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Save The Date for our First Annual Blue and White Luncheon!
Please join us for our inaugural Blue and White Luncheon: Stories of Resilience, where you will learn how CCFCS has supported our clients’ resilience for more than a century. Be inspired by the very special story of perseverance, determination, and resilience of our Keynote Speaker, Katy Eberts. You won’t want to miss this event! Learn more about the luncheon here.
Blue and White Luncheon: Stories of Resilience
- Thursday, September 4, 2025
- 11:00am-1:00pm
- Hyatt Regency Grand Ballroom, downtown Rochester
More details to come! Sponsorship opportunities available. For more information, email Samantha Ziegler-Barniak, Associate Director of Development, at Samantha.Barniak@fcscharities.org.
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Kinship Caregiver Conference
CCFCS was proud to co-sponsor the annual Kinship Conference, held for the first time in Rochester. This statewide event is for kinship caregivers and professionals. Our Kinship Care team works every day to help individuals who are raising their grandchildren, young relatives, or family friends in the absence of a biological parent. For more information about CCFCS Kinship Care services, click here. To learn more about NYS Kinship Navigator, click here.
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Refugee and Immigration Update
Catholic Charities Family and Community Services (CCFCS) has been offering services to refugees and immigrants for more than 100 years; since 1980 alone, the agency has helped more than 15,000 refugees resettle in Rochester and pursue safe, self-sufficient lives as U.S. citizens. However, unprecedented changes in U.S. immigration policy have had a major impact on our ability to serve the community of New Americans. In January, when the federal Administration halted refugee resettlement and froze funding for refugee and immigration programs, CCFCS chose to raise funds and underwrite costs for services which were critical to our current clients. In April, our contractor agency in the work of refugee resettlement terminated their relationship with the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement. As a result, CCFCS has had no choice but to close some of our programs, including the refugee resettlement program, our migrant children foster care program, and some specialized programming for Afghans and refugee families with special health needs. All other programs for refugees and immigrants remain in place.
CCFCS is working to ensure that clients in the impacted programs are referred to other CCFCS department programs or external providers as appropriate. In addition, some 30 staff members are losing their positions; CCFCS has been working to absorb them in other positions inside the agency.
Despite these changes, CCFCS is still delivering a wide range of refugee and immigration services, including job preparation and placement, post-resettlement integration and self-sufficiency services, refugee health, and legal immigration services. If the federal administration decides to restart the admission of refugees to the U.S., CCFCS stands ready to resume that work as well. The Greater Rochester region has a long history of embracing refugees from around the world. CCFCS is proud of the role we play in this work. As we move forward, we remain most grateful for the community’s support of our mission.
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Alexander HouseOn May 9th, CCFCS cut the ribbon on Alexander House, a 21-bed residential treatment program for men recovering from substance use disorder. Located on the newly renovated 5th floor at 79 N. Clinton Ave., Alexander House provides a safe, sober-living environment with easy access to the CCFCS Behavioral Health Clinic on the 1st floor. Many thanks to NYS Senator Jeremy Cooney, who leveraged $250,000 for the renovations, and to our local and county officials, representatives from OASAS, OMH, and our Agency Council, and clients from Alexander House for joining in on the celebration.
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Spring Cleaning Drive
Our Spring Cleaning Drive was a great success! Thanks to your generous donations, CCFCS was able to distribute mops, buckets, cleaning supplies, and other everyday essentials to clients in 26 programs. Although the cleaning supplies drive is over, your support is always appreciated. You can always shop from our Amazon Wish List and have the items sent directly to CCFCS.
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Thank you for catching up with us!It's been a busy spring at CCFCS. One of the highlights was our participation in the annual United Way Day of Caring. CCFCS staff spent the day sprucing up the grounds at Hochstein School of Music, and Sunset House hospice care home in Irondequoit. In addition, volunteers from throughout the community donated their time at several of our residences for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. What a wonderful way to celebrate our partnerships and the common good that unites us all. Thank you for supporting our mission and our work. Have a wonderful summer!
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Lori VanAuken, President and CEO
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Administrative Offices:
79 North Clinton Ave, Rochester, NY 14604
Programs and Services:
1099 Jay Street, Bldg J, Rochester, NY 14611
87 North Clinton Ave, Rochester, NY 14604
Finger Lakes Regional Office:
2462 State Rt. 54A, Suite 209, Penn Yan, NY 14527
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