For Officials: Implementing the Faith-Based Initiative

The updated church-state standards of the federal faith-based initiative clarify and codify the principles that should guide government procurement of services from religious organizations. The standards represent an opportunity—enabling agencies to select the most effective programs, whether they are offered by secular, religiously affiliated, or overtly religious organizations. However, the standards are not optional: Charitable Choice and the Equal Treatment regulations are federal requirements that accompany federal funds for social services, whether those funds are expended by federal, state, or local officials, and they also apply to commingled and matching state and local funds.

The goal is to enable faith-based organizations to be involved in social-service procurement “on the same basis as any other nongovernmental provider, without impairing the religious character of [the] organizations, and without diminishing the religious freedom of beneficiaries of assistance” (quoting from the Charitable Choice provision in the 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act). 

The following links clarify in detail the implications of these important new reforms:

The standards of the federal faith-based and community initiative

Aligning state and local policy and practice with the new federal standards

Identifying and removing barriers

State faith-based and community initiatives offices

Guidelines on religious expression and religious activities

Religious staffing: restrictions and freedoms

Appeals against a ban on religious staffing

Indirect government funding: why and how

If you need assistance in implementing these standards, please see the following page:
Professional services