Catholic Charities offers services to whole diocese

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
November 20, 2003

CARROLL - Catholic Charities for the Diocese of Sioux City not only has an office in Sioux City, but there are also branch offices in Carroll and Fort Dodge as well as satellites in Storm Lake and Algona. These offices allow Catholic Charities to provide services to the entire diocese.

The agency in Carroll offers the same programs that the Sioux City and Fort Dodge sites provide. The Carroll office was established in the early 1970s, commented Doreen Loeffelholz, LISW, the branch director in Carroll, who also services the Storm Lake satellite office.

Loeffelholz started with Catholic Charities in the Sioux City office as an intern her senior year at Mount Mercy College in January 1977. She worked there through May 1977, when she graduated.

"I've always wanted to be of service to people and am able to do so in my role as a social worker," said Loeffelholz. "Catholic Charities has always been open to new ideas and the development of new programs that would enhance the agency's service to others. They also respect the individuality of staff, and recognize the benefit of utilizing the strengths, expertise of the staff. They were great when I went back to school - allowed shift in schedule."

In May of 1977, Catholic Charities offered her a position in the Carroll office, and she began as a social worker. She went to graduate school at the University of Nebraska Omaha and completed her MSW in December 1992. In January 1993, Loeffelholz was promoted to the branch director position.

"I have always liked the programs that Catholic Charities provides services in," said Loeffelholz. "I like the variety of work; also, the private agency aspect (vs. government agency) has been more my preference. I like the staff 'connections' and the agency mission. I love my job, most days and plan to continue employment here."

Catholic Charities allows clients of religious affiliation or non-affiliation to utilize their services.

"I believe one's faith is at the core of who we are and is where we draw our strength," said Loeffelholz. "Of course, we respect our clients' right to self-determination. If they choose not to be active in a faith or have a relationship with a higher being, this is their right."

The Carroll office serves people from as far away as 50 miles.

"Certainly, the diocese is quite large, if you look at the 24 counties of Northwest Iowa," said Loeffelholz. "I guess one of the things the agency has tried to do is provide coverage throughout the diocese, and I think we have done a fairly good job of that. I think it is really a benefit for the people in these areas. While we serve people of any faith, Carroll County is predominantly Catholic, so a fairly large percentage of the population in the diocese is in this county."

The family service program works with individuals, couples and families. The maternity program works with birth parents dealing with unplanned pregnancies. Another program they provide is the adoption program in which the agency works with couples or families who are interested in building their families through adoption.

"There are some additional components to the work that we do," said Loeffelholz. "We have contracts with the department of human services to do various work for them. We work actually in the diocesan program, with the tribunal, primarily with Cana II and annulment evaluations."

Another program that people of the diocese can take advantage of is Project Rachel, post-abortion counseling. According to Loeffelholz, this is a program that isn't utilized very often, but it has been accessed a few times in Carroll.

Loeffelholz grew up in O'Neill, Neb. and went to Catholic schools, grade and high school at St. Mary's. She is currently a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) and a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers (ACSW). She lives in Halbur and is a member of St. Augustine Parish.