by Kaitlin Jackson
Catholic Charities of Buffalo announces the appointment of three individuals to director positions within the agency. Meichle Latham, LCSW-R, has been appointed to the role of Catholic Charities Encompass Family Health Home Regional Director; Jackie Richter, LCSW-R, has been named School Based Services Director; and David Wirtner was appointed Director of Information Technology.
In her new position, Latham, a Buffalo resident, will coordinate the delivery of health services for children with chronic physical and behavioral health conditions across the eight-county region of the Diocese of Buffalo through the newly developed Encompass Family Health Home. Encompass is a collaboration of Catholic Charities and partners across upstate New York, managed by Catholic Charities of Broome County and supported by the Dioceses of Albany, Rochester and Syracuse, as well as Buffalo.
Latham has served as School Based Services Director at Catholic Charities for the past two years. She has been with Catholic Charities for 22 years, and has also worked as a Clinical Services Specialist and Administrative Supervisor in the Family and Community Services Department prior to becoming Director of School Based Services.
She holds a master’s degree in social work and a bachelor’s degree in psychology, both from the University at Buffalo. Latham also conducts trainings and workshops on family services and domestic violence, and has received Be Fit Kids Instructor Certification and Personal Health Certification from Battle Works Inc., a Western New York company that provides comprehensive wellness management services and health education training programs.
Prior to being named School Based Services Director, Richter, a Niagara Falls resident, served as Supervisor of the Multisystemic Therapy (MST) Program in Niagara Falls. Richter has been with Catholic Charities since 2008.
As Director of School Based Services, Richter will provide direction, development and oversight of services in public, parochial and charter schools across Western New York. Currently Catholic Charities provides services in 13 schools in Allegany, Cattaraugus, Erie and Niagara counties.
Richter holds a master’s degree in social work from the University at Buffalo, a bachelor’s degree in social work from Buffalo State College and an associate’s degree in individual studies from SUNY College at Morrisville.
In his new role as Director of Information Technology at Catholic Charities, Wirtner will oversee the department, as well as the agency’s IT strategy. Wirtner, a Depew resident, takes on the director role after spending the past eight years working as information technology support and as a project manager for Catholic Charities. He holds an associate degree in electrical technology from Erie Community College.
Catholic Charities has helped individuals and families in need since its founding in 1923. That need is varied and widespread – from emergency assistance to counseling and from specialized services for the elderly to help with job training and education. Catholic Charities empowers children, families and seniors to achieve meaningful, healthy and productive lives. In all situations, Catholic Charities delivers support to meet immediate needs, and then assess its clients for other needs to ensure long-term success.
Catholic Charities is an excellent steward of the contributions it receives. Catholic Charities receives the highest-possible rating (four stars) from Charity Navigator for transparency and sound fiscal management. Catholic Charities also receives the highest ratings from the Council on Accreditation for quality service.
For more information or to make a donation, contact Catholic Charities at (716) 218-1400 or go to www.ccwny.org. You can also check out Catholic Charities on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ccbuffalo and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ccbuffalo.
