DOCUMENT RESUME ED 477 292 SO 034 970 President Bush's Faith-Based & Community Initiative. TITLE White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, INSTITUTION Washington, DC. PUB DATE 2003-00-00 NOTE 5p AVAILABLE FROM White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, The White House, Washington, DC 20502. Tel: 202-456-6708; Fax: 202-456-7019; Web site: http://www.fbci.gov. PUB TYPE Reports Descriptive (141) EDRS PRICE EDRS Price MF01/PC01 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Church Role; *Community Organizations; *Cooperative Programs; *Federal Government; *Government Role; Grants; Grantsmanship; Religion; *Religious Organizations IDENTIFIERS Bush (George W); Faith Based Programs; Partnerships in Human Services; *Public Private Partnership Programs; Public Services; United States Constitution ABSTRACT Despite efforts by the federal and state governments to battle social distress, there are many people who still suffer from poverty and despair. People are calling out for help. For years, faith-based and community groups have been assisting these people and others in need. The federal government has not often been a willing partner to these faith-based and community groups. President George W. Bush wants to change the complicated rules and regulations that hinder these groups from competing for federal funds on an equal footing with other, larger charities. It is one of his top domestic priorities. This brochure explains the philosophy of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. The brochure outlines the activities and the priority areas of the White House Office. It also discusses White House conferences on Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. The brochure lists possible resources for grassroots groups seeking federal funds and provides some basic facts about federal grants. (BT) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. NV H IT E HOUSE President Bush's Faith-Based FAITH-BASED 8. Community Initiative A N D COMMUNITY INITIATIVES ur country is blessed with a long tradition and honorable commitment to assisting individuals, families, and communities who have not fully shared in America's prosperity. But despite efforts by the Federal and State governments to battle social distress, too many of our neighbors still suffer from poverty and despair. In every corner of America, people of all ages and walks of life are calling out for help. a almost a Around 13.6 million children under the age of 12 go hungry third of America's young people More than 5 million seniors were below or near the poverty level in 1999 Last year, 16.6 million Americans had substance abuse problems More than 2 million children have a parent in prison "Governments shouldn't discriminate against Pith, government should welcome For years, faith-based and community groups have been assisting these Pith, the power of faith, whether it comes through people and others in need. They have transformed lives with their compassion the Christian church, healing our country's ills one heart and and are America's unsung heroes through judaism, or- one act of kindness at a time. through Islam, can change people's lives for the better: Unfortunately, the Federal government has often not been a willing partner And we welcome that 71111Sr to these faith-based and community groups. Instead, it has put in place in our society." complicated rules and regulations that hinder these groups from competing for Federal funds on an equal footing with other, larger charities. President President George W. Bush, faith-based or Bush wants to change this. He believes that all groups August 7, 2002 should compete on a level playing field, so long secular, large or small as they obey all legal requirements. That is the reason for the President's Faith-Based and Community Initiative and why it is one of his top domestic priorities. N U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement O EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) as N This document has been reproduced received from the person or organization BEST COPY AVAILADLE originating it. Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. CI) this Points of view or opinions stated in 2 document do not necessarily represent nfririni nnal position or policy. Arc ti vT met 1, I it IS WHITE HOUSE OFFICE OF FAITH-BASED AND COMMUNITY INITIATIVES One of President Bush's first official acts as President was to create the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. The Office was tasked at its inception with leading a "determined attack on need" by strengthening and expanding the role of faith-based and community organizations in addressing the nation's social problems. The President envisions a faith-friendly public square where faith-based organizations can compete equally with other groups to provide government or privately-funded services. the President Bush also created Centers for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives in seven Federal agencies United States Departments of Justice, Agriculture, Labor, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and Education and the Agency for International Development to promote the Initiative. Activities of the White House Office Working legislatively to encourage the good works of faith-based and community organizations and give them the fullest opportunity permitted by law to compete for Federal funding Identifying and eliminating improper Federal barriers to the full participation of