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Mission in Action

Strengthening Families Program – Truly Changing Lives!

Initiated in 2015, CCEVA’s Strengthening Families Program utilizes evidence-based curriculum, paired with common sense, advocacy and lots of love, to help families grow closer and stronger.  The 14-week program includes education for the whole family, with curriculum for the children and adults mirrored in separate sessions, and then a family dinner together with CCEVA staff.  Education focuses on better communication, appropriate and effective discipline, developing family goals as well as substance abuse prevention.  The program is free to any family and many of our families learn and grow so much that they attend another session.

CCEVA currently has funding from the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth to provide the program to families on the Virginia Peninsula.  Classes are also held for families on the southside thanks to the generosity of the United Way of South Hampton Roads and our agency donors.

Although a myriad of issues are addressed in classes, we have seen recent success in less truancy for families with teenaged students, and better family functioning with the increased supports and knowledge.

Recently, attending a community function at a local hotel, our staff ran into a former participant who was so eager to reunite with our Program Director, Milcah Wade.  “The program really made me a better step-dad, and has prepared me to be a good dad my daughter, who is due in January.” he said.  “We still have our vision boards at home!”, he reported.

The program is such a success because CCEVA staff build on families’ strengths.  Helping families effectively problem-solve and communicate through this program has been incredible.  We are truly grateful for all of those who support this important, meaningful  work!

For more information, please contact Milcah Wade at mwade@cceva.org.

Helping Women and their Families ASPIRE to New Heights!

Catholic Charities of Eastern Virginia is proud to announce that we will be a partner alongside ForKids, in Women United’s ASPIRE pilot program.   Women United is a group of women philanthropists, organized through United Way of South Hampton Roads, whose membership is dedicated to eliminating barriers women and children face to escape poverty and achieve permanent self-sufficiency.

Women United has established funding for the ASPIRE pilot, which will provide intensive case management services to women and their children in an effort to increase financial self-sufficiency as well as improve overall family functioning. By serving women and children, the pilot hopes to provide education and services to empower families to create generational transformation. We are working hard to plan the pilot and will be bringing on other community partners to address the specific needs these families face. The program will be ready to serve our first families by January 2019, and we expect to serve 50 families through the pilot for up to three years.

For more information, please contact Tracy Fick at (757) 456-2366, ext. 1011.

Please visit our blog  for an article written by Rebekah Hall, MSW & Director of Youth & Family Services, for information on the Adoption & the Post-Adoption Program at Catholic Charities.