By Jerry Zufelt
Editor

GREENSBURG — In order to more efficiently address changing needs in the areas of adoption, foster care and pregnancy support services, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Greensburg has implemented several changes in staffing and focus.

The changes came out of a strategic plan completed by Catholic Charities Board of Trustees last year, according to Msgr. Raymond E. Riffle, managing director of Catholic Charities.

He said the board felt it was important to address the reality of Catholic Charities’ increased focus on foster care.

With the retirement of Lynn Grindle as coordinator of adoption services in December, Morgan Daugherty became the coordinator of adoption and foster care, a new job title on the Catholic Charities staff, Jan. 1. Three people are now serving as adoption/foster care caseworkers: Susan Williams, Dana Capsambelis and Angela Mateya.

With the changes, there will no longer be a Pregnancy Center, but Catholic Charities will continue to offer pregnancy support services and operate the Baby Closet, which provides infant items, clothing, diapers, etc., to families in need with babies and younger children, according to Judy Modecki, director of coordinated services and development for Catholic Charities.

Catholic Charities will reach out to other pro-life pregnancy centers around the diocese to ensure women receive pregnancy services at those centers, according to Modecki.

"Catholic Charities will continue to be involved in pregnancy support work, but in a different way," Modecki said.

"We could see we needed to expand and develop our work with foster care," Modecki said. "We spent a tremendous amount of time working on policies, procedures and making sure we all understand the many regulations in foster care."

She said Catholic Charities foster care services will be the same high quality its other services have always maintained.

Msgr. Riffle said he is confident the board’s strategic plan will help the diocese’s primary social service agency continue to make the best use of its resources to assist people in need in Armstrong, Fayette, Indiana and Westmoreland counties.

"I commend the Catholic Charities board and staff for their efforts, which included recognizing the ever increasing need for and complexity of foster care services. These changes, which are guided by the strategic plan, will be invaluable as the agency moves forward," Msgr. Riffle said.