How To Partner Effectively With Faith-based Organizations National Crime Prevention Council

National Crime Prevention Council 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 3 Objectives Review the history of faith-based community initiatives Outline the legal guidelines for engaging faith-based organizations Survey helpful resources

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

National Crime Prevention Council 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 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 7 Faith-based Organizations (continued) Organizations that, when asked, designate themselves as faith-based or religious Collaborations of organizations led by a faith- based or religious organization or half of whose members are from one of those groups

National Crime Prevention Council 8 Overview of Faith-based Community Initiatives Now called Presidents 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 9 FBCI: National Overview (continued) Five Focus Areas Barrier removal (state level) Outreach and technical assistance Metrics Pilots and demonstrations Evaluation

FBCI: National Overview (continued) New goals include –Mentor and tutor youth –Help returning ex-offenders National Crime Prevention Council 10

National Crime Prevention Council 11 Looking at the Legal Guidelines

National Crime Prevention Council 12 LEGAL DOS AND DONTS QUIZ

National Crime Prevention Council 13 True or False 1.A faith-based organization must remove most or all of its religious symbols from its building in order to receive a federal grant. 2.Once a faith-based organization receives a federal grant, it can still discriminate in hiring employees based on their religion.

National Crime Prevention Council 14 True or False 3.A religious leader can teach a federally funded mentor training class. 4.It is legally permissible for a program that receives federal funds to support people of only one particular faith.

National Crime Prevention Council 15 True or False 5.An explicitly religious organization (mentioning God in its mission statement, for example), can apply for federal funding. 6.It is okay to pray with a child during a mentoring session.

National Crime Prevention Council 16 True or False 7.Faith-based organizations must create a separate 501(c) 3) organization to receive federal grants. 8.It is okay to have a prayer meeting at the same time as Senior Corps volunteers are mentoring students.

National Crime Prevention Council 17 True or False 9.Federally funded personnel (e.g., Senior Corps volunteers) are not allowed to lead in prayer. 10. Federally funded personnel (e.g., Senior Corps volunteers) can paint and maintain the church building where the student mentoring program is held.

Summary of Legal Analysis What is okay? National Crime Prevention Council 18

National Crime Prevention Council 19 Legal Dos: Whats 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 20 Legal Dos: Whats 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 21 Legal Dos: Whats 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 22 Legal Dos: Whats 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 23 Legal Dos and Donts: Resources Where to go for more help... White House guidelines ( PEW Forum ( The Corporation for National and Community Service ( Your own legal counsel

National Crime Prevention Council 24 How Faith-based organizations Contribute to Communities

National Crime Prevention Council 25 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 26 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 27 Five Resiliencies Based on National Longitudinal Survey Significant adults Altruism-Service Hope-Faith Skills- Positive alternatives Locus of Control- Voice/ownership

National Crime Prevention Council 28 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

Examples of Faith-based Organization Partnerships National Crime Prevention Council 29

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

What They Do: Faith Based Transitional Housing program Committed to providing supportive housing to ex-offenders 31 National Crime Prevention Council

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. 32 National Crime Prevention Council

The Transitional Housing Program consists of a monitored, well- structured, and strictly supervised 18- bed facility. Program Description 33 National Crime Prevention Council

National Crime Prevention Council 34 Fresno, California Hope Now For Youth P.O. Box 5294 Fresno, CA (559) –Vocational Placement for Gang-Involved Youth

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 drivers licenses Offer family and parenting classes National Crime Prevention Council 35

National Crime Prevention Council 36 Questions

National Crime Prevention Council 37 Resources

National Crime Prevention Council 38 Resources White House The PEW Forum The Corporation for National and Community Service National Criminal Justice Reference Service

National Crime Prevention Council 39 Resources Faith and Service Technical Education Network Center for Public Justice Administration for Children and Families

National Crime Prevention Council 40 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

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 41

Resources from NCPC Examines partnerships between faith-based organizations and private funders in Boston Addresses juvenile crime in Boston National Crime Prevention Council 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 43

National Crime Prevention Council 44 The National Crime Prevention Council 2345 Crystal Drive Suite 500 Arlington, VA FAX

National Crime Prevention Council 45 Presenter Contact Information