By Eileen Jevis, staff writer
Funding Helps Students Succeed
When a child goes to school hungry, suffers with physical or mental health issues, family turmoil or housing insecurity, concentrating on academics is a challenge. The lack of adequate nutrition, medical care, clothing and other basic needs disrupts learning and social development which can lead to students feeling overwhelmed and disengaged. It may contribute to high anxiety, misbehavior, or chronic absenteeism.
In the Syracuse Diocese, a significant number of Catholic school students are eligible for free and reduced-cost lunches based on economic need. This was a qualifying factor in the diocese receiving funding from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation in 2019. The foundation is one of the largest in the United States and the largest charitable foundation focused exclusively on healthcare across New York State. The grant expires at the end of this year.
Frances Xavier Cabrini (1850-1917) was an Italian American Catholic religious sister who founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. She established 67
orphanages, hospitals and schools throughout the U.S., Latin America and Europe. In recognition of her holiness and service to mankind Mother Cabrini was canonized a saint on July 7, 1946 by Pope Pius XII.
To honor her legacy, the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation was established in 2018 to improve access to healthcare for vulnerable New Yorkers. Recognizing the need to assist and support children in the Diocese, former schools superintendent William Crist applied for and received funding from the organization. To date, students and families at Cathedral Academy at Pompei, Blessed Sacrament and Most Holy Rosary receive much-needed services.
“The original grant proposal addressed deficits in social determinants of health (SDOH),” explained Kevin Reimer, coordinator of Schools Grants & Scholarship at the Catholic Schools Office. “While the schools do a great job with school-based learning and peer relationships, they are not as well equipped to deal with basic needs.” Reimer said that the former superintendent’s idea was to address child SDOH deficits through a teacher referral system to identify students in distress and provide extra help. In partnership with Catholic Charities of Onondaga County, the Child Health and Wellness pilot program was formed.
Proposal to partnership to practice
“The Kabulete family arrived in Syracuse from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Pierre Kabulete was a nurse in his country before traveling with his wife and children to the United States,” explained Reimer. He is currently a student at Syracuse University, supported by his spouse who spends long hours at work as they strive to build a better life for themselves and their community. “The Cathedral Academy at Pompei has embraced the family who are grateful to be able to send their children to a Catholic school. They are a wonderful example of the success realized through this effective collaboration,” said Reimer.
The pilot program has made a positive impact in the three schools it serves. “When we received a call from Kevin to see if we could partner with the school’s office, to combine our energies to assist students and families that are struggling, those are the phone calls we wait for,” said Mike Melara, executive director of Catholic Charities.
Catholic Charities provides emergency services, access to food pantries, and multiple other support programs to nearly 13,000 people a year in six counties to help build capacity and stabilize individuals and families across the region. “So, this partnership with the Catholic Schools Office perfectly aligns to our mission,” said Melara.
“The goal was to come up with a mechanism by which teachers, because of their wonderful and trust-filled relationship with kids, could make a referral and address the needs of the children in their classes,” explained Reimer. Reimer said that often, it is the teachers who see the social determinants of health that are present and hinder a child’s ability to learn due to hunger or housing insecurity.
“Our teachers play a vital role in fostering student success,” added Sherri Stone, principal of Most Holy Rosary School. “They build strong relationships throughout the day, allowing them to identify emotional and health needs as well as academic challenges.” Stone said that by referring students to additional resources, they can receive comprehensive support needed to develop and prosper.
The Mother Cabrini grant is a beacon of hope for their students by providing extra support that empowers them to thrive, said Stone. “This grant recognizes that positive results require a village, and it equips families to become active partners in their children’s education and mental health, creating a winning partnership for student success.”
The agencies are hopeful that the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation continues to support the Child Health and Wellness Partnership Program so they can expand the services to the diocesan elementary schools throughout the seven counties. “Students are the reason we are educators,” said Reimer. “Each child teaches us something about the legacy of this work – young people made in God’s image that will grow into their unique vocations. It is a sacred privilege to share in this development process. We are enormously fortunate to have had the support from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation so we can continue to position our students for success.”
