This report examines the activities of the organizations that are part of Catholic Charities USA, one of the largest networks of human service providers in the United States. The information is from the 1996 Annual Survey, which is fielded by the national office of Catholic Charities USA to provide a national picture of the varied activities and programs provided by its local affiliates. The survey response rate in 1996 was 96 percent. More than 1,400 agencies and residential facilities provided detailed information on their social and emergency service programs, social action activities, financial resources, personnel, and parish social ministry. This report presents an overview of findings on the national level. State-level information is available in a companion report entitled, "Catholic Charities USA 1996 State Profiles" (Flynn and Benali 1997).

  Findings from the Catholic Charities USA Annual Survey, now in its 25th year, serve to inform local staff and volunteers of the activities in other agencies; connect practitioners who have similar interests and concerns; identify and track aggregate trends in activities and programs; and provide comprehensive information to others interested in the work of Catholic Charities USA.

Social and Emergency Service Programs

  In 1996, an estimated 12.8 million people were served by Catholic Charities local agencies: over 4.8 million through social service programs and 7.9 million through emergency assistance programs. Between 1995 and 1996, the total number of unduplicated clients served rose by 18 percent, while the units of service provided, such as meals served and nights of shelter, grew more slowly.

  Health-related care has become the largest social service program for Catholic Charities. The number of clients served was 1.4 million in 1996, triple the number in 1995. Other programs that expanded between 1995 and 1996 were permanent housing (up 20 percent), foster care, group homes, and other residential care (up 18 percent), social support (up 14 percent), and education and family support (up 12 percent). Services with a stable clientele over the past two years included socialization and neighborhood services, refugee resettlement and immigration services, and counseling. There was a drop in the number of clients served in pregnancy programs (down 23 percent) and adoption programs (down 6 percent).

  More than half of responding agencies began new social service programs last year, and a quarter discontinued at least one program. Almost two-thirds of respondents maintained waiting lists for social services (other than adoption services). An estimated 21 percent of the 4.8 million social service clients were children and adolescents, and only 27 percent were recipients of government welfare assistance, such as Aid to Families with Dependent Children, Medicaid, Supplementary Security Income, or food stamps.

  The number of people receiving emergency assistance through Charities agencies rose from 7.2 million in 1995 to 7.9 million in 1996. Almost all of the increase was in clients requesting food. An estimated 5.7 million clients received food assistance through soup kitchens, food banks, and other food distribution programs. In addition, the number of meals served in soup kitchens rose from 12.8 million in 1995 to 13.5 million in 1996.

  Temporary shelter assistance was provided to 241,583 people in 1996, and 2.1 million people received other forms of assistance during times of crisis. One-fourth of these clients came to Catholic Charities agencies for clothing; another fourth sought referrals for services in the community; another fourth needed temporary financial assistance. The remaining services included case management, help with utilities, medications, emergency assistance for physically or sexually abused people, and disaster response services.

  Overall, 21 percent of the 7.9 million emergency service clients were children and adolescents, and 43 percent were recipients of government welfare assistance programs.

Social Action

  Social action, community organization, and parish social ministry are an integral part of the work of Catholic Charities local agencies in their efforts to change the conditions that cause hunger, homelessness, and family distress. Ninety percent of respondents are involved in activities to empower communities and promote social justice at the local, state, and national levels. The most frequently reported social and public policy concern in 1996 was the welfare reform legislation.

  Staff and volunteers in local agencies also made an effort to connect with other social service agencies in their communities as reflected in commitments of 6,116 staff and volunteers who serve on other community boards, professional review committees, and governing bodies. Three-quarters of responding agencies were involved in community organization in 1996, primarily focusing on income security, welfare reform, and social security concerns, and targeting pregnant teenagers, refugees and immigrants, and other special groups. Catholic Charities agencies were involved in parish social ministry in 4,928 parishes, almost all of which worked ecumenically in providing social ministry services.

Staffing

  In 1996, a total of 282,926 people performed the myriad activities identified in the report. They include 46,143 paid staff members, 227,239 volunteers, and 9,544 board members. More than half were women, and 14 percent were people of color. Fifty-six percent of volunteers received some special training from Catholic Charities agencies.

Revenues and Expenditures

  In 1996, the total income received by local Catholic Charities agencies was $2.15 billion: $2.1 billion from cash contributions and $51 million from in-kind contributions. This represents an increase of $161 million between 1995 and 1996, or 8 percent.

  Sixty-four percent of cash contributions were from federal, state, and local government agencies, 13 percent from client program service fees, 7 percent from community contributions, 5 percent from the Church, 4 percent from the United Way and the Combined Federal Campaign, and 2 percent from investments. Agencies expended 98 percent of all cash income in 1996, primarily for personnel, direct program expenses, and emergency cash assistance.