CCHD MISSION STATEMENT The Catholic Campaign for Human Development is the domestic anti-poverty, social justice program of the U.S. Catholic Bishops. Its mission is to address the root causes of poverty in America through promotion and support of community-controlled, self-help organizations and through transformative education Transformative education or transformative learning is an emerging methodology that involves personal experiences and reflection on those experiences in ways that expand self-awareness and world view.  Transformative education influences a person’s beliefs, their assumptions about others and as a consequence, affects one’s behavior.  When implemented by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD), transformative education includes prayerful reflection and action for justice that is rooted in faith. CCHD utilizes transformative education processes to extend awareness of poverty beyond statistics and political discourse.  Rather, CCHD seeks to convey the human reality of poverty in the United States, and as stated in its education mandate, “to impress these facts on the non-poor and to effect in them a conversion of heart, a growth in compassion and sensitivity to the needs of their brothers and sisters in want.”  Two examples of CCHD’s transformative education processes are the Journey to Justice retreat and Catholic Social Teaching and Economic Life (CSTEL) seminar. . Founded in 1969, CCHD's pastoral strategy of empowerment of the poor through a methodology of participation and education for justice, leading toward solidarity between poor and non-poor is impelled by the Church's biblical tradition, modern Catholic social teaching, and the pervasive presence of poverty in the United States.  This ministry for justice is rooted in our baptism and faith commitment. The grants, economic development and education for justice programs of the Campaign, implemented in collaboration with local dioceses, is supported from an annual collection in U.S. Catholic parishes. Approved by the USCC/CCHD Committee November 1992		CCHD’S EDUCATION MANDATE A second major goal of the [Catholic] Campaign for Human Development is educational.  The poor have not chosen poverty.  Poverty is the result of circumstances over which the poor themselves have little or no control.  We hope through the [Catholic] Campaign for Human Development to impress these facts on the non-poor and to effect in them a conversion of heart, a growth in compassion and sensitivity to the needs of their brothers [and sisters] in want. NCCB Resolution, November 1970   Resources Lent Resources For Youth and Young Adults Poverty Education Journey to Justice Catholic Social teaching and Economic Life Catholic Social Teaching For CCHD Directors (requires password) PovertyUSA JustFaith Partnership The Partnership 40th Anniversary Focus 5 Things to do Testimonials CCHD Promotional Items Hot Links

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