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Catholic Charities reduces fees to ‘do the right thing’

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
(Email Renee)

Wherever you look – the grocery store or your favorite restaurant - prices are going up.

That is not the case, however, for counseling services of Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Sioux City. In March, Jerry Eaton, executive director of Catholic Charities, announced that the agency’s sliding fee scale would be cut by one-third.

With the approval of Bishop R. Walker Nickless, Eaton said they opted to reduce their prices because during these tough economic times, “it was time to step up and do the right thing.”

When the economic downturn became evident last fall, the agency director said he started thinking about how Catholic Charities could respond.

“The last time we went through a financial crisis - (after Sept. 11, 2001) - it hit us just the way it hit everyone else,” Eaton said. “I found myself trying to figure out how do we (Catholic Charities) survive, rather than how do we step up and help others.”

Meeting needs of the clients
This time around, he wanted to ensure that the agency’s response was focused on the needs of the clients.
That’s when they came up with the idea to reduce the cost of their professional services in an initiative titled “It is the Right Thing to Do.”

Eaton explained that when the economy went through tough times after 9/11 and the stock market fell, the agency had little revenue from its endowment. At that time, he made a point to put some of the agency’s financial resources in savings rather than investing it all. That way the agency had some money for these rainy days.

Through good stewardship of the agency’s financial resources, Catholic Charities this time around has been able to center their efforts on helping people by way of reduction of fees offered for counseling services – from individuals, to couples and families.

Bishop supports these efforts
Bishop Nickless explained that recently the Diocesan Pastoral Council met with the Catholic Charities’ director to learn about the services of the agency. Many have the misconception, noted the bishop, that Catholic Charities just provides hand outs - gives money to the poor.

“When, in effect, here in our diocese Catholic Charities tries to help people cope with the pressures of life, marriage and family,” noted the bishop, who acknowledged that during this economic downturn there can be added stress when “there isn’t enough money to go around.”

He stressed the importance of the work of Catholic Charities as they reach out to individuals and families in order to provide professional services to help them cope with pressures that surround them.

“It’s really an act of love and mercy for our brothers and sisters who are suffering and a sign that the church cares about them,” Bishop Nickless said.

Thousands served
Thousands of people use the services of Catholic Charities throughout the diocese. Its headquarters is located in Sioux City, but branch offices are located in Carroll, Fort Dodge, Algona and Storm Lake.

“We offer services to people who can drive to our offices easily within 45 minutes to an hour and they do come,” Eaton said. “There are people from every county in the diocese who are helped by Catholic Charities.”
Susan Rohden, branch office clinical supervisor of Catholic Charities in Fort Dodge and Algona, pointed out that many of their clients are struggling in some way due to the economic crisis – some clients have experienced job loss, hours cut and tight finances so as a result, the reduced prices “have been very helpful.”

“Our clients have been so pleased. We serve single mothers and even by reducing fees by $5 can be a tremendous help. It gives them two more gallons of milk a week and that can be very significant,” she said.

Doreen Loeffelholz, branch office clinical supervisor in Carroll and Storm Lake, said even prior to the economic crisis that became evident in the fall, many clients had been struggling financially due to gas and food prices. They continue to have clients with strained finances.

The reduction in the fee, she noted, has made receiving the services more doable for the clients.

That reduction, Loeffelholz said, is a reflection of their mission.

“Our mission is to help people,” she said. “It’s about being there to help people in need. We try to help people get their lives back on track – to help them function in a healthy way. They don’t need us forever, we are there to help them get back to good emotional health and be able to manage healthy relationships.”

The agency has been able to offer this reduction in fees for a couple of months and they hope to continue, but a special collection slated to be held in parishes in June will play a factor as to how long the reduction in cost of counseling services will remain.

Helping the middle class
“We wanted to be able to offer services particularly to that group in the middle class,” Eaton said. “The middle class can never get food stamps, can never be eligible for Title 19 for health care expenses and never qualify for reduced lunches for schoolchildren. This group is the backbone of the society. They pay their taxes and always have to pay full price.”

While Catholic Charities has had a sliding fee scale based on income for a number of years, he mentioned that for middle class families that fee may equate to about $50 per hour, if they do not have insurance to cover expenses. With the one-third reduction, the price is now about $33 per hour.

Eaton said the middle class has been hit hard by the economy “whether it is the loss of a job, fear of loss of a job, worries about your 401K or your employer is no longer able to afford to offer health care benefits.” During tough economic times, he mentioned there are added stressors and some people resort to destructive methods of coping such as using more alcohol, gambling more frequently and possibly domestic violence.

“Every day, day in and day out, people are facing tough, frustrating situations. It could be the loss of a spouse, a divorce or a child who is having a tough time in school,” Eaton said. “They are overwhelmed by the circumstance; they are stressed out and frustrated. If they can come in, we can help them find their strengths and learn productive methods of coping.”

Ultimately, Catholic Charities tries to help people change their lives so they can be healthier, happier and more successful.