Catholic Human Services Inc

Since its founding in 1972 by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gaylord, Catholic Human Services has been committed to making a difference in the lives of the people in Northern Lower Michigan. We serve individuals and families regardless of faith, income, race, or ethnicity. We have grown over the years to multiple, highly recognized main and satellite offices in Northern Michigan's 21 counties for providing hope-filled social, emotional, and spiritual support to all people. We provide mental health, substance abuse, prevention, pregnancy counseling, open adoption, social services, and senior services to over 26,000 people per year. We partner with local, county, and state agencies to offer a wide range of services considered to be the "best practices" in the field. CHS is based administratively in Traverse City, MI, with regional offices in Alpena, Gaylord, and Cadillac. Each office is a hub for services in many other community locations throughout the service area. Up North Prevention is an initiative developed under the umbrella of Catholic Human Services. The purpose is to develop a unified approach across a large geographic service area, “to advance substance abuse prevention efforts in northern lower Michigan.” The initiative facilitates a strengthened framework of delivery, efficient resource allocation and the development of a regional familial purpose positioning prevention up front. CHS has been strengthening northern Michigan by providing life-enhancing services to individuals, families, and our community for 50 years. As we towards the future, CHS is focused on strategies that will meet the evolving needs of those we serve. Our plan for the next three years is to 1) strengthen our current programs and 2) expand counseling services for families.  Client Assistance Fund (CAF): Strengthening northern Michigan means residents can access the care they need for substance use disorders, depression, marital difficulties, unexpected pregnancies, and recovery from trauma. The CAF is available to individuals and families who come to CHS for treatment but have limited ability to pay. 100% of gifts are used to help reduce the cost of care for those in need.  Expanding Programs and Services: CHS staff continuously look for ways to deliver more services to strengthen families. One top community need that CHS would like to address is expanding marriage counseling. CHS receives numerous requests from clergy to refer struggling couples who could benefit from counseling services. CHS plans to expand its offerings and build an infrastructure to serve at least 300 families per year. Expanding the program will cost an estimated $400,000, and CHS seeks donors interested in investing in this family-strengthening program. Once the program is developed, CHS expects it to become self-sustaining within two years.