How To Partner Effectively With Faith-based Organizations

1. How To Partner Effectively With Faith-based Organizations National Crime Prevention Council 2009-2010

2. Goal To inform participants of the difference between faith-based and community-based organizations, explain the legal guidelines that faith-based organizations follow, and provide resources about how to access faith-based organizations in their communities. National Crime Prevention Council www.ncpc.org

3. Objectives • Review the history of faith-based community initiatives • Outline the legal guidelinesfor engaging faith-based organizations • Survey helpful resources National Crime Prevention Council www.ncpc.org

4. Definitions What is the difference between a community-based organization and a faith-based organization? National Crime Prevention Council www.ncpc.org

5. Community-based Organizations • Have governing structures that involve members of the community • Can use the zip codes of board members to determine whether they are community-based National Crime Prevention Council www.ncpc.org

6. Faith-based Organizations • Religious congregations (church, mosque, synagogue, etc.) • Organizations, programs, or projects operated or sponsored by religious congregations • Nonprofit organizations that clearly show by their mission statements, policies and/or practices that they are religiously motivated or religiously guided institutions National Crime Prevention Council www.ncpc.org

7. Overview of Faith-based Community Initiatives • Now called President’s Advisory Council for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships • Cabinet-level Faith-based Centers • Purpose: Level the playing field • 12 federal agencies have Faith-based offices National Crime Prevention Council www.ncpc.org

8. FBCI: National Overview(continued) Five Focus Areas • Barrier removal (state level) • Outreach and technical assistance • Metrics • Pilots and demonstrations • Evaluation National Crime Prevention Council www.ncpc.org

9. FBCI: National Overview(continued) • New goals include • Mentor and tutor youth • Help returning ex-offenders National Crime Prevention Council www.ncpc.org

10. Looking at the Legal Guidelines National Crime Prevention Council www.ncpc.org

11. LEGAL DOSAND DON’TSQUIZ National Crime Prevention Council www.ncpc.org

12. True or False • A faith-based organization must remove most or all of its religious symbols from its building in order to receive a federal grant. • Once a faith-based organization receives a federal grant, it can still discriminate in hiring employees based on their religion. National Crime Prevention Council www.ncpc.org

13. True or False • A religious leader can teach a federally funded mentor training class. • It is legally permissible for a program that receives federal funds to support people of only one particular faith. National Crime Prevention Council www.ncpc.org

14. True or False • An explicitly religious organization (mentioning God in its mission statement, for example), can apply for federal funding. • It is okay to pray with a child during a mentoring session. National Crime Prevention Council www.ncpc.org

15. True or False • Faith-based organizations must create a separate 501(c) 3) organization to receive federal grants. • It is okay to have a prayer meeting at the same time as Senior Corps volunteers are mentoring students. National Crime Prevention Council www.ncpc.org

16. True or False • Federally funded personnel (e.g., Senior Corps volunteers) are not allowed to lead in prayer. • Federally funded personnel (e.g., Senior Corps volunteers) can paint and maintain the church building where the student mentoring program is held. National Crime Prevention Council www.ncpc.org

17. Summary of Legal AnalysisWhat is okay? National Crime Prevention Council www.ncpc.org

18. Legal Dos: What’s Okay? • Direct financial support from federal agencies to faith-based organizations is permitted for secular activity. • Indirect support (vouchers, beneficiary choice) is allowed as long as there is a genuine, independent choice among religious and secular options. National Crime Prevention Council www.ncpc.org

19. Legal Dos: What’s Okay? • Faith-based organizations are permitted to retain their religious identities. • Faith-based organizations are generally exempt from employment discrimination based on religion. National Crime Prevention Council www.ncpc.org

20. Legal Dos: What’s Okay? • Federal funds can pay for staff time as long as that time is not being used for religious instruction, worship, or proselytizing. • The services provided must be available to everyone regardless of religion. National Crime Prevention Council www.ncpc.org

21. Legal Dos: What’s Okay?Helpful Hints for Faith-based Organizations • Separate religious and secular (federally funded) activities by space and/or time. • Create separate bank accounts for secular activities that have federal or government funding. • Anticipate how to handle potential conflicts or issues. National Crime Prevention Council www.ncpc.org

