Category: Emotional Support

Healing, Growth, and New Opportunities at Catholic Charities

Posted on by Paola Beltran

Camp Marymount: Healing in the Tennessee Hills

This summer, Catholic Charities clinical staff supported campers and counselors at Marymount—easing homesickness, encouraging young leaders, and helping children through tough moments. It was great to join forces with a sister diocesan program. “I could see the kids growing more confident each day,” Ryan, one of our therapists, reflected.

This new layer of support was made possible thanks to a financial gift from Peggy Kelly, a long-ago Marymount camper herself, and a friend of Catholic Charities. Peggy and her family have attended the Nashville diocese’s camp for generations, and she wanted today’s children to experience the same joy and growth her family has cherished.

“Marymount gave me some of my happiest childhood memories,” Peggy shared. And yet she saw the need for mental health resources for kids away at camp. “Supporting this program is my way of giving back so that today’s campers can feel the same joy and belonging my family has experienced for generations.”

Thanks to her generosity, Marymount is now even more a place where children can thrive in body, mind, and spirit.

The Job Bus Brings Opportunity

The American Job Centers’ 35-foot mobile unit visited Catholic Charities on August 8, offering resume help, job search support, and training information. Initially planned to assist staff impacted by recent layoffs due to federal funding cuts, it also welcomed clients from various programs — helping neighbors and even departing staff take the next step toward meaningful employment.

Welcoming Anna Notestine: Our New Grant Manager

Anna recently transitioned from her long-time role in the New Americans program, most recently as associate director, into her new role as grant manager. While she coordinates all agency grant applications, she also oversees critical basic needs programming, including hunger relief and housing stability. Anna holds a Master’s in Social Work from University of Tennessee.

This integrated approach is unique: a hands-on program manager has insights into how resources directly impact our community and translates that knowledge into powerful, effective applications for financial support. As a result, Catholic Charities fundraising has growing momentum, having secured nearly $200,000 in new grants from foundations and funders recently.

Mandela Washington Fellowship: Learning from Global Leaders

Neyra Arguello, our South Nashville Family Resource Center Program Manager, was invited by Conexion Americas to be a panelist with Tennessee State University during the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders. This program brings outstanding leaders from across sub-Saharan Africa to the U.S. for academic and leadership training.

During their visit to Casa Azafrán, the group explored models of community impact through nonprofit programs and collaboration. A Q&A at the end gave participants the chance to engage directly with these emerging leaders, fostering a meaningful exchange of ideas and perspectives to take back to their communities in Africa.

Planned Giving: Your Faith. Your Values. Your Legacy.

Recently, we were blessed to receive two significant planned gifts that will make a lasting difference. If you’ve considered leaving a legacy gift, we invite you to learn more about how your generosity can sustain our mission for generations to come.

From Backpacks to Hope: How We’re Serving Families This Summer

Posted on by Paola Beltran

As the summer winds down, we find ourselves filled with hope and excitement for all the new beginnings this season brings. At Catholic Charities, we continue to stand alongside families across Middle Tennessee — supporting students heading back to school, supporting new mothers through our home visit programs, and nurturing children’s growth in every way we can.

Back-to-school: coming together to support families across Middle Tennessee

This summer, our Family Resource Centers and community partners have been hard at work helping families prepare for a successful school year. From Nashville to our rural locations in Putnam, Montgomery, Coffee, and Maury Counties, our teams have distributed backpacks, school supplies, and vital resources to thousands of children and their families.

Whether joining local Stuff the Bus events, participating in neighborhood block parties, or hosting community celebrations, Catholic Charities is proud to connect families with the support they need. These efforts remind us that when we come together to help our neighbors, our community can overcome any challenge.

Stronger support for new mothers and babies — a new partnership with United Way

Catholic Charities has always been committed to providing support for expectant and new mothers as they navigate the joys and challenges of welcoming a new life. We’re excited to announce that we have been selected by United Way of Greater Nashville (UWGN) to be part of a two-year national study of home visit programs. The United for Healthy Starts initiative is a national collaboration supported by the HCA Healthcare Foundation’s Healthier Tomorrow Fund.

Four United Ways—in Dallas, Miami, Nashville, and Denver—will work with service providers, such as our agency, to study our successful outreach programs for new moms. The goal of the study is to bring new innovations to home visitation and support, and expand the programs to other communities, to ensure more mothers and babies have healthy outcomes.

We are honored to be recognized for our great work and to contribute valuable expertise to improve community health strategies for families across the country.

Faith, family, and mental health: expanding support at Camp Marymount

This summer, our Clinical Services program expanded through a meaningful partnership with Camp Marymount, a cherished Catholic camp that has welcomed generations of children.

A generous donor recognized the importance of emotional well-being during camp and made it possible for one of our therapists to provide on-site counseling and emotional support to campers. This initiative offered children a safe space to process emotions, build resilience, and navigate challenges that may arise during their time away from home.

