SIOUX CITY, Iowa—Catholic Charities of the Sioux City Diocese announces the hiring of Tsistas (Cheetah) Yang to fill a newly created school-based Mental Health Therapist position. Tsistas earned his undergraduate degree from Briar Cliff University and is a May 2020 graduate of the University of Iowa MSW program. He is a Licensed Masters Social Worker (LMSW) working towards his Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW), and is enrolled online through Nova Southeastern University studying for a Doctor of Philosophy in Criminal Justice.

The school-based therapist position is made possible through a partnership with the Diocese of Sioux City Catholic Schools Foundation to provide on-site counseling services for students at the Catholic rural schools throughout the diocese. Tsistas will be spending time in Pocahontas, Spencer, Boone, Alton, Humboldt, Remsen, Denison, Danbury, Sheldon and Emmetsburg.

Executive Director, Amy Bloch, LISW, shared, “We are grateful for this creative partnership which will benefit students and families at our rural Catholic schools. Tsistas has great experience and will immediately begin to establish relationships with administrators, teachers, students and families. I thank the Catholic School Foundation for recognizing the need and partnering with Catholic Charities to identify at-risk children who will benefit from early intervention and support families, while also improving school environments.”

Catholic Charities continues to offer a free, mental health assessment for any school-age child, known as the Pathways to Hope and Healing program. The agency serves people of all faiths and backgrounds and offers a sliding-fee scale, based on family size and income, for those who cannot afford to pay the full cost of therapy.  No one is turned away for the inability to pay for services.  Most insurance plans, Medicaid, and Medicare are also accepted.

Tsistas (Cheetah) Yang to fill a newly created school-based Mental Health Therapist position