Who We Are - Our History
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Milestones of Catholic Charities of Idaho:

2000:     Michael P. Driscoll, MSW, DD, newly installed bishop of Idaho, files Articles of Incorporation for the new corporation; Boise office established.
2001:     A statewide needs assessment commences to gather input from Catholics and their neighbors as to the unmet needs in their communities in order to begin a strategic plan for the new agency.
2003—2005:     Offices and services are established in Nampa, Coeur d’Alene, Blackfoot, Jerome, Homedale and Idaho Falls. CCI takes its place among the national network of Catholic Charities agencies which comprise the largest, faith-based service delivery system in the United States.
2005—2006:     Marie D. Hoff, PhD, first Executive Director of Catholic Charities of Idaho retires and Rosio Gonzalez, LMSW is hired to continue the pursuit of the mission and vision of Catholic Charities.
2006—2007:     CCI works to establish sustainable enhancement and expansion of social services statewide with a special emphasis on rural and remote areas of Idaho.

Catholic Charities receives basic support from the annual diocesan appeal. The additional generous support of donors and parishes has enabled us to open offices throughout the state.

The mission of Catholic Charities includes:
(1) to provide quality social services to all in need, especially the poor and at-risk populations, such as children, frail elderly and immigrants;
(2) to involve the Catholic laity in our work through helping them to develop parish social ministry and to advocate for social justice;
(3) to build community by bringing together people, groups and organizations to work collaboratively on solutions to grave social problems that affect the entire community.

We emphasize self-help and empowerment approaches. In working with youth, mental health concerns, or the basic needs of disadvantaged, poor populations, we design services, such as support groups and educational offerings, which enable people to form community and solve their own problems with minimal professional intervention. In all the agency’s programs, we strive to involve volunteers in service delivery. For example, our services for the frail elderly include volunteers as friendly visitors and respite care providers; our after-school tutoring/mentoring program utilizes volunteers to help youth succeed in school. Our services for at-risk children include mentoring and support groups for young single pregnant women and young parents.

Our social services staff members teach parenting classes and develop social support groups. We collaborate closely with a wide variety of community groups and organizations to reduce poverty, and prevent suicide and domestic violence. Our immigration program, which began in April 2000, provides a variety of legal services to meet the needs of immigrants.

-back to top-