Identifying and Removing Barriers

To determine whether state and local policies, programs, and practices are aligned with the required federal standards, agencies should undertake a formal review of the relevant regulations and statues, contract and grant handbooks, legal memos, and so on.  The results of the initial such audit of programs in five major federal departments is summarized in the White House report, Unlevel Playing Field: Barriers to Participation by Faith-Based and Community Organizations in Federal Social Service Program (2001).

The report notes 15 barriers—rules or program and process features that wrongly impeded participation in federal programs by nonprofit organizations.  Some of the barriers excluded or wrongly restricted participation by faith-based organizations.  Others created difficulties for smaller organizations, both secular and religious, and for organizations without previous experience with federal funds.  

Policy and program reviews may also uncover unexpected opportunities.  For example, agencies in some states offer a great deal of useful information not only about grant and contract opportunities but also about how private groups can improve their programs and operations—but the information is often scattered on different websites.  Simply collecting the resources in one place makes them much more useful to private organizations.  

Additional important benefits of conducting a formal audit for barriers and opportunities include:  

•    clarifying for all staff the purpose and specific requirements of the new standards;
•    focusing attention, agency-wide, on the need to ensure a level playing field;
•    enlisting the creative energy of staff throughout the agencies to improve program outcomes by expanded collaboration with private groups;
•    promoting a commitment to continuous improvement, not simply a one-time enthusiasm for faith-based and community initiatives.

Examples of barrier analyses:

The White House: Unlevel Playing Field: Barriers to Participation by Faith-Based and Community Organizations in Federal Social Service Programs (2001) (PDF)

Commonwealth of Virginia: Report of the Special Task Force Studying Ways Faith-based Community Service Groups May Provide Assistance to Meet Social Needs, House Document No. 2 (2002) (HTML summary) (PDF)

State of Alaska: Faith-Based & Community Initiatives Task Force, Legislative Briefing (Feb. 23, 2004) (PDF)

State of Ohio: Final Report of the Task Force on Nonprofit, Faith-based, and Other Nonprofit Organizations (Sept. 2002) (PDF)

State of Texas: Governor’s Advisory Task Force on Faith-Based Community Service Groups, Faith in Action . . . A New Vision for Church-State Cooperation in Texas (December 1996) (PDF)
 

The Center for Public Justice is experienced in assisting state and federal agencies in identifying barriers and opportunities.  For more information, visit our Professional Services page.