Diana Garland Baylor University School of Social Work Religiously Affiliated Organizations and the Opportunities and Challenges of “Faith-based” Social Initiatives Diana Garland Baylor University School of Social Work

Sources of Attitudes toward Religious Organizations 1. Our political views about the role of government and its responsibility—or not—for the wellbeing of its citizens. 2. Our professional practice experience with religiously-affiliated organizations and congregations. 3. Our own personal religious beliefs and experiences

Sources of Attitudes toward Religious Organizations

What does the research say? Characteristics? Contributions? Challenges? Capacities?

Overview of Research Sources “Faith and Service Technical Education Network” RAOs and Congregations in urban settings addressing poverty, 10 states

Overview of Research Sources “Faith & Service Technical Education Network” “Religiously Affiliated Child Welfare Organizations” All licensed child and family service organizations in 10 states

Overview of Research Sources “Faith & Service Technical Education Network” “Religiously Affiliated Child Welfare Organizations” “Service and Faith” Volunteers from 35 congregations serving in community service programs

www.baylor.edu/CFCM/

Why not “faith-based?” “Faith” suggests Christian traditions Faith can refer to: Mission Identity Policies Goals

What distinguishes RAOs from other social service agencies and from congregations?

Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, Micah 6:6-8 6 With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God? 7Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8He has shown all you people what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To seek justice and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, Micah 6:6-8 6 With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God? 7Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8He has shown all you people what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To seek justice and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Mission RAOs Social Work Needs Worship

“Our board starts with our mission, with what God wants us to do, not what our market niche is, or what the most pressing need or urgent problem in the community is.” ---RAO executive

> RAOs ≠ congregations Congregations– aggregates of people that gather regularly and voluntarily for worship at a particular place. They are: > Voluntary Organizations and Communities More than They are

Most congregations are small … 71% of congregations have fewer than 100 regularly participating adults Only 10% of American congregations have more than 350 regular participants. Most attenders go to large congregations, however…

Social services plays a minor—but important—role in congregational life. In the median congregation with social service programs, about ten individuals are involved as volunteers in those activities.

Social services plays a minor-but important-role in congregational life. Seventy people attend the main worship service.

Social services plays a minor-but important-role in congregational life. In congregations with choirs, eighteen people participate in those choirs

Social services play a minor-but important-role in congregational life 14%

Congregations collaborate in offering social services… 15% held worship and prayer services in collaboration with others 30% Collaborated with other faith-based organizations 33% collaborated with secular organizations to develop and deliver community service programs (Cnaan, 2001)

Social workers on congregational staffs . . .

Social workers who provided congregational leadership. . . The pastor’s wife who ran the shelter The rabbi who organized the “Noah project” The university faculty who initially organized the community’s response, including congregations and RAOs The volunteers who provided mental health services in the congregational shelters and organized a 24-hr. “on call” volunteer service The volunteers who trained shelter volunteers in crisis intervention

How Prevalent are they; what is their capacity for service, and does government funding actually increase that capacity?

Government funding? 6% of congregations 24% of RAOs

Religiously-affiliated child welfare organizations . .. 47% of funding from government sources

What Contributions are they making?

The Stereotype Residential long-term care for dependent children Racially disproportionality Lower professional standards, with uneducated but well-meaning staff Large endowments that make them insensitive to community and professional change

Who they really are . . . Community-based services more than residential care. More ethnic/minority children in community programs to support families. Just as professional or more professional than those of other social service agencies. Funding that enables them to be innovative.

Religiously-affiliated organizations report having budgets $400,000 larger than non-religiously affiliated organizations, representing 28% more than the median $1,450,000 budget of non-religiously affiliated organizations

Revenues from fees for services Non-RAOs rely on fees for services for more than 60% of their budgets RAOs rely on fees for only 30% of their budgets

Revenues from Gifts RAOs receive 21% of their budgets from gifts Non-RAOs receive only 5% of their budgets from gifts

Revenues from Government Sources RAOs receive less than half (47%) of their funding from government sources Non-RAOs receive more than three-quarters (76%) of their funding from government sources

Revenues Generated by Grants and Endowments RAOs receive little from grants (5%) and endowment (5%) Non-RAOs receive 7% from grants and 7% from endowment

What Contributions are they making? (1) They are providing community-based services more than residential care. (2) RAOs’ services are just as or more “professional” as those of other social service agencies. (3) RAOs’ funding encourages them to be innovative. (4) Because of their mission and regardless of their funding, RAOs are a prophetic voice for social justice.

What Contributions are they making? (1) They are providing community-based services more than residential care. (2) RAOs’ services are just as or more “professional” as those of other social service agencies. (3) RAOs’ funding encourages them to be innovative. (4) Because of their mission and regardless of their funding, RAOs are a prophetic voice for social justice. (5) RAOs serve as intermediaries between large social service entities and congregations.

What Contributions are they making? (1) They are providing community-based services more than residential care. (2) RAOs’ services are just as or more “professional” as those of other social service agencies. (3) RAOs’ funding encourages them to be innovative. (4) Because of their mission and regardless of their funding, RAOs are a prophetic voice for social justice. (5) RAOs serve as intermediaries between large social service entities and congregations. (6) RAOs serve as bridges to families in need who are otherwise difficult to reach.

(7) Volunteers and staff members in congregations and RAOs are strongly committed to the work because they are motivated by their sense of calling.

(7) Volunteers and staff members in congregations and RAOs are strongly committed to the work because they are motivated by their sense of calling!

Volunteer & Staff Motivations What ethical issues do these organizations present for social worker practice? Organizational Goals Volunteer & Staff Motivations

Implications for Social Work Education

Implications Teaching religious diversity needs to include the organizational level as well as human development All students need to development cultural competence for practice in these settings. We can reach a group of potential students if we provide an education that is relevant. We need to develop a research, knowledge, and skill base for working in these cultural settings.