Catholic Charities Expanded Padua Program Nationally
The Fort Worth-based organization extended its poverty-reduction model to new sites in Indiana and Chicago.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Employment
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Catholic Charities Fort Worth expanded its Padua poverty-reduction program to national sites throughout 2026. The organization aims to standardize its evidence-based case management practices across the country.
Why it matters
The program seeks to move beyond temporary assistance by addressing the root causes of poverty through structured goal setting. It focuses on achieving long-term financial independence and employment stability for participants.
Since 2015, the Padua program has served 1,089 clients. Participants achieved a 25% increase in the likelihood of full-time employment, a 64% increase in housing security, and a 46% jump in monthly earnings.
The players
Catholic Charities Fort Worth
This nonprofit organization provides social services and operates the Padua case management program.
The details
Catholic Charities uses a case management model that centers on client-specific goals regarding financial and job stability. Partner candidates are vetted for their infrastructure capacity, financial health, and leadership stability to ensure the model's effectiveness.
Timeline
Catholic Charities Fort Worth started the Padua program in 2015.
The first national mission site was established in northern Indiana in January 2026.
The northern Indiana location began accepting clients in April 2026.
A mission site was established in Chicago in June 2026.
The Chicago facility is scheduled to start taking clients in October 2026.
Macro View
The expansion follows the growth trajectory of the Padua case management program as it scales its evidence-based social services. This development mirrors efforts to standardize successful local poverty-reduction models into national frameworks.
The expansion of this model may signal broader shifts in how local social services address job stability for residents. Clients in newly served regions may gain access to structured case management designed to improve their long-term monthly earnings.
The takeaway
Effective poverty reduction often relies on standardized case management that targets specific financial and employment milestones. Organizations aiming to replicate such models must balance rapid national growth with the need for stable local leadership.
What happens next
The organization plans to establish a total of 10 sites over the next couple of years as part of its national expansion strategy.
Further reading
Learn more about local labor initiatives in the Employment section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Fort Worth Report.
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