New Leadership

Chris Nolan now leads Catholic Charities of Lee, Hendry and Glades Counties

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice, Inc. hired Christine Nolan to oversee all programs and services in Lee, Hendry and Glades counties. Nolan will be responsible for the overall management, program operations, budget administration and project development for five office locations.

The social service centers provide prevention, support and service coordination activities that include after school tutoring and summer youth programs; emergency financial and infant/toddler assistance; financial literacy counseling; immigration services; a human trafficking initiative; refugee services; senior services; drug/alcohol, youth and family counseling; job readiness and placement; citizenship and language classes; food and clothing distribution; and an HIV/AIDS ministry.

Nolan obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Miami in counseling psychology and a Master of Social Work degree from Barry University. She recently was employed as a consultant to the Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Miami. Prior to that, she was the Executive Director for Senior Connections of Southwest Florida for Collier, Hendry and Glades counties; Director of Family Services for Switchboard of Miami, Inc.; Associate Director for the Crisis/Suicide Hotline for First Call For Help of Broward, Inc.; and the Executive Director of Body Positive Resource Center, Inc. in Miami.

Nolan was raised in a mission-driven and devout Catholic family. “My grandmother ran a parish rectory back in the day when she did everything for the priests that lived there. She worked six days a week from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m.,” said Nolan. “She taught me that you can’t get behind something if you don’t believe in it. In other words, don’t take a job for the sake of a paycheck. I believe in the mission of Catholic Charities. It parallels my own philosophical beliefs.”

In the months that Nolan has worked for Catholic Charities of Lee County she has strived to develop several partnerships within the community. “My vision is to put more measurable services in place that deliver more impact,” Nolan said. “I want clients to have more of a hand up than a hand out.”

Catholic Charities of Lee County is now working with Consumer Credit Counseling, Inc. to train staff to offer a financial literacy seminar to clients who receive financial assistance for rent, utilities, prescription medicine, food or clothing. “The poor are being exploited by some businesses and this will help them to be more aware,” said Nolan. For example, one client was charged 35% interest on a loan for a used car.

Collaboration with Goodwill Industries to provide vocational assessment, job training and placement for Catholic Charities clients, along with English (as a second language) and Citizenship classes through the Literacy Council of Lee County are two more examples of community involvement on Nolan’s part. “These partnerships are pathways to citizenship and self sufficiency for our clients,” Nolan said.

The Haitian Center of Catholic Charities in Fort Myers is working with Bishop Verot High School as a designated site for an after school tutoring program.  Bishop Verot teachers and students assist with tutoring and mentoring services. The Princeton Review, a consultant group contracted with the Department of Education, also collaborates with the tutoring program to assist those students who attend failing public schools in Lee County.

Through a federal grant and in partnership with the Lee County Sheriff’s Department, the United States Attorney’s Office, and Florida Gulf Coast University, Catholic Charities offers a new Human Trafficking and Human Slavery Program for victims of human trafficking whether it is through indentured servitude for labor or sexual slavery.

The new Positive Family Relationship Program at the Catholic Charities office in Bonita Springs is made possible by a $60,000 donation from the Galeana Family Foundation for adolescent and family counseling. “This intervention program creates positive family relationships and is founded on a research based program called ‘Parents Who Care,” said Nolan.

In Hendry and Glades counties, Catholic Charities will work with the United Way on the 211 information referral system, The Salvation Army for a food pantry in LaBelle, and local health departments for HIV/AIDS services in Clewiston and LaBelle. “The parishes in those two counties, Our Lady Queen of Heaven and St. Margaret, also are partnering with us and have been very supportive of Catholic Charities,” Nolan said.

Also on the list of new services for Catholic Charities of Lee County is a telephone reassurance program for homebound or isolated elderly. Registered clients receive a phone call the same time every day to find out how they are doing and if they need anything. “I have worked with a program like this in the past and it is very effective and successful,” said Nolan.

Finally, Nolan works with Publix to offer a “second harvest” of free bread and baked goods. In the lobby of the Catholic Charities offices in Fort Myers and Bonita Springs, the items are displayed in large baskets in the waiting area. “I want people to see and believe that we are here for them and this is just a little something they can take home,” she said. “It’s a small gesture but it indicates that we care.”

For more information about Catholic Charities of Lee, Hendry and Glades counties call 239-337-4193.