Editor's note: This is the first of a two-part series examining programs through Catholic Charities that offer support to families in crisis. Part two will run in Thursday's edition.

By QINA LIU
qliu@bizjournals.com | 716-541-1613

Every day is a challenge for program coordinator Kathryn Marsh and her team at Catholic Charities court-related services. That's because the families they assist often come through court referrals.

"With any of our programs - whether it's the Monitored Exchange or the Therapeutic Supervised Visitation program or even, to a large extent, the Our Kids program - you're looking at a mandated population as opposed to a group that comes into it voluntarily and says, 'Hey, I would like some help,' " said Julie Kramer, supervisor of the visitation program.

"These are all folks who have been told they need help, and they don't always believe that," she said.

This would seem to make court-related services even more important. She and Marsh, however, said they don't have enough resources to help every family and child.

The Therapeutic Supervised Parent/Child Access program - which provides a safe environment for children and their parents to interact - served 119 families and 187 children in 2010.

As of June 22, the program had a waiting list of 36, and the number was expected to grow.  

"Everybody in court knows we have a wait list, so if there's any way judges and referees can send these people somewhere else, they try to do it," Marsh said.

If it didn't not have an internship program with the University at Buffalo School of Social Work, the list would easily reach more than 100, she added.

"Our mission is focused on the child and, whenever possible, trying to help the child have a relationship - the best relationship possible - with that absent father or, in some cases, an absent mother," Marsh said.

They range from men who didn't know they had a child until they received a petition for child support to individuals who are abusive, neglectful or emotionally or mentally disturbed.

"With the building and service we provide, we work with the most high-risk families of this community.

"We had some really high-profile families - families you read about in the newspaper who have done awful things to their children who are referred here for supervised visitation," Marsh said.

Services also include the Therapeutic Supervised Visitation program, Monitored Exchange, Erie County Family Court Mediation Rosters and the Our Kids: A Parent Education and Awareness Program. While most are limited to residents of Erie County, the Our Kids program serves all eight counties in Western New York.

Our Kids supervisor Amy Morris said the program gives parents the ability to talk to other parents who are going though a divorce. Attorneys and referees also are available to answer questions.

"It's really important because divorces are really stressful events for parents to go through," she said.

Court orders to attend the program are not necessary and 374 parents attended it in 2010. It lasts from three to five sessions; 215 sessions were held last year.

"If you're a mom going through a divorce, it gives you a chance to listen to a dad's perspective," Morris said.

Funding issues are a constant challenge, according to Marsh.

The Erie County Family Court Dispute Resolution program, for example, was cut May 21st due to budget constraints. It allowed social workers to interview and assess both parents and then present their findings to the court.

Said Marsh: "When people go into family court, sometimes they would be represented by attorneys and it would make it a he said/she said, he said/she said - which makes it extremely difficult if not impossible for judges to really determine what would be in the best interest of the children."

She said her team worked with 96 families before the program was cut, and she expects additional cuts if the necessary funding is not provided.

"Honestly, I think it's going to get worse before it gets better because of the state of our economy and the state of our budget in our state," Marsh said.  

Athough some programs include sliding fees and some funding is provided by the state, Catholic Charities subsidizes the rest of the services, according to Marsh.

"I don't know how long they will be willing and able to do it, but they have been quite generous in supporting these services.

"I think it's because it has been recognized that this is a pretty critical population in our community. And it directly supports the idea that kids are going to have safe access to the two most important people in their lives: their parents," she said.

That's why the Catholic Charities appeal is so important, Marsh said, adding that most of the money raised in the appeal goes to fund these services.

Catholic Charities set a goal of $10.5 million for the appeal by June 30. It currently is under goal by $100,000.

"Everyone needs to be aware that this is an important element for our community," Marsh said.

"I can't think of anything more important than protecting children because if you don't, you're going to have chronic, generational problems for years and years to come."