Catholic Social Services

TO PERFORM THE WORKS OF MERCY IN RESPONSE TO THE CALL OF GOD. OUR CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY PERFORMED PRIMARILY INCLUDE PROVIDING FOOD, CLOTHING, SHELTER, AND PRISON MINISTRY. OUR SPIRITUAL WORKS OF MERCY PERFORMED PRIMARILY INCLUDE COUNSELING, INSTRUCTING, AND COMFORTING.

MENTAL HEALTH CLINICAL - A COMPREHENSIVE CONTINUUM OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO RESPOND TO THE ASSESSED NEEDS OF THE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY IN SOUTHERN NEBRASKA. THIS CONTINUUM CONSISTS OF A FULL RANGE OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES INCLUDING: A) INDIVIDUAL, MARITAL, CHILD/ADOLESCENT, AND FAMILY COUNSELING; B) PREGNANCY AND ADOPTION SERVICES; C) POST-ABORTION COUNSELING; D) PSYCHOLOGICAL AND ACADEMIC ASSESSMENT; E) 24-HOUR PAGING AVAILABILITY; F) BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUPS; G) CRISIS RESPONSE FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOLS; H) 800-ACCESS NUMBER; I) CONSULTATION SERVICES; J) EDUCATIONAL CONSULTATION TRAINING PROGRAM; K) AND PUBLICATIONS RELATED TO CHRIST-CENTERED CARE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. IN SUMMARY, THE PRIMARY GOAL OF THE CLINICAL PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE THE HIGHEST STANDARD OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES THAT RESPECTS THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SPIRITUAL NEEDS OF ITS CLIENTELE THROUGHOUT SOUTHERN NEBRASKA. WHILE REMAINING GROUNDED IN A SCIENTIFIC AND EMPIRICALLY-BASED APPROACH TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE, CSS SEEKS TO INTEGRATE INTO ITS SERVICES A PHILOSOPHY AND LANGUAGE THAT PROVIDES FOR EFFECTIVE WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE OF CHRISTIAN FAITH. THE CSS CLINICAL PROGRAM HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY AS A LEADER IN THE INTEGRATION OF MODERN SCIENTIFIC PSYCHOLOGY AND TRADITIONAL CHRISTIAN ANTHROPOLOGY.

GIFT AND THRIFT - MATERIAL RELIEF THROUGH OUR GIFT AND THRIFT STORES IN LINCOLN, HASTINGS, IMPERIAL, AND AUBURN NEBRASKA. THE STORES SELL CLOTHING, HOUSEHOLD ITEMS, FURNITURE, AND APPLIANCES AT REASONABLE PRICES. WE CALL OUR THRIFT STORE ACTIVITY, "GIVING SQUARED; A DONOR PROVIDES CSS WITH AN IN-KIND GIFT, WHICH WE CAN PROVIDE TO A NEEDY FAMILY AT BELOW MARKET PRICES AND ANY CASH PROFITS EARNED ARE GIVEN AWAY AGAIN THROUGH OUR ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. THE 'GIFT' PORTION OF THE STORES IS MANAGED THROUGH OUR VOUCHER PROGRAM. OUR CASE WORKERS IDENTIFY FAMILIES WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM AN IN-KIND ITEM AND OFFER THEM A VOUCHER TO THE GIFT AND THRIFT STORE. THE FAMILY CAN THEN SHOP IN OUR CLEAN, ORGANIZED, WELL-LIGHTED STORES ALONG WITH OTHER CUSTOMERS, THUS RESPECTING THEIR DIGNITY. THE VOUCHER CAN BE USED TO OFFSET OR ELIMINATE THE COST OF THE ITEM.

FOOD, CLOTHING, AND MATERIAL ASSISTANCE - SERVING THE MOST BASIC NEEDS - FOOD, CLOTHING, AND HOUSEHOLD GOODS - THAT IS OUR GOAL. ON SITE SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE IN LINCOLN, AUBURN, IMPERIAL AND HASTINGS NEBRASKA. SERVICES OFFERED INCLUDE FOOD PANTRIES, BUDGET COUNSELING, SOCIAL SERVICE REFERRALS, AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR PAYMENTS OF RENT, UTILITIES, DEPOSITS, VEHICLE REPAIRS, MEDICAL BILLS, AND OTHER NECESSITIES. OUR ST. FRANCIS FOOD PANTRY IN LINCOLN IS THE SECOND LARGEST PANTRY IN THE CITY. THE HASTINGS AND LINCOLN OFFICES SUPPLEMENT THEIR OFFERINGS OF FOOD THROUGH A BROWN BAG LUNCH PROGRAM GIVEN TO THOSE NEEDING PREPARED FOOD IN THE HASTINGS AND LINCOLN AREAS.