AWARE
What is AWARE?
Many of our views about people who are disadvantaged are developed through media reports and distant observations. These perspectives can be skewed and not include the myriad of causes and effects.
Catholic Charities is pleased to offer AWARE, an interactive, hands-on educational experience that helps to broaden people’s perspectives on those in need. AWARE exposes participants to realities that deepen their understanding and appreciation of the realities of life that affect our clients and guests.
Topics include exploring the challenges of people who are experiencing hunger and homelessness, people who are aging, families living in poverty, early childhood education, immigrants and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
AWARE is ideal for:
- Parish groups, including parish staff, parish councils, adult education, social justice committees, youth and other interested groups
- Corporations seeking to learn about the community while fostering teamwork and community service
- Individuals who seek to further understand social issues and take action
- Leaders-in-training in the faith community
- School-aged youth and college students
Participants can choose from the following Catholic Charities programs to learn about the realities of:
People who are hungry and experiencing homelessness:
Weinberg Housing and Resource Center
Our Daily Bread Employment Center
My Sister’s Place Women’s Center
People who are aging:
Jenkins Senior Living Community
Early childhood education:
Head Start of Baltimore City
Immigrants:
Esperanza Center
Individuals with intellectual disabilities:
Gallagher Services
State Legislative Advocacy:
Catholic Charities’ Advocacy Department
Q. How long are AWARE sessions?
A. AWARE sessions are typically 2-3 hours long, depending on the program.
Q. How many people are needed for each session?
A. Each session must have 5-8 participants. Some program sites can handle larger groups. Please contact us to see if that is an option for your group.
Q. Are there any age restrictions?
A. Generally, AWARE is for people aged 18 or older. However, it can be adapted for participants under age 18 with adult chaperones.
Q. How do I schedule an AWARE session for my group?
A. Have your group review the programs that offer AWARE and call us with a list of your top three choices. The Office of Parish Social Ministry will coordinate with you and our programs to find the best time to hold a session.
Sarah McIlvried
Social Ministry Coord., Parish Social Ministry
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
smcIlvried@cc-md.org
667-600-2020
Contact Sarah McIlvried, smcIlvried@cc-md.org, 667-600-2020
Project Aware in the News, Stories & Testimonials
St. Elizabeth earns outstanding review from regulators
Despite the ongoing national pandemic due to COVID-19, St. Elizabeth Rehabilitation and Nursing Center has received a glowing survey review from regulating authorities. The Maryland Office of Health Care Quality conducted a surprise inspection of [...]
With caution and care, bringing back services stopped by COVID in senior communities
Knowing the risk of severe illness from COVID-19 increases with age, Catholic Charities’ senior communities responded to the pandemic quickly and thoroughly, restricting gatherings and cancelling some of the in-house health services available to residents. [...]
Is telehealth here to stay?
Three months into the quarantine prompted by COVID-19, Behavioral Health Administrator Karen Haughey asked her team to think about how a sudden pivot to providing counseling and other behavioral health services online and over [...]
Advocacy helps avert cuts to projected state funding
Clients and patients who use Medicaid to pay for their care, and the professionals who care for them, will not be impacted now that the threat of a cut to projected reimbursement rates has been [...]
Catholic Charities faces significant impact from proposed state budget cuts
With the COVID-19 crisis still underway, Catholic Charities' 2021 fiscal-year budget faces a significant challenge in a newly proposed state budget. The budget cut proposal, just introduced, would leave funding for Medicaid provider rates flat [...]
Thankful for thoughtfulness
When Landsdowne Worship Center offered a bit of love to Caritas House earlier this month, the congregants thought of everything: gift bags for residents, homecooked meals for every shift of employees, and a distribution process [...]