ABOUT CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF CENTRAL FLORIDA
OUR MISSION: Provide vital social services to people in need, regardless of their religious, social or economic background, to improve lives of individuals, families and the community.
OUR COMMITMENT: We passionately join forces with Catholic Charities USA and other social services agencies as we continue to lead the charge in Central Florida to cut poverty and the destructive forces that it creates in the family and community at large.
OUR VISION: Create a more capable and connected social service agency focused on meeting today's needs and positioned to meet the challenges of tomorrow.
OUR VALUES: Our values guide our relationships with our volunteers, donors, agencies, employees, clients and the communities that we serve.
Dignity, Respect and Compassion - for our clients, our partners and among ourselves. Every person has the right to be respected and treated with dignity befitting a child of God
Professionalism and Commitment - the way we approach each task. We represent the Parishioners of the Diocese of Orlando and we act accordingly
Integrity - the way we live our lives
General Facts & Info
Catholic Charities first opened in Orlando in 1962. A perusal of the cases as listed in the daybook, shows that the initial focus of services involved the placement of infants with adoptive parents. This also involved pregnancy counseling and foster care services. Most of the referrals were from the Catholic churches in the area.
The Orlando office was only open 4 months when an office in Brevard County was added to the responsibilities. From 1964 to 1968, Catholic Charities operated a home for unwed mothers. By the late 60's, Catholic Charities offered family counseling, adoptions, foster home care, services for the aged, migrants, and unwed parents and other services to the poor and needy.
Besides the offices in Orlando and Cocoa offices opened in Daytona Beach and Lakeland and Winter Haven was opened in 1976. In 1977 an office was opened in Ocala. The 70's also saw a large influx of refugees to the Diocese. In 1975 Catholic Charities took formal charge of the resettlement program. In 1978 the Agency began hosting monthly forum for social service agencies in Orlando.
A similar service was extended to Seminole County several years later. At this time, professional counseling programs were set up in all the offices. Licensed counselors provide individual, marriage, and family counseling. The counselors also provide Post Annulment Evaluations and Pre-Marital Evaluations to the Tribunal and parishes. The counseling department also provides supervision for students earning advanced degrees in counseling.
In 1980 the Agency had 42 employees. The Agency continued to grow adding a Food Bank, St. Francis Shelter and Senior Services in Lakeland. The agency also has the responsibility of disaster response both on a local level as well as statewide in conjunction with other Catholic Charities throughout Florida. We have provided disaster assistance to thousands of people.
The agency currently has over 100 employees with the expansion of existing programs and the addition of the Office of Criminal Justice and the ThinkSmart program. In conjunction with the diocesan SYNOD we have held meetings with parish representatives from across the diocese to explore the social services needs and create a plan to meet those needs. Catholic Charities of Central Florida will continue to meet today's community needs as well as preparing to meet the challenges of tomorrow throughout the Diocese of Orlando.
Timeline:
1962 Catholic Charities opened in Orlando providing placement of infants with adoptive parents, pregnancy counseling and foster care services with referrals coming from the Catholic churches in the area.
1975 Catholic Charities took charge of the Diocese of Orlando resettlement program due to a large influx of refugee population in Central Florida.
1976 The Cocoa, Daytona Beach, Lakeland and Winter Haven offices were opened.
1977 An office was opened in Ocala.
1978 Well respected as the leading social services provider in the area, the agency began hosting Monthly Forums for other social service agencies in Orange and Seminole Counties.
Professional counseling services were added in all offices with licensed counselors providing individual, marriage, and family counseling. The counselors also provided Post Annulment Evaluations and Pre- Marital Evaluations to the Tribunal and parishes.
1980 Catholic Charities had 42 employees. The Agency continued to grow adding a Food Bank, St. Francis Shelter and Senior Services in Lakeland. The agency also has the responsibility of local and statewide disaster response coordinating with the Red Cross, Salvation Army and other Catholic Charities
throughout Florida.
2007 Pathways to Care, a 40-bed, not-for-profit respite center dedicated to providing short-term recuperative care and support services for homeless adults in need of temporary housing in order to recover from an acute medical illness or injury, became a program of CCCF.
Today Catholic Charities of Central Florida (CCCF) has more than 130 employees. Program expansion has included existing programs, the addition of the Office of Criminal Justice and the ThinkSmart program. And as a result of the diocesan SYNOD ending in 2007, CCCF continues to lead as premier provider of social services to residents of Central Florida through collaboration with area Parishes to provide health care services, Free Medical Clinics, Housing for the Elderly, Programs for Women, Children and Families and additional Emergency Services such as Benefits and Food Stamp advising utilizing a Case Management system.
