all walks of life, all age groups, all races and all
religions.
In 2018, the northern team assisted more than 11,300
clients, but as Flores notes, “We couldn’t have done it
without the generosity and support of our community,
who donated much-needed items such as coats and
warm clothing for families, toys for children in our
emergency shelter, and even furniture for our clients
moving into a home after experiencing homelessness.
We are blessed to have such a network of miracle
workers.”
INSIDE
this ISSUE
► Adoption brings peace
► Teens’ Closet helps build esteem
► COA Reaccredits Catholic Charities
► Laurel Tree affordable housing opens
► Juniper House Provides New Start
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@catholiccharitiesaz
THE CEO
Dear Champions,
I would like to welcome you all and thank you for
volunteering with us! Your time, talent and treasure are gifts
that are valuable to the people we serve, to the sta, the
agency and to me, your servant leader.
Our agency celebrated its 85
th
anniversary in September
2018. To believe that we have been around so many years
helping the most vulnerable in our community is a miracle
that must continue. Someone once shared with me, “Your
agency is a hidden a treasure,” because of all the amazing
services we provide with humility to people who need
them the most. Your support as Champions in sharing
this “hidden treasure” is critical. Know that we at Catholic
Charities Community Services are graciously thankful for
your continuous support in learning what we do and sharing
it with others..
This handbook is for you to keep, use and share with others
to provide information about our services that permanently
improve lives. We hope you nd it a useful tool for you and
those you meet and serve.
Again, thank you for your time, talent and treasure, and
may God bless our Catholic Charities Champions!
Sincerely,
Paul S. Mulligan
President
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Partner with us by oering services at your location, such as:
• Spreading awareness of our programs and services
• Counseling services
• Citizenship workshops
• and more!
Long-lasting commitments that positively impact the community!
For more information about other ways to partner, or to attend a
presentation about our services, call our parish and community
engagement coordinator at 602-650-4832, email info@cc-
az.org or visit us at https://www.catholiccharitiesaz.org/parish-
community-engagement
SOCIAL MEDIA
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e-newsletter at www.catholicharitiesaz.org,
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Counseling
Domestic Violence – My Sister’s Place and Pathways
Foster Care and Adoption
Aordable Housing
Care Campus Community Center
Immigration – Familias Unidas
Parents as Teachers
Joining Hearts
Refugee Resettlement
Sex Tracking – Dignity Diversion
Veterans Services and MANA House
Westside Head Start
In-Home Services
Miracle Projects
Foster Care Tax Credit
Volunteer Services
Catholic Charities Champion
www.catholiccharitiesaz.org
CATHOLIC CHARITIES IS NAMED ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR
Catholic Charities Team Members in Flagsta
Helping the Community's Most Vulnerable Since 1933
You Make Miracles Happen
SPRING 2020
2 • Spring 2020 • www.CatholicCharitiesAZ.org
PREGNANT MOM FINDS
PEACE IN ADOPTION
Shari never wanted to be a single mother, and
now she was facing the reality of being the single
mother of ve young children. She was in her third
trimester of pregnancy and living temporarily with
her ex-boyfriend Jack, who was also the father of
her unborn child.
Shari and Jack had dated for many years and had
four children together. Although they cared deeply
about each other, they were no longer a couple.
Jack and Shari knew it would be dicult to parent
another child as they moved forward with their
own lives.
Scared and Uncertain
Shari had entertained the idea of adoption in her
thoughts, but felt paralyzed in moving forward
with a plan. She felt scared and uncertain with the
thought of moving forward with any decision.
When Shari was 36 weeks pregnant, she went
into premature labor and ended up at the ER. She
knew the baby would be coming soon and she
could no longer let fear dominate her indecision.
It was at this time Shari expressed her concerns
to the hospital social worker, who referred her to
Joining Hearts.
Fears Turned to Hope
Shari called the Joining Hearts hotline and
immediately reached a sta member. After
meeting with the pregnancy counselor and
learning more about the Joining Hearts program,
Shari received pregnancy counseling.
Shari had many fears surrounding the idea of
adoption, but after receiving education and
supportive counseling, her fears turned to hope.
Shari looked at proles of adoptive families waiting
with the Joining Hearts Adoption Program and felt
a strong connection with one of the couples. She
asked to meet them as soon as possible, fearing
she would go into labor any day.
Finding Peace
A match meeting was quickly scheduled and
Shari got the opportunity to meet them and ask
questions. The meeting went better than Shari had
hoped and afterwards she felt condent moving
forward with an adoption plan.
Shari didn’t go into labor until a little over a week
later, which allowed her time to continue to build a
relationship with the couple she had chosen. They
shared phone numbers and spent the next week
getting to know each other better.