faith-based and community-serving programs in the provision of social services Encouraging greater corporate and philanthropic support for faith-based and community organizations, through public education and outreach activities Priority Areas The White House Office strives to support organizations that serve people in need, particularly those that serve the following populations: At-risk youth and prisoners Elders in need Homeless 3 Substance abusers Welfare-to-work families WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCES ON FAITH-BASED AND COMMUNITY INITIATIVES The White House Conferences on Faith-Based and Community Initiatives will provide participants with information about the Federal funding process, available funding opportunities, the requirements that come with the receipt of Federal funds, and cutting-edge practices from other organizations. The White House is hosting the Conferences with support from the Departments of Justice, Labor, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and Education. RESOURCES FOR GRASSROOTS GROUPS SEEKING FEDERAL FUNDS Every year, the Federal government spends billions of dollars for health and human service programs. There are thousands of faith- based and community organizations across the country that receive Federal funds. Although the use of government money by faith-based and community organizations is not new, there are many small grassroots organizations that still have questions about the Federal funding process. They wonder, "How can we find out about Federal funding opportunities?" They ask, "If we get money from the Federal government, what legal requirements will we have to follow?" The White House Office and the seven Agency Centers can help. Internet Resources The White House Office has put together a list of more than 100 Federal programs that your organization may be interested in. You can use this list, which is available at www.fbci.gov, as a starting point for learning more about specific programs. The Agency Centers' web sites contain more information about specific initiatives and programs operated by their Department. Legal Guidance The White House Office web site also offers some guidelines on the legal requirements that can come along with Federal funding. These "do's" and "don'ts" answer some of the questions that faith-based and community groups most frequently ask. Compassion Capital Fund Assistance may also be available from one of the nearly two dozen organizations funded by the Department of Health and Human Services' Compassion Capital Fund. These organizations help small faith-based and community groups learn about the Federal grants process. They may also help small groups with other challenges, such as training volunteers and staff or expanding the reach of the services they provide. Organizations funded by the Compassion Capital Fund do this at no cost to your organization. You can learn more about the Compassion Capital Fund and the organizations it funds at www.hhs.gov/fbci. EST COPY AVAILABLE IL 4 Important Contact Information I White House Office "I" : A 1: of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives 11 The White [louse Washington, DC 20502 I (202) 456-6708 (202) 456-7019 FAX . . www.11)eigov . . Agency Centers for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives . . . Department of Justice SO Patrick Purtill, !Director . 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW I II" . . 1 Washington, DC 20530 (202) 514-2987 . . 11 www.ojp. scloj.gov/lbci .55 Department of Labor . . . Brent Orrell, Director 200 Constitution Avenue, NW 20210 Washington, DC .0 11 11! . . . (202) 693-6450 .5 www.dol.gov/cflaci II . . . Department of Health and . I I . 5 5 . .... Human Services . Bobby Polito, Director .- .5 200 Independence Avenue, SW . 11 Washington, DC 20201 (202) 358-3595 www.hhs.gov/fbci Department of Housing and Urban Development Steven Wagner, Director 451 7th Street SW, Room 10184 Washington, DC 20410 (202) 708-2404 www.hud.gov /offices /fhci Department of Education John Porter, Director 555 New. Jersey Avenue, NW it Suite 410 Washington, DC 20208-8300 (202) 219-1741 05_ www.ed.gov/faith n d M Ill unity Department of Agriculture "Find a child who cannot read, and teach him to read. Find a child Juliet McCarthy, Director who might be hopeless and lost, and put your arm around him and 14th and Independence Avenue, SW tell him you love him. Unleash the great, power off with in our Office of the Secretary, Room 200-A society. I.strongly believe in Pith-based institutions because I know Washington, DC 20250 (202) 720-3631 that Pith can change hearts for the better" www.usda.gov/flaci President George W Bush, July 15, 2002 For further information regarding the Agency for International Developn Center for the Initiative, visit www.usai 11" k k IC ERIC U.S. Department of Education (OERI) Office of Educational Research and Improvement National Library of Education (NLE) Educational Resources information Center (ERIC) NOTICE Reproduction Basis This document is covered by a signed "Reproduction Release (Blanket)" form (on file within the ERIC system), encompassing all organization and, therefore, or classes of documents from its source does not require a "Specific Document" Release form. This document is Federally-funded, or carries its own permission to reproduce, or is otherwise in the public domain and, therefore, may be reproduced by ERIC without a signed Reproduction Release form (either "Specific Document" or "Blanket"). EFF-089 02000)