Range of services offered

* A prevention program that includes home-based counseling and parenting education services to help parents learn homemaking and parenting skills. This program also includes respite services for parents receiving treatment for substance abuse. Through this program, it is hoped that the need to place or retain children in foster care will be reduced. The goal is to break the cycle of abuse, and help families maintain a safe and healthy home for their children.

* A respite care program for families who have children diagnosed with a severe emotional disability. According to Helen Hayes, executive director of St. Catherine's Center, the children served in this program need constant supervision. "People have a hard time understanding that a child can be this ill," she said. The purpose of this program is to provide parents and other family members a short period of relief so they can become refreshed and re-energized so they can continue parenting these challenging children.

* A Fetal Alcohol Syndrome treatment service program which provides assessments, coordination of treatment, and a parent/guardian support group.

* A homeless family program which provides housing and assists in the development of skills needed to maintain independent living in the community. The program is housed at the Marillac Residence. The residence is made up of 24 housing units where families may stay for up to six months.

* A training institute which provides an array of educational services to community agencies. Speakers from St. Catherine's Center are available to speak about children, parenting, education, mental health, learning disabilities, homelessness and other topics.

* Family mediation services to help people resolve difficult issues like step-parenting restructuring, open adoption agreements, and parent and teen conflicts.

(For more information on the services offered by St. Catherine's Center, call 453-6700 or visit the agency's website at www.st-cath.org.) (MM)

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