The Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse ministers to a central New York region that is economically challenged. Child poverty in Syracuse is nearly 46%, the highest rate of any city in the United States. The Child Health and Wellness Partnership (CHWP) exists so that every Catholic School student is able to flourish as God's unique creation. CHWP addresses student needs in terms of essential support (food, clothing), physical health (medical, dental), and mental health (behavioral, psychological). Resource partners include Diocesan Catholic Charities and Mobile Counseling of New York.
CHWP supports students through need-based scholarships and resilience/capacity-building programs. Cross-age mentoring is a capstone example, pairing same-gender high school seniors with fifth graders. This program celebrates trusting, appropriate relationships for outcomes, including academic enrichment, Christian formation, and service learning.