22. Legal Dos and Don’ts: Resources Where to go for more help... • White House guidelines (www.whitehouse.gov) • PEW Forum (www.pewforum.org) • The Corporation for National and Community Service (www.nationalservice.gov) • Your own legal counsel National Crime Prevention Council www.ncpc.org

23. How Faith-based organizations Contributeto Communities National Crime Prevention Council www.ncpc.org

24. Contributions of Faith-based organizations • Social capital • Pro-social impacts • Role of faith-based organizations in addressing health and safety problems • Continuum of focus for services • Members/congregation • Community/program services • Humanitarian/national/international National Crime Prevention Council www.ncpc.org

25. Assets of Faith-based organizations • Membership and youth groups • Property and meeting space • Presence in the community • Volunteer mobilization • Information dissemination mechanism • Community leadership • Social justice/public health/safety advocacy National Crime Prevention Council www.ncpc.org

26. Five ResilienciesBased on National Longitudinal Survey • Significant adults • Altruism-Service • Hope-Faith • Skills- Positive alternatives • Locus of Control- Voice/ownership National Crime Prevention Council www.ncpc.org

27. Ways FBOs Can Help • Meeting space • Communication/education • Can be a coalition member • Sponsor alcohol-free activities for youth • Volunteers • Consistent messages from pulpit • Parent training • Accountability/expectations National Crime Prevention Council www.ncpc.org

28. Examples of Faith-based Organization Partnerships National Crime Prevention Council www.ncpc.org

29. Washington, DC East of the River Clergy Police Community Partnership (ERCPCP) Faith-based Transitional Housing Program 325 34th Street S. E. Washington, DC 20019 National Crime Prevention Council www.ncpc.org

30. What They Do: • Faith Based Transitional • Housing program • Committed to providing • supportive housing to • ex-offenders National Crime Prevention Council www.ncpc.org

31. Target Population Receives referrals from Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA) and the Bureau of Prisons of males and females recently released from a penal facility. National Crime Prevention Council www.ncpc.org

32. Program Description • The Transitional Housing Program consists of a monitored, well-structured, and strictly supervised 18- bed facility. National Crime Prevention Council www.ncpc.org

33. Fresno, California • Hope Now For Youth • P.O. Box 5294Fresno, CA 93755-5294(559) 434-8125 • www.hopenow.org • Vocational Placement for Gang-Involved Youth National Crime Prevention Council www.ncpc.org

34. What Do They Do? • Leverage additional local resources • Donate emergency legal, medical, psychological, and dental services • Provide pro bono tattoo removal • Help the youth obtain driver’s licenses • Offer family and parenting classes National Crime Prevention Council www.ncpc.org

35. Questions National Crime Prevention Council www.ncpc.org

36. Resources www.ncpc.org www.mcgruffstore.org National Crime Prevention Council www.ncpc.org

37. Resources • White House www.whitehouse.gov • The PEW Forum www.pewforum.org • The Corporation for National and Community Service www.nationalservice.org • National Criminal Justice Reference Service www.ncjrs.gov National Crime Prevention Council www.ncpc.org

38. Resources • Faith and Service Technical Education Network www.fastennetwork.org • Center for Public Justice www.cpjustice.org/charitablechoice • Administration for Children and Families www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ccf National Crime Prevention Council www.ncpc.org

39. Resources • List of intermediaries • Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches (National Council of Churches) • Federal Funds for Organizations that Help Those in Need (White House) • Community Service Block Grants National Crime Prevention Council www.ncpc.org

40. Resources from NCPC • Based on a symposium held in April 2002 in Boston, MA • Describes benefits to community of faith-based partnerships National Crime Prevention Council www.ncpc.org

41. Resources from NCPC • Examines partnerships between faith-based organizations and private funders in Boston • Addresses juvenile crime in Boston National Crime Prevention Council www.ncpc.org

42. Resources from NCPC • Examines the Amachi program in Philadelphia • Shows partnership with FBO, secular, nonprofits & public organizations • Provides mentorship to children with a parent in prison National Crime Prevention Council www.ncpc.org

43. The National Crime Prevention Council 2345 Crystal Drive Suite 500 Arlington, VA 22202 202-466-6272 FAX 202-296-1356 www.ncpc.org National Crime Prevention Council www.ncpc.org

44. Presenter Contact Information National Crime Prevention Council www.ncpc.org