Staff Report

An extensive strategic planning process has brought Catholic Charities of Southwestern Ohio a new mission statement and a refreshed organizational structure.

Executive Director Ted Bergh, after his first year with CCSWO, said his agency was guided by the Gospel and the New Evangelization in formulating the mission statement: “Enlighten the community to see God’s love for the poor; serve the community to in turn serve the vulnerable; and empower the community so all God’s children rise from spiritual and material poverty.

“We are responding to the teachings of Christ by providing services to advance human dignity and the welfare of people in need,” Bergh said.

In addition to its childhood and parenting services, senior services, food bank and services to new Americans, CCSWO is heavily involved in mental health services. “We can accept insurance so we can provide those services to anyone in need,” he said.

“We want to ensure that those we serve rise out of poverty,” Bergh said emphasizing that he not only meant physical poverty but also spiritual poverty.

The agency is moving ahead on other fronts as well.

It has launched a new website with more dynamic content at http://ccswoh.org/

“The new site is focused on more clearly telling our story — what we do, why we do it, and how others can get involved in our mission,” said Steve Feldman, director of agency advancement. “There is a part of the site dedicated to volunteers and parishes. There is also a new events calendar that lists all of our workshops and classes.”