Sarah Mitchell
Catholic Relief Services is an international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. It was founded in 1943 to serve migrants and refugees and has since expanded to reach over 200 million people in more than 100 countries. The organisation provides emergency assistance and aid to those in need, regardless of race, religion or nationality. Catholic Relief Services has been praised for its financial transparency and accountability to donors, with 93% of its expenditures going directly to programs. The organisation has also been criticised by Catholic groups for its approach to education regarding contraception and same-sex marriage. Catholic Relief Services implements a range of protection activities in its work, striving to strengthen family life, ensure access to support and education, and increase legal protection. It also advocates for the strengthening of systems to prevent and respond to violence and abuse against children and vulnerable adults.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Risk Management & Compliance | Preventive, detective, and management controls |
| Data Protection | Protection of data of beneficiaries, donors, employees, and other constituents |
| Financial Transparency | Financial accountability, careful stewardship of resources, and publication of financial reports |
| Humanitarian Aid | Humanitarian aid for those fleeing violence in Ukraine, and disaster relief in the Caribbean |
| Child Protection | Strengthening protection systems at the community level, educating children on abuse prevention, and promoting family-based care |
| Advocacy | Strengthening systems to prevent and respond to violence and abuse, promoting child/human rights, and participating in international advocacy networks |
| Trauma Healing and Psychosocial Support | Developing and supporting psychosocial work on trauma awareness and response through training and education |
| Efficiency | Strict standards of efficiency, with 93% of expenditures going directly to programs |
| Governance | Governed by a board of directors comprising clergy, bishops, and Catholic lay men and women |
| Global Reach | Presence in more than 100 countries on five continents, serving over 200 million people |
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What You'll Learn
Staff training and accountability
In 2014, CRS implemented a comprehensive protection policy, which included a contractual agreement for all staff to receive training and be accountable for protecting individuals from harm, including physical, psychological, and sexual abuse, as well as exploitation. This policy underscores the organisation's dedication to mainstreaming protection activities across its diverse programming.
CRS advocates for strengthening systems that prevent and address violence and abuse against vulnerable populations, including children and adults. They actively participate in international advocacy networks, such as InterAction and the Community Child Protection Exchange, to amplify their impact. Additionally, CRS provides guidance on protection issues to dioceses and parishes in the United States, promoting family-based care over orphanages.
CRS also integrates protection issues into its health-related work, particularly for orphans and vulnerable children. They implement projects that focus on abuse prevention, such as strengthening community-level protection systems, and provide direct support to individuals, empowering them with knowledge on preventing and mitigating abuse.
Furthermore, CRS recognises the importance of trauma healing and psychosocial support. They have contributed to the development and support of psychosocial initiatives focused on trauma awareness and response through training and education. This aspect of their work complements their broader commitment to protecting and assisting vulnerable individuals.
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Strengthening community protection systems
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is an international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. It was founded in 1943 by the Catholic Bishops of the United States to serve World War II survivors in Europe. CRS has since expanded its reach to more than 200 million people in over 100 countries across five continents.
CRS has implemented one of the most far-reaching protection policies of any international organisation, with a contractual agreement requiring all staff to receive training and be held accountable for protecting children and vulnerable adults from harm, including physical or psychological abuse and exploitation.
To strengthen community protection systems, CRS advocates for civil society, as well as the public and private sectors, to strengthen systems that prevent and respond to violence and abuse against children and vulnerable adults. They promote child and human rights, linking personal security with advocacy at the international level to create conditions for long-term peace and stability. They also participate in international advocacy networks, such as InterAction and the Community Child Protection Exchange.
In the United States, CRS provides guidance on protection issues to dioceses and parishes that independently "twin" with programs in Haiti and other countries, promoting family-based care over orphanages. They also implement a range of activities related to protection in health, particularly for orphans and vulnerable children within communities. These projects may include interventions related to abuse prevention, such as strengthening community-level protection systems, or providing direct support and education to children and vulnerable adults on abuse prevention and mitigation.
CRS is committed to examining ways to strengthen the social service workforce within countries focusing on orphaned and highly vulnerable children to promote program sustainability and integral human development.
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Education on abuse prevention
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is committed to protecting children and vulnerable adults from harm. This involves strengthening family life, ensuring equal access to support, eliminating child labour and trafficking, and increasing legal protection for issues such as property rights, inheritance, and security.
CRS has implemented a wide-reaching protection policy that includes a contractual agreement for all staff to receive training and be accountable for protecting service users from harm, including physical, psychological, and sexual abuse, as well as exploitation.
