News

  • Catholic Charities Community Services received two awards at the RATFA World AIDS Day Luncheon - one for our Transportation Program for making the biggest impact on the lives of clients and one honoring Bill Stevens as Case Manager of the Year!!  It is a huge honor to receive these awards, espcially because it's the clients who nominate the winners.  Congratualtions AIDS Services!!

                                                                                          

                                           Our Transportation Team with Paul                       Bill Stevens, Case Manager of the Year!!

  • CCCS attended and provided information at Project Urge, a community organization with the intention to bring the Christian community together, in speech, and also in action.                                                                                   (October 2011)

  • HUD Funding for Program to Improve Housing and Employment Options for Persons Living with HIV/AIDS

    The AIDS Services Department of CCCS received great news! A new program, Foundations for Living, will support individuals with HIV/AIDS who want to work, advance their education or volunteer. Foundations for Living will provide housing support while these clients work toward obtaining employment, the end result being self-sufficiency and access to permanent housing options. Current partnerships with ACCESS VR and the Department of Labor will assist clients with a variety of job training and skills. CCCS expects to touch over 125 households over the course of the 3 year grant.

     Tracy Boff, Director of AIDS Services, is very proud of this new program. She said, "This was a highly competitive grant and we offered an out of the box plan that will best help the people in our area who want to work." She continued, "Our clients will have the opportunity to move forward toward their independence, take care of their families and lead full, happy lives."

      Foundations for Living, is supported by HUD, Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA), The Program is a collaboration with The Corporation for AIDS Research, Education and Services (CARES) in Albany, Albany Damien Center, and the National Working Positive Coalition.                                                   (September 2011)

Read the Press Release

Tracy B WXXI interview  Listen to Tracy Boff's interview on WXXI with LeShea Agnew!


  • First-ever Treatment Adherence Coalition Meeting in New York State!

    • Catholic Charities Community Services (CCCS) COBRA Treatment Adherence Case Manager, Ann Marie Scorsone, and CCCS HIV/AIDS Educator/Treatment Adherence Specialist, Jim Bloomfield, coordinated an event for HIV/AIDS health care treatment providers to gather and discuss ways to help those who are diagnosed with HIV/AIDS and who are dealing with the challenges of long-term health care.  The Coalition plans to meet quarterly and is hoping to expand into all four of the Western NY regions (Rochester, Buffalo, Syracuse, and Southern Tier).           (July 2011)
  • CCCS hosted its 15th Annual Golf Tournament on Monday, July 18th at Irondequoit Country Club. Click here for more.
  • AIDS Services was notified that they will be receiving two awards from the New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute!  The first award for $130,000 will provide short term subsidies and emergency rent and/or utility payments and moving expenses for persons living with HIV/AIDS.  The second award in the amount of $140,000 will provide housing- related supportive services case management and housing referral and placement services.           (April 2011)
  • Each year, CCCS organizes an annual United Way Campaign for its employees. We support the values and mission of the United Way; supporting the people in our community who need it the most.  The 2011 Catholic Charities Community Services Employee United Way Campaign raised over $13,000!  We not only met our goal, we exceeded it!  Thanks to all CCCS employees.                                                                                                                                                   (May 2011)
  • Matt Dean, assistant manager of one of our Penn Yan, Yates County, group homes, was appointed to the Yates County Community Services Board, Developmental Disabilities sub-committee.  This committee addresses the needs of persons with developmental disabilities in Yates County.  Great work, Matt!                                                                     (May 2011)
  • Tracy H. Kroft has joined the CCCS team as the Catholic Charities Community Services Development Director . She is extremely excited and delighted to be here and is looking forward to great adventures.  Her career in community relations, public relations and in various development positions will allow her to "jump right in."   Welcome Tracy! We are happy you are here too!              
  • Jonathan Wilcox, AIDS Services Intake Coordinator, was selected to represent the Rochester Region for a one year term on the Statewide AIDS Service Delivery Consortium (SASDAC).  This is a committee directly sponsored by the New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute, Office of Planning and Policy for HIV/AIDS service providers and consumers across the state to come together to provide input and feedback on AIDS Policy issues.  Jonathan is one of four selected from our region to participate on this committee and his first meeting is at the end of February.  Congratulations Jonathan and to all of the AIDS Services Department for always being recognized as one of the best providers in the state!   (February 2011)
  • Please read our letter asking Governor Cuomo to preserve the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), formally known as the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD).  We, along with other provider agencies, believe that the OPWDD is invaluable because of its years of experience and gives those with developmental disabilities and their families a voice in the programs that affect their lives.  Click here to read, print, sign and mail the letter.  Thank you!  (December 2010)
  • Carol Girvin, financial advisor with Ciccarelli Advisory Services, Inc and CCCS Board member, hosted a "Ladies Tea at Two" at the Strathallan Hotel. The tea included a silent auction whose proceeds, in part, benefitted Traumatic Brain Injury Services. The ladies gave over $700 to help fund client emergency and recreational needs.     (October 2010)
  • Catholic Charities Community Services AIDS Services department has received a grant in the amount of $125,000 to provide services through the Families in Transition Program (FIT). The FIT program provides case management, support services and counseling for families where the primary caregiver has HIV/AIDS and is establishing permanency plans for his or her minor dependent children.  (September 2010)  
    AND
  • Catholic Charities Community Services AIDS Services department has received two grants: $200,000 by the NYS Department of Health AIDS Institute to provide case management and other support services to persons with HIV+ diagnosis to encourage medical treatment adherence and an additional $150,000 in funding for the medical transportation needs of this population.   (March 2010)
  • Catholic Charities Community Service Marks 30 Years of Service. Click here to read about it in the Catholic Courier. (September 2010)
  • The spring portion of the United Way Campaign was successful once again! Catholic Charities Community Services had 117 donors who contributed a total of $24,585.90! Thank you employees and community! Remember our Donor Designation Number - 2103!!!    (August 2010)
  • OMRDD is now OPWDD! On the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Governor Patterson signed a bill changing the name of the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD) to the Office of People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD).

 

 

Governor Patterson said, "This name change sends a strong message that New York values the dignity and respect of individuals with developmental disabilities. For many people with developmental disabilities the words 'mental retardation' are hurtful and represent a disrespectful term. The Office For People With Developmental Disabilities is a name that respects their rights as people with developmental disabilities to have an agency name that invokes pride, and not shame." Way to go New York!    (July 2010)

Newsletters - The REACH

If you would like to save a tree and reduce our costs please contact Heather Rickett or call 339-9800 ext. 378 or email cccsdonor@dor.org to receive The REACH electronically. Thank you.

Events

Thank you to the numerous individuals, businesses and parishes that helped us give another wonderful holiday season to our clients and their families.  We were able to provide Thanksgiving dinner to 113 families and we have delivered nearly 800 gifts to our clients and their families.  Amazing!

                                            

                                                             Our angels at work!

      

You Roc'd our day! CCCS raised over $1,000 in 24 hours to help support those in greatest need in our community.  Thank you!  YOU ROC!

 

    March is National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.  The NYS Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) theme this year is "Together" and all of us are encouraged to celebrate the similarities of people rather than their differences. 

        Our Developmental Disabilities Department wore green (a nice spring color) on March 25 to honor Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Our staff members work everyday to bring "together" a greater awareness and understanding of people who have developmental disabilities.