When Shari went into labor, she invited the
adoptive couple to the hospital where she could
observe them bonding with her newborn son. This
personal choice allowed Shari to observe them as
loving parents, which provided her with additional
peace in her decision.
Although adoption was hard, Shari knew parenting
another child would be equally as hard. By
seeking services through Joining Hearts, she was
empowered to make a plan she felt was best not
only for her newborn son, but for her young family.
Pregnancy Counseling
If you or someone you know is facing an
unexpected pregnancy, Joining Hearts can help!
Call or text 888-818-4445.
3 • Spring 2020 • www.CatholicCharitiesAZ.org
Adolescence is a challenging time. Often
youth struggle to t in with their peers and lack
condence and self-worth. What if something as
simple as having new, clean clothing could make a
dierence and help them feel better?
That is the premise behind Teens’ Closet, a local
group in Prescott. Teens’ Closet serves teens
between the ages of 13-19 in Prescott, Prescott
Valley, Chino Valley and surrounding areas who
are in nancial need. They can shop every other
month and choose items they need. Teens’ Closet
recently joined the North Star Youth Partnership
family of Catholic Charities services in Prescott.
More than Shopping
“A Teens’ Closet volunteer helped my son pull
out of depression during 9th grade,” said an
anonymous mother. “She bought trendy clothing
and shoes that were in his sizes and style. My
heart soared as I heard them laughing and having
fun picking out clothing. I will be forever grateful.”
Teens’ Closet volunteers also oer resume writing,
interview tips and help teens set and achieve
their goals... anything to help them shape a bright
future and hopefully break the poverty cycle.
“When we rst opened Teens’ Closet in 2011,
we had no idea how quickly it would grow and
how many lives would be positively impacted. I
look forward to seeing it grow even more and to
add services such as job readiness and career
exploration to help teens even more,” said Krystal
Koons, Health Educator Supervisor with North
Star Youth Partnership.
Help Local Teens
North Star Youth Partnership is working help stock
their inventory with new and gently used items and
invite the community to help.
Specic items needed for teen boys include: new
boxer briefs sizes S, M, L, XL, XXL; new white
undershirts all sizes; new white crew and no show
socks and plain cotton shirts for layering (white,
black, navy).
Gift cards to Walmart and Rue 21 are also
appreciated. Items can be dropped o at Catholic
Charities, 434 W. Gurley Street in Prescott. For
more information about this project, contact Krystal
Koons, North Star Health Education Supervisor, at
928.708.7268 or ckoons@cc-az.org.
PRESCOTT STUDENTS FIND HELP AT TEENS’ CLOSET;
NOW PART OF NORTH STAR YOUTH PARTNERSHIP
Krystal Koons (center) of NSYP with volunteers and partners.
4 • Spring 2020 • www.CatholicCharitiesAZ.org
CATHOLIC CHARITIES
REACCREDITED BY COA
As a human services agency working with
vulnerable populations, Catholic Charities strives
to achieve excellent service and high standards
across the entire organization. As such, it is
important for Catholic Charities to be reviewed
by an outside party on a regular basis, which
took place in early March. And we are proud to
ocially be reaccredited for the next four years!
The Council on Accreditation (COA) is
an international, nonprot, independent
organizations that accredits human and
social service agencies around the world.
COA reviewers spent the rst week of March
reviewing procedures, interviewing sta and
clients, and ensuring all processes are meeting
top quality standards. This accreditation not only
provides an independent review and approval of
Catholic Charities, but also ensures we qualify
for federal and state government grants, as well
as reassure donors we are “top notch.”
FIFTH AFFORDABLE HOUSING
COMMUNITY OPENS ITS DOORS
Catholic Charities’ aliate, Housing for Hope, ocially
opened the doors and celebrated the grand opening of its fth
aordable housing community in the metropolitan Phoenix
Area on February 27th.
Laurel Tree on 19th Ave. and Northern provides 70 one, two
and three bedroom units for individuals and families. This
includes 18 units specically for those receiving services from
Mercy Maricopa for mental illness. This beautiful community
is conveniently located on the light rail line and has shopping
and medical services in walking distance.
Catholic Charities will again be providing resident services
specialists on site who assist residents in accessing available
resources and services to ensure self-sustainability and
successful independent living. The specialists will partner with
local providers and business to bring services such a mobile
food pantry, exercise and art classes for kids, afterschool
activities and more.
“Our resident services team members become like family to
our residents. They know every resident, know their needs
and know their family stories,” said Sarah Hamilton, Resident
Services Specialist for Catholic Charities. “It is an honor and
privilege to accompany our residents on their life journey.”
Beautiful Laurel Tree at Northern and 19th Ave
The COA inspection team with Catholic
Charities Team Members
STOP, DROP AND DONATE!
