Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (Text Only)

Current Activities

The seven Centers for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives are working to implement the President's Initiative in many different ways.

The following activities are a few examples of what the Federal government is doing:

Department of Labor

Department of Health and Human Services

Department of Housing and Urban Development

Department of Education

Department of Justice

Department of Labor

Faith-Based and Community Initiative Grants. In July 2002, the Department awarded grants designed to link faith-based and grassroots community organizations to the nation's One-Stop Career System. A total of $17.5 million has been awarded to 12 states and 29 organizations around the country.

Of the 29 organizations that received grants under the program, 9 are intermediary organizations that have a demonstrated ability to assist faith-based and community organizations, and 20 are small, faith-based and community organizations that have proved themselves to be effective in helping their neighbors in need. These organizations will use the funds to provide technical assistance and improve the connection between grassroots faith-based and community organizations and the nation's One-Stop Career System. To find out if your State or an organization near you received funding, click here.

In addition, the Department's Workforce Investment Board Integration Project is working with two local Workforce Investment Boards in their efforts to involve faith-based and community groups in their mission. Workforce Investment Boards, which are appointed by mayors or other elected local officials, are responsible for ensuring a comprehensive, high quality One-Stop delivery service system in their workforce areas. These Boards, which include representatives from the business, education, and labor communities, and State workforce agencies distribute about eighty-five percent of Federal job training dollars. The project assists the Boards in creating strategic plans that integrate grassroots organizations into the overall local workforce development strategy. It will document the integration process and then disseminate the lessons learned throughout the national One-Stop System.

Ready4Work Initiative. This initiative is designed to assist ex-offenders integrate successfully back into society after their release from prison. The Department of Labor is partnering with businesses, local corrections agencies, and faith-based and community organizations to provide ex-offenders with job training, employment, and the community support needed for them to succeed.

Ready4Work launched its first partnership in Jacksonville, Florida, in July 2002, and will be initiating additional partnerships soon.

Department of Health and Human Services

Compassion Capital Fund. The Compassion Capital Fund (CCF) will be used to help faith-based and community groups build capacity and improve their ability to provide social services to those in need. This $30 million fund reflects President Bush's recognition that faith-based and community organizations are uniquely situated to partner with the government in serving poor and low-income individuals and families.

This fall, the Department of Health and Human Services awarded more than $24 million to 21 "intermediary organizations," which will in turn help smaller organizations operate and manage their programs effectively, access funding from varied sources, develop and train staff, expand the types and reach of social services programs in their communities, and replicate promising programs. HHS has also used the Compassion Capital Fund to create a National Resource Center, which will assist the intermediaries and other community-serving groups access the tools and information they need to be effective, and to support research on successful faith-based and community organization practices.

For a listing of the Compassion Capital Fund grantees, click here.

"How-To" Training and Educational Speeches. Since the inception of the HHS Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, more than 5000 leaders representing governmental partners and faith-based and community groups have benefited from Department speeches and training sessions conducted across the country.

For information on speakers and events in your area, call (202) 358-3595.

Department of Housing and Urban Development

Ten Things Your Faith Community Can Do to Promote Homeownership. President Bush and HUD Secretary Mel Martinez are committed to increasing minority homeownership by 5.5 million households by the end of this decade. Faith-based organizations are well-positioned to help many low-income Americans prepare for homeownership.

This brochure is a useful guide for faith-based and community organizations that have an interest in helping others become homeowners. It is available in English and Spanish here.

Partnerships for Housing & Development. Most of HUD's funding is distributed to public housing authorities and community development agencies, which then make funding available to nonprofit organizations to provide services.

Thus the HUD Center for Faith Based and Community Initiatives is initiating a pilot program to form partnerships between faith-based organizations and public housing and community development officials. Together, they will assess the needs of their community and identify strategic opportunities for faith-based and community organizations to play a role in responding to those needs.

For more information, call (202) 708-2404.

Colonias Initiative. The "Colonias" are the unplanned settlements that exist along the border between the United States and Mexico. These communities lack a number of fundamental services, often including running water, electricity, reliable roads and other infrastructure that most Americans take for granted. The majority of residents live in poverty. HUD is working to improve living conditions in the Colonias, and faith-based and community organizations have a unique opportunity to influence how their communities are served.

Through its Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, HUD is encouraging faith-based and community organizations to actively participate in this initiative. For more information, click here.

Department of Education

Extra Academic Help for Low-Income Students (supplemental services). The Department of Education is recruiting and training faith-based and community organizations to provide tutoring to low-income students who attend schools on the states' lists of schools that need improvement. The No Child Left Behind Act signed into law by President Bush on January 8, 2002 provides funding for qualified faith-based and community organizations. There is a tremendous need for such providers in many parts of the United States. Education will be hosting a series of workshops to explain this program and provide practical advice on applying to become an eligible provider. Call 1-800-USA-LEARN and ask for the Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives or visit www.ed.gov/faithandcommunity for dates and times.

Call for Peer Reviewers. Peer reviewers are outside experts who review and grade grant applications. Most federal discretionary grant funding decisions are made by awarding funding to the applications that receive the highest grade in grant competitions. Education has issued a call for qualified experts from faith-based and community organizations to serve as peer reviewers. It is a wonderful opportunity to learn how the federal grants process operates and provide valuable service. Go to www.ed.gov/faithandcommunity for more info about how to become a peer reviewer.

Workshops on Successful After School Programs. Education, in partnership with the National Center for Community Education, is sponsoring three workshops on how to apply for federal funding for after school programs and best practices. Call 1-800-USA-LEARN and ask for the Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives or visit www.ed.gov/faithandcommunity for dates and times.

Department of Justice

Going Home Initiative. In July 2002, the Department announced 68 grants totaling approximately $100 million through its new Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative, also known as the "Going Home" initiative. The grants will further public safety and reduce victimization by helping ex-offenders become productive members of their communities. Faith-based and community organizations are an important part of successful local strategies to transition ex-offenders back into society. For more information, click here.

Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative. In July 2002, the Department announced 68 grants totaling approximately $100 million through its new Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative. The grants will further public safety and reduce victimization by helping ex-offenders become productive members of their communities. States have recently completed their Action Plans, and many have included faith-based and community organizations as part of the successful local strategies to transition ex-offenders back into society. Some states may still add more faith-based and community organizations as partners in their plans for reducing recidivism as prisoners return to their communities For more information, click here.

FEATUREDPROGRAMS | Compassion Capital Fund | Mentoring Children of Prisoners | Access to Recovery | Prisoner Re-entry Initiative