Catholic Charities Fort Wayne—South Bend: Through the years

SHARING THEIR STORY

Nyein Chan's experiences as a displaced person, freedom fighter, political prisoner, and 'migr' have made him a knowledgeable, empathetic leader in Catholic Charities' refugee resettlement efforts.

To hear Nyein Chan's story of bravery, determination, and survival is to learn of the struggles of so many Burmese refugees who have been fortunate enough to escape tyranny...>

OPEN TO LOVE

"It was this completely calming feeling. I knew at once that I was a mother and we were a family."
–Patrice Dado, adoptive parent

As they built their family, Joe and Patrice Dado experienced the adoption process at both ends of the spectrum from the "closed" process favored in the past to the "open" process often advocated today. Through the efforts of...>

VOLUNTEERING

"During my internship, I got apartments ready for refugees, provided transportation, just about anything that needed to be done. When my internship was over, I just never stopped, I saw a great need."
–Terry Taylor, refugee resettlement volunteer

Terry Taylor caught the helping bug as a college intern in the Refugee Resettlement Program during the fall semester of 2004. Terry, who's working on a degree...>

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Catholic Charities has been providing adoption services for over 60 years.

1857	The Diocese of Fort Wayne is established by papal decree.
1865	Bishop John Henry Luers opens St. Joseph Boys School in Rensselaer.
1869	St. Joseph Hospital in Fort Wayne is the first of many hospitals and orphanages established by the Poor Handmaids and others.
1876	Sacred Heart Home, the first of many facilities for the aged in the diocese, is established in Avilla.
1879	The St. Vincent de Paul Society establishes itself within the diocese.
1886	St. Vincent Villa, an orphanage for boys and girls, opens in Fort Wayne.
1922	Bishop Herman Alerding establishes Associated Catholic Charities in the Standard Building in Fort Wayne.
1924	Associated Catholic Charities is one of 19 original members of the Community Chest, now known as the United Way of Allen County.
1925	Associated Catholic Charities becomes affiliated with the National Conference of Catholic Charities, now Catholic Charities USA.
1927	The Indiana State Department of Public Welfare licenses Associated Catholic Charities as a child-placing agency.
1930s	Associated Catholic Charities strives to help people suffering through the Great Depression.
1937	Father Edward Sweigart becomes director of Associated Catholic Charities.
1941–1945	Associated Catholic Charities responds to the war effort with special services that include assistance for families of veterans and displaced people and a communitywide childcare center to meet the needs of working mothers.
1947	Associated Catholic Charities opens an office in South Bend.
1950s	Associated Catholic Charities recruits professional social workers to meet the need for counseling and support services during the postwar years.
1952	Arrangements are made with the Canadian government to place Canadian children in adoptive homes. A homemaking service is established to provide assistance to the elderly.
1954	The South Bend office establishes a volunteer group, the Ladies of Charity.
1957	Reorganization creates Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend, Inc. Catholic Social Services in Fort Wayne and in South Bend are two agencies of the Catholic Charities corporation. Monsignor John Reed is appointed diocesan director of Catholic Charities. The Marians, a group of dedicated women providing financial and volunteer support, is established in Fort Wayne.
1960	Catholic Social Services of Fort Wayne and the Catholic Charities offices move to the former St. Paul School at 919 Fairfield. This would be Catholic Charities’ home for the next 30 years.
1961	In cooperation with the National Conference of Catholic Charities, the agency provides homes, education, and support services for young refugees after communism is established in Cuba. These young people are placed at St. Vincent’s Villa before a group home is established on Wayne Street in Fort Wayne. One of the Cuban refugees is eventually ordained a priest in the diocese.
1964	Plans are developed for Saint Anne Home, a nursing facility for the elderly. Mrs. Geneva Davidson leaves a bequest of $500,000 to build a home for the aged.
1965	The Catholic Charities Child Development Program is instituted. Two summer Head Start programs are established at St. Mary’s and St. Peter’s churches in Fort Wayne.
1967	The first resident is admitted to Saint Anne Home. The Ten-O-Four Home for unwed mothers is established.
1970	Programs and services in the South Bend area are consolidated into one building at 120 South Taylor Street.
1972	Monsignor Reed dies unexpectedly. His contributions to the development of Catholic Charities, both in this diocese and in his work with the National Conference of Catholic Charities, have a lasting impact on the entire organization. A congregate program for older adults is established at Providence Convent on Cathedral Square.
1973	Children’s Cottage, a state-licensed, Montessori-certified, all-day childcare program, opens. Catholic Charities becomes a sponsor for RSVP (Retired & Senior Volunteer Program). A pro-life program is implemented to administer testing and provide care for pregnant women.
1974	A component of Harvest House, the Forever Learning Institute, is established.
1975	Catholic Charities establishes its Refugee Resettlement Program as part of a national effort after the fall of South Vietnam.
1976	Catholic Charities opens two congregate living facilities, Villa of the Woods in Fort Wayne and Vincent House in Elkhart.
1978	Head Start, which had been operating in several locations, moves to the former St. Hyacinth School in Fort Wayne.
1981	The Summer Enrichment Program, designed to assist children with disabilities, is established.
1982	A Catholic Social Services office opens in Elkhart.
