ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Nathan T. Rauschendorfer, LICSW, Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, in House testimony yesterday, called on Congress to design a national fatherhood program model that provides greater support for low-income fathers and addresses the many barriers that keep low-income fathers from employment and families in poverty.

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"There are so many more needs for the families we serve, and so many more families who have unmet needs in our community," said Rauschendorfer. "Families should not have to decide between going to work to keep their job, staying home to keep their kids safe, or putting food on the table.  It's not just about fathers, but about their children and the full family."

Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis is one of the Twin Cities' prominent social service providers, working to strengthen families and meet the needs of the community. The Dad's Connection Fatherhood Program has been in place for more than 16 years and is centered on the notion that children, and their dads, have a better chance in life if they are connected.  

In its Centennial year, Catholic Charities USA, the national office for local Catholic Charities agencies,

is committed to promoting and enhancing programs that support fathers, preserve families, and strengthen communities. For more information, visit http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/fatherhood.

Catholic Charities USA's members — more than 1,700 local Catholic Charities agencies and institutions nationwide — provide help and create hope for over 9 million people a year regardless of religious, social, or economic backgrounds. For almost 300 years, Catholic Charities agencies have worked to reduce poverty by providing a myriad of vital services in their communities, ranging from health care and job training to food and housing. In 2010, Catholic Charities USA celebrates its centennial anniversary. For more information, visit www.CatholicCharitiesUSA.org.

SOURCE Catholic Charities USA

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