By Angela Brown

Non-profit agency has a heart for families

Apr 23, 2017 | 12:00 PM

Catholic Family Services of the Battlefords Inc. has been giving back to the community since the organization started a quarter of a century ago.

“I can describe what it is we do at Catholic Family Services,  but it’s the families who receive the service who can really speak to what that service means to them, and what the impact of the service has had, in their family,” executive director Karen Richard said , who has been with the organization since the first year it started here.

“I was the first full-time employee hired nine months after they opened the doors, and I have been there ever since,” Richard added, who started as the executive director, counsellor, group facilitator and fundraiser.

The agency has since grown to a staff of close to 30 professionals, including many social workers and specialists in the field. It offers a wide range of programs and services to families in their homes, schools, workplace and community.

“It has been an incredible opportunity to be able to be involved with the organization and see it grow, and see it provide service in a very inclusive manner to families in the area,” Richard added, who is also a registered social worker.

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Today the organization serves anywhere from 2,000 to 2,500 individuals per year.

The agency offers services for parents, young children and teens going through challenges and in need of support.

As part of its work, among a number of partners, the agency is committed to working with schools to help prevent violence and promote safety in schools and in the community.

Some of the programs and services the agency offers include providing counselling to individuals, couples and families, offering support to victims of violence and those at risk of violence. It helps children exposed to violence, such as through bullying, sibling or family conflict, for example. It also works with families in their homes and focuses on ensuring children are safe from harm.

The agency offers programs in schools to help children facing learning challenges, dealing with grief or other problems, by offering counselling and support. It provides a parent-education program and deals with the process of separation and divorce, and resolving disputes. It also helps youth preparing to live independently learn life skills.

The organization has support groups for people dealing with grief, family violence, and struggles with eating disorders as well.

In addition, the agency also helps people with intellectual disabilities to live independently in the community.

For Richard, hearing the success stories from people and families who have benefited from the agency’s services in some way is a reward in itself.

“It’s really wonderful because when you improve the quality of life for one individual there is a ripple effect,” she said. “So, all of the relationships that individual person has can see benefits – the family unit, the ripple just continues out into the community. It’s really a privilege to be able to share in the lives of the families we serve.”

Catholic Family Services of the Battlefords will be having its 25th annual charity dinner auction fundraiser to support its programs and services Saturday, May 6 at the Tropical Inn banquet room in North Battleford.

The executive director commended the business community in the Battlefords for giving so much support to local charities, such as her own. 

“I hope people will return the support by giving them your business. The businesses support the charities that provide services to improve the quality of life for everyone who lives in this community.”

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW