Catholic Charities West Michigan will be expanding to Southwest Michigan and establishing a new office in Benton Harbor, housing 25 employees. The expansion is due to several new family preservation and support contracts with the State of Michigan, where Catholic Charities will provide a variety of programs including Family Reunification, Families Together Building Solutions, Families First, and In Home Family Services in Berrien County. They will also provide the Family Reunification Program in Cass, St. Joseph and Van Buren Counties, as well as Wraparound Services in Cass County.

The new office will be located on the main floor of The Vincent Place at 185 E Main St. Benton Harbor, MI 49022. This will expand Catholic Charities West Michigan’s reach of services from 22 counties in West Michigan to 26 counties, providing help and creating hope for people in need from Traverse City down to Indiana. 

“At Catholic Charities, we know that family is the cornerstone of communities and the most essential influence on children,” said Chris Slater, CEO of Catholic Charities West Michigan. “The programs that we are bringing to Southwest Michigan are designed to strengthen and preserve families and we are very excited to launch this new office in Benton Harbor which will provide vital help for those in need.”

About Our Family Preservation Programs
Family Reunification – Services aimed at working with families in which children have been placed in foster care. Forming a development plan with the parents to be reunified with their children within 30 days.

Families Together/Building Solutions – Providing an intensive, solution-focused approach that is designed to serve families with multiple problems who could benefit from in-home clinical counseling and support.

Families First – Providing intensive, short-term crisis intervention and family education services in the family’s home for four to six weeks, to avoid out-of-home placement of the children.

In Home Family Services – Providing family-centered counseling and support to families in need, resulting in input on behavioral change to help prevent the need for future child welfare involvement or removal.

Wraparound Services – Providing an individually designed set of services and supports to children with serious emotional disturbance or mental illness and their families, which includes treatment services, personal support services or any other supports necessary to maintain the child in the family home.

About Catholic Charities West Michigan

For seven decades, Catholic Charities West Michigan has been feeding the hungry, counseling those who struggle and building strong families. Through a broad spectrum of social service programs focused on the needs of children and families. Headquartered in Grand Rapids, CCWM has more than 285 employees who work from eleven locations and last year touched the lives of more than 29,000 individuals.