In the context of disaster relief, CRS considers protection issues within all of its programs, with links to other Caritas programs. In the United States, for example, they provide guidance to dioceses and parishes that independently "twin" with programs in Haiti and elsewhere, promoting family-based care over orphanages.
CRS also implements a range of activities related to protection in its health work, particularly for orphans and other vulnerable children at the community level. These projects may highlight interventions related to abuse prevention, such as strengthening community-level protection systems, or providing direct support to service users by educating them on abuse prevention and mitigation.
In addition to its internal protection policies, CRS advocates for civil society, as well as the public and private sectors, to strengthen systems that prevent and respond to violence and abuse against children and vulnerable adults. They also advocate for the promotion of child and human rights, recognising that linking personal security with advocacy at the international level can foster long-term peace and stability.
CRS also addresses abuse through trauma healing and psychosocial work. They have supported and helped develop psychosocial work on trauma awareness and response through training and education.
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Advocacy for child/human rights
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is an international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. It was founded in 1943 by the Catholic Bishops of the United States to serve World War II survivors in Europe, and has since expanded to reach more than 200 million people in over 100 countries across five continents.
CRS is committed to protecting children and vulnerable adults from harm and upholding the dignity of human life. This involves advocating for civil society, as well as the public and private sectors, to strengthen systems that prevent and respond to violence and abuse. They are members of international advocacy networks, such as InterAction and the Community Child Protection Exchange.
In its advocacy for child/human rights, CRS works to mainstream protection activities across all countries and programs. This includes strengthening family life, ensuring equal access to support and resources, and eliminating child labour and trafficking. They also provide guidance on protection issues to dioceses and parishes in the United States, promoting family-based care over orphanages.
In addition to their advocacy work, CRS implements a range of activities related to protection and abuse prevention in their health programs, particularly for orphans and vulnerable children. They also integrate protection issues for children and vulnerable adults into broader packages of support, such as in their responses to emergencies and natural disasters.
CRS is committed to financial transparency and accountability to donors, with 93% of expenditures going directly to programs. They publish an Annual Report and strive to ensure that donations are used effectively and efficiently to make a lifesaving difference.
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Trauma awareness and response
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is an international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. It was founded in 1943 by the Catholic Bishops of the United States to serve World War II survivors in Europe. Since its inception, CRS has expanded its reach to more than 200 million people across 100 countries on five continents. The organisation's mission is to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas, upholding the sacredness and dignity of human life, and providing emergency assistance to those in need.
CRS has implemented a comprehensive protection programme to prevent and address abuse and exploitation of children and vulnerable adults. This includes a contractual agreement by all staff to receive training and be accountable for protecting individuals from physical or psychological abuse. They also advocate for strengthening systems that prevent and respond to violence and abuse, promoting child and human rights, and participating in international advocacy networks.
As part of their commitment to trauma awareness and response, CRS has supported and facilitated psychosocial work. This involves providing training and education to raise awareness about trauma and its impacts, as well as developing strategies for trauma-informed responses and interventions. By integrating trauma awareness into their programming, CRS aims to create a safe and supportive environment for individuals who have experienced trauma.
In addition to their direct services, CRS also offers guidance to dioceses and parishes in the United States that independently "twin" with programs in Haiti and other countries. They promote family-based care and implement a range of activities related to protection and health, particularly for orphans and vulnerable children.
CRS's approach to trauma awareness and response is embedded in their overall commitment to protecting human life and promoting justice. By addressing trauma and its impacts, they aim to empower individuals and communities to heal and rebuild their lives with dignity.
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Frequently asked questions
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is committed to protecting children and vulnerable adults from harm. They strive to strengthen family life, ensure equal access to support, and eliminate child labour and trafficking.
CRS implements a wide range of activities related to protection in its work, with a focus on health and community-level interventions. They also educate children and vulnerable adults on how to prevent and mitigate abuse.
In 2014, CRS implemented one of the most wide-reaching protection policies of any international organisation. It includes a contractual agreement for all staff to receive training and be held accountable for protecting children and vulnerable adults from harm, including physical, psychological, and sexual abuse, and exploitation.
CRS publishes an Annual Report and other pertinent financial documents. They also maintain strict standards of efficiency, with 93% of expenditures going directly to programs.
CRS is dedicated to preserving the sacredness and dignity of human life from conception to natural death. They assist the poor and vulnerable overseas, regardless of race, religion, or ethnicity.
