“Catholic Charities” refers to the Office within the Diocesan Department of Social Concerns responsible for carrying out the responsibilities and activities of the Diocese of Youngstown Catholic Charities Corporation (DOYCCC). The DOYCCC is a Member Corporation whose Chairman is the diocesan bishop, and whose affiliate agencies include the following:

Catholic Charities of Ashtabula County
Catholic Charities Serving Portage and Stark Counties
Catholic Charities Regional Agency, serving Columbiana, Mahoning & Trumbull Counties

Each of the three DOYCCC affiliate agencies is a separately incorporated 501(c)(3) organization with its own local Board of Directors, administrative leadership, and staff. Certain reserved powers related to the governance of the affiliate agencies are reserved for the diocesan bishop in accordance with the DOYCCC and affiliate agencies’ Codes of Regulations.

The functional role of the DOYCCC is to coordinate and oversee the provision of social and housing services throughout the Diocese of Youngstown to ensure that the mission shared among the affiliate agencies is fulfilled: to provide service to people in need, to advocate for justice in social structures, and to call the entire Church and other people of good will to do the same. The DOYCCC convenes the affiliate agencies on a regular basis to pray, dialogue, plan, share ideas and resources, and explore new initiatives. The DOYCCC also offers technical and administrative assistance in the areas of fund raising, marketing, development, parish relations, board and staff training, and formation.

Through a partnership with Catholic Charities, Diocese of Cleveland, Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Youngstown offers low cost immigration assistance for applications filed with U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and representation in Immigration Court.

Services Provided

We provide affordable legal counseling and representation in a wide-range of immigration matters including:

• Immigration Consultations Services
• Family-based petitions
• Citizenship/Naturalization Applications
• Applications to adjust status/permanent residency
• Work Authorization
• Protection Based Claims including: Asylum, Withholding of Removal, Protection under the Convention Against Torture
• Visas for victims including: U Visas for victims of serious crimes, T Visas for victims of trafficking, VAWA for victims of domestic violence
• Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
• Immigrant visa processing/consular processing
• Inadmissibility waiver applications
• Temporary Protected Status
• Immigration Court Representation

Services can be provided in a variety of languages. All matters are treated professionally and confidentially.

Clients are charged nominal service fees, which may be reduced or waived according to financial need. The consultation fee is $40. Additional fees may be required depending on the service requested. At the conclusion of the consultation, clients will be informed of all the services that will be performed by the agency and the fees required.

Please bring:

• All documents related to your immigration legal needs
• Consultation fee of $40

Obtaining an ILS consultation does not guarantee that we will be able to assist you with your case or represent you at your immigration court hearing. However, it is an opportunity for you to speak with a licensed attorney experienced in handling immigration matters.

Our office works hard to assist every client that requests representation. However, we are limited in the number of people we can assist and the types of cases we can take. At the conclusion of your consultation, the attorney will explain to you what your options are and whether or not our office will be able to assist you.

Location

The main location for services in the Diocese of Youngstown is located at 225 Elm Street, Youngstown, Ohio 44503.  Appointment arrangements can also be made at any of our Catholic Charities service sites located in our six-county diocese.

Appointments are required, and must be scheduled in advance
by calling 330-599-4314.

Our Mandate
• To share a Catholic presence, and visit every Catholic incarcerated in institutions within our diocese.
• To celebrate the sacraments.
• To provide a welcoming and supportive setting for those returning from incarceration

Our Mission
To share the love and consolation of Jesus Christ to those incarcerated by bringing a living message of God’s love and forgiveness, and through our presence, prayers and communications offer a sense of trust and hope.

Our Scope
The Diocese of Youngstown covers six counties in Northeast Ohio: Mahoning, Trumbull, Columbiana, Stark, Portage, and Ashtabula. Institutional facilities include county jails, juvenile detention facilities. Prisons include Ohio State Penitentiary (OSP), Trumbull Correctional Institution (TCI) and Camp (TCC), Lake Erie Correctional Institution (LAECI) Northeast Ohio Correctional Center (NEOCC), and Federal facilities FCI Elkton and FCC Elkton.

Inside Facility Programs: Our programs vary depending on the facility. Typical programs include RCIA/Catechism classes, Catholic studies, Scripture readings and discussion, devotional prayer and rosary. In addition, we offer weekly communion services and Masses and Reconciliation, if possible. Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist are available at several institutions. When possible we offer our programs and resources in both English and Spanish languages.

Support for returning citizens and their families: Saint Maximilian Kolbe Society (SMKS) provides spiritual support to returning citizens through a network of parish-based volunteers from throughout the diocese. We strive to be a loving, welcoming, inclusive community of believers, ministering to the formerly incarcerated and their families by bringing the message of God’s unconditional love and a sense of hope to those we serve. We will share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, celebration of liturgies, reception of sacraments and, study of our Catholic faith, and Holy Scripture. This ministry is grounded in the Gospel and Catholic social teachings. The programs will include elements of Worship, Faith Sharing and Open Sharing.

If requested, we will share available contact information for reentry organizations that address secular needs (e.g. housing, jobs, and clothing).
General Reentry assistance is managed through Catholic Charities Regional Agency

For further information contact Coordinator for Prison Ministry at (330) 744-8451, ext. 327 or email wbarber@youngstowndiocese.org.