Every March, the National Catholic School of Social Service (NCSSS) celebrates Social Work Month with a lunch for faculty, students, and friends in Curley Hall. This year, NCSSS highlighted its continued partnership with Catholic Charities DC and its Compass Scholars program with speeches from Dean Regan, President and CEO of Catholic Charities DC Jim Malloy, Catholic Charities Compass program director Regena Humphries, and an incredibly moving speech by Pope Francis Scholar Emely Fortiz.
The Pope Francis Scholarship is a graduate student scholarship from Catholic Charities to attend the National Catholic School of Social Service at The Catholic University of America. During their time as students and Pope Francis Scholars, they will complete their field placement at Catholic Charities working as interns in the Compass program. After graduating, they will become employees of Catholic Charities. To date, 28 MSW students have participated in the program. The majority that have graduated are still employed with Catholic Charities.
The Compass program is a neighborhood-based mobile team that provides intensive case management services to adults in D.C.’s Wards 7 and 8. Compass Scholars help individuals and families achieve their goals as they navigate from scarcity to resiliency. With the motto “Navigated by You,” Compass participants direct their interaction with the program and work toward their own goals. A Compass partner accompanies them on their journey.
NCSSS is blessed to have such a strong and collaborative relationship with Catholic Charities and we look forward to future collaboration.