This collaboration between two Diocese of Nashville institutions reflects our shared mission to care for the whole person — body, mind, and spirit — and ensures families across our region have access to compassionate mental health resources.

Camp is concluding this week, and we look forward to sharing reflections from our team about the impact of this partnership.

Want to learn more about Camp Marymount’s incredible legacy?
Explore Camp Marymount’s 85-Year History of Lifelong Friendships

P.S. Save the Date!

Mark your calendars — the Festival of Hope returns March 3, 2026! This special event celebrates the resilience, diversity, and shared hope that unites us. More details to come—we can’t wait to gather again in this spirit of joy and connection.

See highlights from last year’s Festival of Hope!

 

Georresha’s Journey: From Crisis to Career Stability

Posted on by Paola Beltran

Georresha first came to our Family Resource Center in December 2023, seeking assistance with food. She had recently moved to Tennessee from another state, leaving behind an abusive relationship to protect herself and her children.

At the time, she was working as a DoorDash driver to make ends meet and had just found a place to live. Despite her struggles, Georresha spoke of her determination to improve her circumstances. She mentioned she had a few job interviews lined up and asked about counseling services for herself and her children.

Even amid her challenges, Georresha had an incredible smile. Her children, equally resilient and smiling, played with the toys in our lobby. During that first visit, we shared information about a long-term case management program we offer, which includes counseling, employment training, goal setting, and other forms of support. She agreed to enroll in the program, and we were able to provide her with food that day. Georresha and her children left with full hearts and big smiles.

Taking the First Steps Toward Stability

In January, Georresha officially joined the program. Her main goals were clear: improving her mental health and finding stable employment to better provide for her family. To help ease her immediate financial burden, we provided rental assistance while she continued working as a DoorDash driver. We also referred her to a partner agency for free counseling, which she began attending regularly.

By mid-January, Georresha had secured a job at Wendy’s and began her counseling sessions. The impact of therapy was immediately visible—each time we saw her after a session, her smile seemed brighter, and her confidence grew. While Wendy’s provided temporary relief, she knew the position wouldn’t fully meet her family’s financial needs or align with her long-term goals.

A Vision for a Better Future

Over the following months, Georresha worked hard to improve her situation and her children’s. They thrived in school, receiving evaluations and Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) tailored to their needs. Meanwhile, she attended our financial literacy workshop and learned essential budgeting skills.

In April, Georresha expressed her desire to pursue a career in healthcare. Inspired by the idea of a stable and meaningful profession, she enrolled in a phlebotomy program through one of our community partners. This decision required significant sacrifices, but Georresha was determined to create a better future for her family.

By September, she completed her classes and began an externship, which meant she had to quit her job temporarily. When asked how she planned to manage her expenses, she confidently explained that the budgeting skills she learned in our workshop enabled her to save enough money to support her family during this transitional period.

A Year of Transformation

After completing her externship, Georresha found a position at a daycare while continuing to apply for jobs in the medical field. Just a few weeks ago, she excitedly texted us to share the news: she had been hired at a hospital.

Georresha’s journey over the past year is a testament to resilience and determination. She came to us seeking food and support during one of the most challenging times of her life. Today, she has a stable job in healthcare, a safe home, and children who are thriving academically and emotionally.

Her story exemplifies the transformative power of comprehensive support and unwavering determination. Through her commitment to improving her mental health, advancing her education, and providing for her family, Georresha has become a role model for her children and an inspiration to us all.

 

A new year, a bold vision for transforming lives

Posted on by Jenny Barker

From Judy K. Orr, Executive Director:

As our new fiscal year began last month, we simultaneously embraced a bold, new vision for our work:

“By 2029, Catholic Charities will be the leader in Middle Tennessee in assisting people in need to achieve persistent self-reliance.”

This vision is at the heart of our new five-year strategic plan, which reflects our deep commitment to addressing immediate needs while honoring every individual’s dignity. More than just a roadmap, this plan is an invitation to partner with us in creating lasting change.

With our strategic plan, we are committed not just to meeting material needs but to upholding the dignity of each person, recognizing that they are made in the image of God. Inspired by the teachings of Christ, we strive to be His hands and feet in the world, ensuring that our service is both a reflection of His love and a response to His call to care for ‘the least of these.

We are calling on all who share our mission of bringing love, hope, and healing to join us. Guided by a vision crafted by our committee and approved by the board of trustees, this plan will steer our efforts through 2029.

Together, we can build on our 60-year legacy, enhancing program impact, nurturing our staff, engaging the community, and raising awareness of our crucial work.

But we can’t do it alone. Your passion, support, and partnership are vital to empowering individuals and strengthening our community.