1985	The Home Visitor Program is established to provide support for the homebound elderly and disabled.
1986	The South Bend office is awarded its first school-counseling contract with St. Anthony de Padua School.
1987	The Catholic Charities Board of Directors is restructured, instituting representation from throughout the diocese.
1988	Catholic Charities provides two caseworkers at the St. Joseph’s Health Clinic on Chapin Street in South Bend.
1990	After a restructuring, all of the agency’s services and programs are operated from one administrative structure. There are five major service divisions: Pregnancy & Adoption, Child Care Services, Community Services, Counseling Programs, and Services for Older Adults. The school-counseling program is expanded to five parish schools in South Bend.
1991	The Rainbows Program is established, providing support services to children experiencing loss through death or divorce in the family.
1992	Catholic Charities establishes a Hispanic Outreach Program. The agency implements open-adoption principles.
1993	Catholic Charities is chosen as a site for the resettlement of refugees from Bosnia.
1994	The agency expands its adoption program, with particular emphasis on serving children with special needs. Services to adult adoptees seeking information about their birthparents are also offered. Project Rachel, an outreach program for those who have been involved in abortion, is established. Parenting classes are offered at the Center for the Homeless and at the Chapin Street Clinic run by St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in South Bend.
1995	Circle of Mercy Day Care Center in South Bend, established in 1916 and the oldest licensed childcare facility in the state, becomes a program of Catholic Charities. The agency also assumes administrative responsibility for Hannah’s House, a maternity home located in Mishawaka.
1996	The Social Services office in South Bend moves to 425 North Michigan Avenue. The vacated space is renovated and serves as the expanded facility for Circle of Mercy Day Care Center. The Elkhart office moves to 201 South Second Street. Birthing the Vision, a mentoring program for pregnant and parenting young women, is established. The diocese gives Catholic Charities the former St. Hyacinth Parish, and a major fundraising campaign begins to renovate the former parish facility and connect it with Children’s Cottage.
1997	Catholic Charities begins the Salt & Light program for the diocese. Catholic Charities assumes responsibility for the Foster Parent Training Program for Allen County and six surrounding counties.
1998	Groundbreaking takes place for the renovation and expansion of Children’s Cottage. Catholic Charities is awarded the contract for the Foster Parent Liaison position for the Allen County Office of Family & Children’s Services (now known as the Allen County Department of Child Services). The agency is initially approved for accreditation through the COA (Council on Accreditation of Services for Families and Children). Children’s Cottage is selected as a delegate agency for Head Start.
1999	Catholic Charities, in collaboration with the East Wayne Street Center and Lutheran Social Services, begins the Faith-Based Initiative Program. In a collaborative effort, the agency and Lutheran Social Services start ECHO (Education Creates Hope and Opportunity), a program for teen parents at area high schools. Renovations to the former St. Hyacinth Parish are completed, and St. Hyacinth Community Center opens, along with the Monsignor Lester Multi-Purpose Room.
2001	Groundbreaking takes place for the expansion and renovation of Villa of the Woods. The project is completed in 15 months. Catholic Charities starts an immigration program to address the needs of refugees and immigrants. The agency begins the Match Grant Program, a supplemental funding program, under Refugee Services.
2002	The U.S. Department of Justice, Board of Immigration Appeals, approves the Fort Wayne office as a recognized site for immigration services. The South Bend office moves to 1817 Miami Street.
2003	Catholic Charities acquires the Senior AIDES Program, a Title V training program aimed at assisting those over 55 with employment training and securing unsubsidized employment. The Emergency Food Pantry in South Bend opens. The West Region begins emergency financial assistance to the poor through its Brief & Emergency Services program.
2004	RSVP of St. Joseph County and Busy Hands move into the South Bend office.
2005	RSVP of Elkhart County opens. RSVP of DeKalb County opens the Community Center of Caring Food Pantry in Auburn.
2006	Catholic Charities’ Immigration Program in South Bend is approved as a recognized site by the U.S. Department. of Justice, Board of Immigration Appeals.
2007	Circle of Mercy closes. St. Joseph County RSVP moves to Taylor Street in South Bend.
2008	Catholic Charities resettles 1,469 refugees, primarily from Burma. Catholic Charities Emergency Food Pantry opens in South Bend. Senior AIDES begin GED courses.
2009	Senior AIDES begin extensive training courses in budgeting, finances, and employment preparation. English-as-a-second-language and citizenship classes are initiated in South Bend. The RSVPs of St. Joseph County and Elkhart County combine to become one project. The state of Indiana freezes the Residential Care Assistance Program that helps lower-income elderly pay for room and board in a licensed residential-care facility.
2010	Catholic Charities partners with the city of Fort Wayne in the National Civic League's 60th annual All-America City awards competition. It’s a winning combination, as Fort Wayne is named an All-America City for the third time and inducted into the All-America City Hall of Fame. Villa of the Woods unlicenses seven beds with the Indiana State Board of Health to help provide lower-income elderly people with a safe, affordable place to reside. Children's Cottage closes.

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