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STEUBENVILLE -- Change is coming to the Sacred Heart Center of Hope, which will streamline services in 2022.
For the past year the Sacred Heart Center of Hope,at 430 Slack St. and under the direction of Catholic Charities of Southeastern Ohio, has housed a number of services including individual counseling, group counseling, Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, AlAnon meetings, NAMI Mental Health support groups, Triumph of the Cross’s free lunch program, the Christmas Giving tree program, the Diocese of Steubenville’s adult emergency financial assistance program, the Emergency Food and Shelter program through FEMA and other various community support and linkage programs.
Moving forward, officials say the Sacred Heart Center of Hope will continue to house all of these programs with the exception of the individual counseling program. “While program closures are always difficult, a needs assessment has indicated that other services are more greatly needed in the area at this time. There are a wealth of counseling programs in the area that can provide these services, but there aren’t as many that are in the position to provide other needed social services programs.” explained Rose Hawkinberry, Executive Director of Catholic Charities of Southeastern Ohio.
Hawkinberry said Catholic Charities will be re-directing some resources to the development of these services, the first of which will be taking on the management of the Diocese’s Project Rachel ministry. Project Rachel is a ministry of the Catholic Church to those who have been involved in abortion. It is a diocesan-based network of specially trained priests, religious, counselors, and laypersons who provide a team response of care for those suffering in the aftermath of abortion. It is open to all who seek help. The Sacred Heart Center is expected to institute this program within the next month.
“The Sacred Heart Center of Hope and Catholic Charities of Southeastern Ohio are thriving,” Hawkinberry said. “We are looking forward to serving the community through expanded programming for many years to come.”