How We Serve

We serve with open arms

Every day, led by our front-line teams, we strive to bring our mission to life, staying present to the needs of each person we encounter and opening our arms and hearts with a commitment to make them feel seen, heard, valued, and cared for.

Our unique call to serve

In order to assure our vitality and impact for decades to come, Catholic Charities focuses our work where we are uniquely called to serve and make a difference. Our 19 programs across four impact areas are designed to work holistically to address immediate challenges and promote long-term stability.

Stepping up for our neighbors when every moment matters

These programs provide a first point of connection to broader support for roughly 60% of those we serve, including:

People facing hunger
Families on the edge of homelessness
People facing unexpected financial emergencies
People who need help now but don’t know where to turn

Our immediate needs programs include:

Call Center: Connects people who need immediate assistance with resources and services
Case Management: Connect those receiving services with support and financial assistance
Community Programs (Chicago, Suburban Cook, Lake): Hot meals, clothing, connection to vital services

Rapid Response:

Activates and partners in times of crisis

Changing the future one family, one household at a time

These programs provide wraparound support to more than 60,000 caregivers and children every year, including:

Young mothers and their babies
Families with children ages 0-5
Single parents charting a path to stability and strength
Families fleeing unsafe homes
Survivors of suicide loss

Our Mothers and Families programs include:

Pregnancy and parenting: Support for expectant and new parents through pregnancy and early years
Behavioral health: Counseling for those experiencing mental health challenges
Domestic violence services: Transitional housing and wraparound support for survivors
Strong Families: Accompaniment and case management for single parents building self-sufficiency
Immigrant Services: Help families acclimate and navigate services, and assimilate
WIC Grocery: Provide WIC-approved food and formula for pregnant moms, caregivers, and children under age 5

Facilitating true growth, change, and healing, which never happen fast or alone

These supports focus on promoting independent living while still being connected, serving more than 42,000 people, including:

Seniors building lives of dignity and well-being
Veterans building lives of healing and growth
Immigrants seeking new lives

Our Seniors and Housing programs include:

Housing: Three residences in Chicago for veterans and people with disabilities to maintain their well-being and independence
Senior Housing: 19 residences for low-income seniors, across Cook County
Bridge Rental Subsidy: Helps adults with serious mental illness and those with disabilities transition from institutional settings to independent living
New Hope: Connects individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness with apartments and case management
St. Leo Social Services: Intensive, tailored onsite at St. Leo Residence for veterans
Care Coordination: Care coordinators visit seniors at home, assessing their needs and connecting them to in-home services

Senior Center:

Open to all seniors in the community, the center offers diverse activities and healthy meals

See next section below.

Being present to our time
through the eyes of faith

There are three distinct elements of our Mission Engagement work:

Education

Educate ourselves about the needs of our neighbors and surrounding communities, as well as what it means to serve with and through love, charity, and mercy — learning through the lenses of faith, science, and servanthood.

Accompaniment

Accompany and serve. We are called to serve others with wisdom, mercy, and love — from a place of equality. That means taking time to become more informed and continually listening to be fully present and maintain a true perspective on the needs of those we serve.

Advocacy

Advocate with “passion” and compassion for greater social justice in our cities, region, state, and country. Using our knowledge, we commit to raising our voices as thinking and engaged citizens on behalf of building a better world.

Our Operating Principles

Four principles underlay everything that we do.

Invert the pyramid

Put our front-line teams first.

We are called to create a culture where Jesus’ teachings come to life; ensuring that our team members and clients feel seen, heard, valued, and respected. We are intentionally investing in strengthening the 60 teams and team leaders who bring our mission to life. We have developed a Team Philosophy, which stands alongside our Core Values, to guide our work, our culture, and our people development.

Stay present to each human heart

Beware the allure of scale.

We are well aware of the benefits and costs of scale but have learned from experience: God’s math is not human math. Humans gain economies of scale by categorizing and standardizing individuals, their responses and discretion. That is the opposite of what Jesus did and what we are called to do. God calls us, one person at a time, to be present to and love our neighbor, to hear the pain and longing that lies within each human heart. From there, the rest will follow….

Amplify the impact of our work

Focus on our strengths.

The provision of human services is not a competition — the need is great, and our calling is clear. Through Vision 2030, we have identified the areas where our Catholic identity, trusted network, and century of service uniquely position us to make the greatest impact; streamlined our work around four core Impact Areas; and established a strategic plan to guide how we invest and serve into the future.

Regularly reflect

Constantly ask how are we called to learn and grow?

We are called to continually learn and grow as we challenge ourselves to increase our impact and Christian witness. Over the last several years, we have invested with intention to strengthen our Board governance processes. We have reimagined our internal reporting and data systems and increased the transparency of our reporting. Our staff and our Board engage in regular training and self-assessment.

Our Team Philosophy

Everything we do, we do in teams, grounded in
our team philosophy:

Clear Goals

Grounded in Catholic Charities: Our history, purpose, and values
Mission-Focused: Our team’s unique role in delivering on our purpose
Tied to Action: Shared goals and measures that guide our way to meaningful and measurable impact

Joy-Filled Culture

Respect and Inclusion: Celebrating the gifts, perspectives, and contributions of each member
Pride in Our Team: Our shared purpose, “delivering our best”
Community Spirit: Striving each day to love and serve together — we are “God’s hands”

Effective Collaboration

Excellent Process: Well-run meetings, regular check-ins, and timely reporting on team progress
Accountability: “Yes means yes” + “I/we got this” + “Goals that are set, get met”
Constructive Conflict: Differences are lifted up and addressed with respect and compassion

Commitment to Growth

Learning: Members receive and give feedback with grace
Forgiveness: Members admit when mistakes are made
Reflection: Space is regularly set aside to observe, assess, and grow