Community Spotlight: Catholic Community Services — Strengthening Families & Supporting Northeast Philly
November is Adoption Awareness Month, and we are so excited to highlight this month’s Community Partner, Catholic Community Services (CCS). Catholic Community Services is a Community Umbrella Agency (CUA) serving the greater Philadelphia area. CCS is a dedicated organization serving families across Northeast Philadelphia with compassion, guidance, and unwavering support. I had the opportunity to sit down with Ginger Smith, Director of Prevention and Intervention Services, and Giovanni Cortez, Communications Associate, to learn more about their mission and how our community can support the vital work they do. Their team offers both case management and prevention services, with a primary focus on helping families remain together.
“We work with families whose children are in foster care, and our program is focused on reunification,” Ginger explained. “Our staff supports parents as they work toward their court-mandated goals and prepare to bring their children home.”
But CCS doesn’t stop at case management. Their prevention team offers resources, events, and support to both CCS families and the broader community, creating a network that helps families thrive long before a crisis occurs
Click this link if you would like to watch the video interview we conducted, discussing the incredible support they offer the community, and learning how to connect more with Catholic Community Services.
What Is Catholic Community Services?
Case Management & Family Reunification
CCS works with families whose children are currently in foster care, and their ultimate goal is reunification. Case management teams partner closely with parents to help them meet court-mandated goals, address the challenges that led to placement, and prepare to safely bring their children home.
At the core of CCS’s work is a commitment to strengthening families. Ginger emphasized that prevention is always the goal. “If we can catch things on the front end, that’s always a plus,” she explained. “Because once you’re in the system, it’s that much harder to get out.”
Prevention & Community Support
Beyond case management, CCS offers prevention services designed to strengthen families long before a crisis escalates. These supports include:
- Resource distribution
- Family events
- Community programs
- Access to clothing, diapers, and other essentials
Their events and programs are open not only to CCS-involved families, but to any family in the Northeast Philly community. And while their office is located in the Northeast (1926 Grant Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19115), families from all over Philadelphia can come to receive support and services.
Catholic Community Services offers a variety of ways for families to get involved and get the support they need.
Diaper Banks
Through donations, they can provide diaper banks where families can come in and collect supplies as needed.
Parent Cafes
They offer a variety of ongoing cafes for parents, foster parents, and even the kids. These cafes are a place where they can access resources, learn some new skills, and get help through challenging times.
Resource Drives
CCS also hosts multiple resource drives where you can get information and learn about more services and support offered to families in Northeast Philadelphia.
Why Catholic Community Services Matters to Northeast Philly
CCS plays a vital role in supporting:
- Families facing challenges
- Children in foster care
- Parents working toward reunification
- Community members needing basic resources
- Anyone looking for local family programs in Northeast Philly
Their mission is rooted in dignity, compassion, and strengthening families at every stage.
How to Get Involved
Macaroni KID Northeast Philly regularly posts CCS events on our community calendar, including family cafés, resource events, and seasonal drives.
We’ll continue to share ways you can:
- Attend local events
- Donate items
- Support drives and giveaways
- Share CCS resources with families who may need them
CCS has also been working on something special that you can check out for Adoption Awareness Month (and beyond!) This short film, called A Place to Belong, captures the heart of what they do every day, helping children find forever families and celebrating the beauty of adoption when reunification is not viable for the well-being of our children.
Event Details:
Date: Thursday, November 20
Time: 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Location: Catholic Community Services
Attire: Business Casual
During the event, they will be premiering the full short documentary outdoors on our big screen, community reflections, and stories from families whose lives have been changed through adoption. Watch the Trailer Here!
Looking for an upcoming way to get support or help out? Come to the 12th annual Operation Bundle Up Event on Saturday, December 6th, from 10 am - 2 pm at St. Martin of Tours Church.
CCS plays an important role in our neighborhood, and together we can help ensure every family feels supported.
If you need support or are looking to help out, make sure to check out Catholic Community Resources on their website and growing social media accounts.
