Change A Heart is pleased to announce its participation in a first-ever study on the impact of a faith-based service year. Conducted by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA), the study looked at more than 5,000 men and women in Catholic Volunteer Network member organizations, including 35 percent of Change A Heart alumni.
Catholic Volunteer Network (CVN) is a membership organization that provides best practices for faith-based service programs across the country. Change A Heart has been a member of CVN since its founding nearly 15 years ago and also provides Change A Heart with its AmeriCorps affiliation.
Survey results were released at CVN’s annual conference in November. For the full report, contact Kelly Caddy, Change A Heart director.
A sponsored ministry of the Sisters of St. Francis, Change A Heart Franciscan Volunteer Program is a 12-month service experience that empowers young adults to live simply in community while serving a vulnerable population. Some of the ways this year’s young people are serving others through their ministries include:
• Going out into the streets of Pittsburgh on a weekly basis to provide health screenings for persons who might live there and be subjected to the harsh weather.
• Teaching high school seniors to mentor ninth graders and provide after school program support in a school with students who have a history of poor attendance, are testing at a year or more behind grade level, or have low motivation or disinterest in school.
• Providing a warm daily meal for those who don’t know where their next meal is coming from and supplemental food items to everyone from infants to a growing number of senior adults.
Learn more about the Change A Heart Franciscan Volunteer Program.
Story by Kelly Caddy, Change A Heart director
