Dear Northwest Catholic Counseling Center Community:
Spring greetings! We hope this season brings a sense of renewal and hope to you and your family.
We write to you today to provide an update on a change to the governing structure of The Northwest Catholic Counseling (NCC), and to reaffirm our commitment to Catholic Social Justice values on which we were founded and continue to thrive.
The NCC organizational structure has included a Member Corporation, which is a model that some not-for-profit organizations adopt when historically associated with a religious order. In the case of NCC, our Member Corporation included our three founders, all members of the Servants of Mary – Sister Sarah Deeby, OSM, Sister Barbara Kennedy, OSM, and Sister Lisa Sheridan, OSM. Sisters Sarah and Barbara worked at the Center until 2019 when they were called to the Mother House in Omaha to take on leadership responsibilities in the Servants of Mary community. Since that time, all three members have continued to support the center, acting as guardians of NCC’s mission and vision.
Earlier this year, the Sisters requested that the Member Corporation be removed from NCC’s structure as their current ministries have required a great deal of their time and energy and have physically distanced them from the center and its daily activities.
The Board of Directors is saddened by this development but buoyed that the members have placed confidence in us to carry on their mission and uphold the Catholic Social Justice teachings that have provided a strong foundation since the center first opened its doors 36 years ago. Please be assured that this governance change will not alter any of the day-to-day activities or the work of our excellent staff in providing counseling and serving clients.
As we communicate this news, we also want to take a moment to restate our Catholic Social Justice values and how we implement them. NCC’s mission is to support and strengthen our community by providing professional mental health services to all, regardless of faith or finances.
We are committed to advancing justice and believe that all people, regardless of social, economic,
or religious circumstances have a right to and should have access to professional mental health counseling. We serve a wide variety of people and have a special commitment to women and children, who often bear the greatest weight of the dual burdens of poverty and mental health issues.
We are committed to compassion – nurturing hope and healing in each person we encounter. This encompasses clients, staff members, and the broader community.
Further, we are committed to collaboration, partnering with clients, the community, and our staff to deliver excellence in the form of the highest level of care for all.
If you have any questions about the governance structure, NCC operations, or program services, please don’t hesitate to contact Erin Peters, Executive Director, at [email protected].
We thank you once again for your continued support of The Northwest Catholic Counseling and its mission, especially in these times when the need for quality mental health services has never been greater. You are critical to our success, and we look forward to continuing to grow with your support.
Best wishes,
The Northwest Catholic Counseling Center Board of Directors
Christine Tracey, MBA, JD, Board President
Mary Tobin, Vice President
Antonio Gomez, MBA, MSME, Treasurer
Cheryl Carbone, MS, Secretary
Nancie Potter, JD, LMFT, Past President
Carla Gonzales
Marita Keys, LMHC
Msgr. Rick Paperini
Ken Willett
Erin Peters, ex officio