View our strategic plan

Addressing hidden homelessness

As part of our emergency services program, we assist many of our neighbors who are struggling with housing costs. “Hidden homelessness” is more common than you might think, and we are grateful to WPLN’s This is Nashville for raising awareness of this issue through its “In My Place” series.

In this recent episode, Catholic Charities’ Director of Basic Needs Kate Pooler shared insights on the often-overlooked realities of families who “double up” with other family members, live in their cars, or otherwise are in unsustainable situations on the verge of evictions.

Please give the interview with Kate a listen to learn more about our expertise in caring for our neighbors’ housing crises.

Listen to the episode

Culinary training for youth aging out of foster care

Our work in Culinary Training Academy (CTA) was amplified recently through a partnership with The Nashville Food Project and Slim & Husky’s. Our most recent cohort of graduates were youth who had recently aged out of foster care.

Of the 15 participants completing the program, 14 secured jobs and two have advanced to sous chef positions. This successful collaboration demonstrates a strong model for empowering vulnerable youth to begin a career in the hospitality industry. CTA is housed at Catholic Charities’ Family Resource Center at C.E. McGruder.

Giving back: from refugee to social worker

In our Love, Hope, Healing service model, we love to say that the best healing is when you want to give back to those who helped you.

Irakoze Bellamie is the epitome! She is completing her master’s degree in social work at the University of Kentucky. She was inspired to do her internship with Catholic Charities because her family was helped by CC when they first arrived in the U.S. in 2007, as authorized refugees from the African country Burundi. Her grandmother continues as a member of our New Americans elders program. Bella, as she is known, was 7 when she emigrated with her family.

Bella recalls the case manager (Diomede Richard, still working for CC!) who helped her family get settled in Nashville, teaching them English and how to navigate housing, schools, transportation, shopping, etc.

She says, “I want to impact people in a positive way just like social workers impacted me and my family.” Bella completed an internship in the spring at the CC Family Resource Center at Casa Azafran and is interning this semester at the CC FRC at C.E. McGruder.

Make an impact every month

Your recurring gift can help vulnerable neighbors become self-sufficient in the face of economic instability and life’s unexpected moments. By establishing a monthly gift, you increase its impact and spread your tax-deductible donation throughout the year.

Donate

P.S. Have you seen the Catholic Charities USA “We Are There” national awareness campaign? We’re excited to be featured.

 

OUR MISSION

Following Christ’s example, we recognize the dignity of all people and serve our neighbors.

Supporting families with young children

Posted on by Jenny Barker

Catholic Charities counselors walk with clients navigating tough issues – Tennessee Register

Posted on by batkinson

Catholic Charities’ counseling effort were featured in a recent Tennessee Register article. The article focused on the value of counseling given the number of crises that have struck Middle Tennessee in the last 12 months.

Here is just part of the article:

Responding to the unprecedented events of the past year — a global pandemic, a deadly tornado, and the Dec. 25 downtown explosion — has kept Catholic Charities counselors busier than ever.

“We’ve had a lot of people reach out who have not had counseling before,” said Kim Morris, LCSW, Clinical Services Director at Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Nashville. “We’re a safe place for people to talk about what they’re going through. We meet clients where they are.”

Prompted by the stressors of the past year, especially the collective challenges of COVID-19, more people have begun to be open about their mental health. “To ask for help is becoming seen more as a sign of strength instead of weakness,” Morris said, who has worked with Catholic Charities for 16 years.

“The current events have helped to normalize the fact that we all go through events in our lives that can feel very challenging or overwhelming,” said Morris. Having “a neutral party to partner with can help get us back on a path of stability, healing and success.”

Read the full article

New Telehealth Series – Finding a New Normal: Skills to Manage Stress and Isolation during COVID-19

Posted on by batkinson

Catholic Charities is offering a new telehealth group to help people address negative feelings caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

You will learn and practice useful strategies to address challenges such as stress and isolation.

Best of all, you can participate in the group from home on your mobile phone or any device with an Internet connection.

Registration is now open. The group is limited to 16 people. The registration deadline is June 5. See details below

Group Details

Counselors

The group and all sessions will be led by licensed counselors Corisa Ricciardi, MSSW, and Allison Milam Diehl, LMSW.

Session Dates

Wednesdays from noon to 1 p.m.

June 17 – July 22 (six total sessions)

Cost

$25 per session (six total sessions)

See below about payment options

Registration

Registration deadline is June 5, 2020.

Call Catholic Charities at 615-917-9210 or email adiehl@cctenn.org.

Registration is required. Group is limited to 16 people.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to participate in all six sessions?

Catholic Charities recommends that you participate in all six. However, we understand that illness and other unforeseen issues may prevent someone from attending a session.

What if I can’t pay $25 for each session?

Catholic Charities believes in making services available to everyone. We use a sliding scale based on a family’s ability to pay to ensure that counseling is available for people of all economic circumstances. Call to discuss options for reducing or waiving fees.