Catholic Social Services' Office of Economic Opportunity wins national award from Catholic Charities USA
Program serving appalachian communities in North Carolina to receive $25,000 award

PHOTO SUBMITTED Mary Pat Dailey (Marriage and Family Therapist), Rev. George Kloster (Chair, OEO/CSS Advisory Board), Claudie Burchfield (Director) and Netta McFaddin (Far West Families First Coordinator).

The Office of Economic Opportunity in Murphy, NC - an innovative program of Catholic Social Services of the Diocese of Charlotte, NC, Inchas won Catholic Charities USA's 2007 Family Strengthening Award and will receive $25,000. The Office of Economic Opportunity/Catholic Social Services (OEO/CSS) serves the far western North Carolina counties of Cherokee, Clay, Graham, and Swain.

The annual awards program, made possible by the generous support of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, aims to recognize and award exceptional programs in the Catholic Charities network that take a holistic approach to providing services by supporting healthy family relationships while working to improve a family's overall financial situation and enhance the community where they live.

"The Office of Economic Opportunity is one of the brightest stars in a constellation of outstanding Catholic Charities programs working to strengthen families," said Rev. Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA.

By connecting low-income families to the supports and opportunities that they need to be economically stable, this wonderful program is making a critical difference in the lives of children and their families and is, in turn, building a stronger community by helping to reduce poverty."

"Our goal at OEO/CSS is to help families develop the skills needed to make better choices for building a more secure future," stated OEO/CSS director, Claudie Burchfield. "In the process, we collaborate with many local agencies, churches, and community leaders. We have eight different Christian denominations contributing in various ways, and we're blessed to have pastors from five different Christian faiths serving on our advisory board."

In an area with limited employment opportunities and income levels and high school graduation rates below state averages, many families struggle through hard times. Money and credit problems can destroy families and weaken communities. Promoting responsible financial choices is a key step in maintaining a healthy community. To address these concerns, OEO/CSS created the Far West Families First (FWFF) program.

FWFF matches struggling families with ecumenical faith teams who provide support and encouragement to help families reach goals they set for themselves. Such goals might relate to debt reduction, credit building, health issues, housing concerns, education, employability, etc. In a supportive relationship, the team helps the family understand and learn the skills needed for successful problem solving and helps the family locate outside resources when needed. OEO/CSS also provides families with counseling opportunities to help them work through challenges that impede family development and stability.

Another program, the Assets Building Long-term Equity (ABLE) Financial Literacy Program, addresses financial illiteracy within the community. In addition to credit counseling, the ABLE program provides workshops, lectures, and special presentations on pertinent financial literacy topics. Topics range from maximizing food stamp dollars to basic budgeting to attaining affordable housing. OEO/CSS also serves as a host site for Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Asheville.

OEO/CSS was established in 1999 by the CSS Office of Justice and Peace. It was inspired by a 1997 pastoral letter, "Of One Heart and One Mind," written by the previous bishops of Charlotte and Raleigh, Bishop William G. Curlin and Bishop F. Joseph Gossman. The letter sought to raise awareness that within North Carolina many individuals, families, and communities were struggling to adapt to the economic transitions taking place in the state.

OEO/CSS was one of four programs selected by Catholic Charities USA to receive the 2007 Family Strengthening Award. The programs were chosen from among numerous programs nominated by local Catholic Charities agencies across the country. All four will be honored at Catholic Charities USA's Annual Gathering in Cincinnati on September 16.

The other award winners are El Programa Hispano of Catholic Charities of Oregon; the Thorpe Family Residence of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York; and the Southside Family Center of Catholic Charities of Hartford, CT.

To learn more about the 2007 award winners and the finalists, visit http://www.catholiccharitiesusa. org/caseyaward/.

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