Advocacy

What the Program Offers

The Office of Social Policy distributes legislative alerts on topics of concern to Catholics through the weekly e-mail newsletter, Salt & Light. Contact Marcus Ebenhoe at mebenhoe@cfcrochester.org to sign up or visit our archive to read the most recent editions.

Other opportunities to become involved in advocating for change to the systems and structures of our society that prevent individuals from enjoying full dignity and freedom include:

• Diocese of Rochester, Public Policy Committee (DPPC)
• The League of Women Voters has a comprehensive resource for contacting elected officials at all levels of government.
• Monroe County
• New York State
  • Find your Assembly member
  • Find your NY State Senator
• United States
  • Find your Representative in the House
  • Charles Schumer
    • DC Address:
      322 Hart Senate Office Bldg.
      Washington, DC 20510
      Phone: (202) 224-6542
    • Local Address:
      100 State Street, Room 3040
      Rochester, NY 14614
      Phone: (585) 263-5866
      Fax: (585) 263-3173
    • Online:
      Contact: www.schumer.senate.gov/contact
  • Kirsten Gillibrand
    • DC Address:
      478 Russell Senate Office Bldg.
      Washington DC 20510
      Phone: (202) 224-6542
    • Local Address:
      100 State Street, Room 4195
      Rochester, NY 14614
      Phone: (585) 263-6250
      Fax: (585) 263-6247
    • Online:
      Contact: www.gillibrand.senate.gov/contact

Learn more about Catholic Advocacy Organizations

• USCCB Action Center
• USCCB Justice For Immigrants
• NETWORK
• New York State Catholic Conference
• Catholic Relief Services
• Pax Christi
• Franciscan Action Network

About the Program

Our charter mission statement calls Family and Community Services to "persistent advocacy for the poor and vulnerable." In addition to providing high quality services and programs, our Catholic Charities agency is committed to also working to address the root causes of poverty. Our administrative and departmental leaders are responsible for keeping a balance between services and advocacy in our work.

Key Issues

Each department addresses issues relating to the population of clients they serve, often in collaboration with other agencies and coalitions. Family and Community Services also develops and puts in place a strategy each year to advocate for agency-wide issues impacting our clients and programs.

Issues on the current Family and Community Services Advocacy Agenda include

• NY State Budget Priorities
  • Address the chronic underfunding of mental health and substance use disorder programs, especially with their increased acuity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Protect programs that save money and assist our clients, e.g. Kinship Care, Preventive Care, Supportive Housing, EISEP and STAR programs for older adults, etc.
  • Support the inclusion of a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for employees in the budget for state funded programs.
• Monroe County Department of Human Services
  • Increase funding for subsidies for quality childcare for low-income working families

Some other agency-wide issues that are often the focus of advocacy include increasing the number of refugees that can be resettled in the US; developing safe and affordable housing; addressing the "benefits cliff," which can be a barrier to sustained employment; and continued funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

About the Program

We provide local support for the work of Catholic Charities USA, The New York State Catholic Conference and the U.S Conference of Catholic Bishops, especially in the areas of advocacy, collections for Catholic Relief Services' (CRS) Rice Bowl and the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.

What the Program Offers

• Faith in Action Network – Greater Rochester Community of Churches
• Rochester Alliance of Communities Transforming Society
• New York State Catholic Conference
• Catholic Campaign for Human Development: National Grants
• Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD): Local Grants
  
  • For more information contact CCHD Coordinator Marcus Ebenhoe at (585) 546-7220 x6202 or mebenhoe@cfcrochester.org.
• Catholic Charities USA
• Catholic Relief Services (CRS) & Operation Rice Bowl
  • Contact Diocesan CRS Coordinator Kathy Dubel with questions or to order CRS Rice Bowl materials: kdubel@dor.org or 607-734-9784 ext. 2135.