STOP! DROP! DONATE!
Before you complete your AZ State Income Taxes, review them to make
sure you have taken advantage of all your tax credit opportunities!
Go to catholiccharitiesaz.org/donate-now
and donate your tax liability. You can donate
up to $500 of your tax liability as a single filer
and up to $1,000 as a joint filer.*
• If your Arizona tax liability on line 49 is
$350, you can write a tax credit check to
Catholic Charities for $350 making your
Arizona tax liability $0! You would then
receive the full amount of your withholdings,
Line 53, as a refund.
• If filing jointly and your Arizona tax liability
on line 49 is $1,200, you can write a tax
credit check to Catholic Charities for $1,000
making your Arizona tax liability $200. You
would then receive either $1,000 more in
your refund or owe $1,000 less to the state,
depending on your withholdings, Line 53.
QFCO: 10000
Drop your eyes down
to line 49 of AZ Form
140. What is your tax
liability? Your state tax
liability can be directed to
Catholic Charities instead
of the state!
Your taxes could provide a
bed in one of our shelters,
counseling for pregnant
mothers, recruitment
events for foster families,
holiday gifts for children,
food, clothing, and so
much more.
Don’t forget that your
community needs you!
Your tax dollars make
a dierence and can
be directed to Catholic
Charities to fund programs
that impact the most
vulnerable such as foster
care children and families,
veterans, domestic
violence survivors,
homeless, at-risk youth
and more.
It may sound too good to be true, but it isn’t.
The clients that Catholic Charities encounters on a daily basis need you to take advantage of
this opportunity. You can make a dierence today!
Ask your tax professional and go to taxcreditchamps.org for a complete explanation of how
the AZ Charitable Foster Care Tax Credit works.
*This is not intended as professional or legal advice. Please consult your tax professional.
5 • Spring 2020 • www.CatholicCharitiesAZ.org
CatholicCharitiesAZ.org
Catholic Charities Newsletter Team - Writers: Holly Yzquierdo, Jean Christoerson | Graphic Designer: Michael Lewis
YOUNG MOTHER STARTS A NEW LIFE
THANKS TO JUNIPER HOUSE
Chelsye, a mother of four, in Tuba City, AZ never
imagined she would face several years without her
children. But, after experiencing family setbacks
and making some bad decisions, that’s exactly
what happened.
A few years ago, 35-year-old Chelsye faced a
life without her father, whom she was very close
to, after he passed away unexpectedly. He had
always supported her and was a wonderful
grandfather to her four children. Following the loss
and a dicult separation from the father of her
children, Chelsye turned to alcohol and drugs as a
coping mechanism.
She began a downward spiral of bad decisions,
and says, “It was like I was back in high school.
I was making the kinds of decisions that I knew
were not good, but I just couldn’t stop myself.” She
experienced depression and couldn’t seem to nd
a way out by herself.
During a visit to Flagsta, she was arrested for
possession and other drug oenses, and ended up
in jail. Her husband’s father stepped in to care for
her children, but Chelsye was beside herself with
grief and loss and now faced two years in jail. Not
only had she lost her father, separated from her
husband, but now she was in danger of losing her
children too.
Thanks to Catholic Charities’ partnerships with
law enforcement agencies in Northern Arizona,
Chelsye found out about Juniper House when
it was time for her release. After speaking with
Catholic Charities’ program sta, she knew Juniper
House could give her the fresh start she needed to
be there for her family.
Juniper House is a home in Flagsta where up
to 8 women who have been released from jail for
minor oenses can live following their release.
Ideal candidates are those who do not have
a stable and supportive home to go following
release and need a little extra help to get back on
their feet. The program is not a traditional sober
house. Instead, it allows the residents to become
self-sucient by providing support and resources
that allow them to nd employment, and ultimately,
permanent, aordable housing.
She was able to get a job at McDonald’s almost
immediately, attended group meetings facilitated
by Catholic Charities’ sta each week, checked in
with her probation ocer as required, and faithfully
attended AA meetings. She worked hard, paid
her aordable rent at Juniper House and saved
money.
“I was so nervous when I walked in (to Juniper
House). I didn’t know any of these other women,
I wasn’t sure I could do it. But, I made friends that
still support me today. We help each other through
the rough times. That’s how we make it,” Chelsye
says.
Today, Chelsye and her kids, ages 12, 7, 5 and
3 are living together back in Tuba City and she is
looking forward to a bright future and watching her
children grow up happy and healthy. She is still in
touch with friends from Juniper House and they
continue to support each other.
Catholic Charities re-entry program is available in
select locations for women and men leaving jail in
Northern Arizona. Residents are referred by law
enforcement or detention sta and must follow
house rules and obtain employment.