Special Initiatives, Pilot Projects

The federal faith-based initiative is, in the main, a 'reengineering government initiative—taking action to ensure that federal rules and practices do not exclude from participation faith-based and small organizations that would make good partners for government agencies. The new and amended regulations, contract language, etc., apply to all of the federal social programs--even following the federal social service money to state and local agencies.

In addition to such universal changes, the initiative under the Bush administration has also included a range of special initiatives and pilot projects. These are particular initiatives intended to model how government agencies can more effectively collaborate with non-traditional partners or to equip those non-traditional partners to more effectively provide their services and compete for public and private support. Here are a few examples:

Compassion Capital Fund. Since 2002, Congress has annually appropriated many tens of millions of dollars to fund the Compassion Capital Fund, which provides federal funding to faith-based and community-based intermediary organizations that provide training and technical assistance to smaller organizations, faith-based and secular, that have not been well-served by conventional training and technical assistance resources. A portion of the funds are awarded as mini-grants to enable grassroots organizations to pay for capacity-building services or equipment (computers, accounting help, specialized training, etc.).

Access to Recovery. In 2004, 14 states and one Indian tribe were awarded ATR grants to create and operate voucher-based systems to offer substance-abuse treatment and recovery support services. Because the funding is by vouchers, which allows the people needing the help to select the provider, faith-based organizations that take part can offer faith-based recovery services that use religious activities to help people overcome their addictions.

Ready4Work. For several years, the Department of Labor partnered with Public/Private Ventures to operate in sites across the United States special networks of services to connect ex-prisoners with the workforce. Ready4Work combined government services, case management and other professional services provided by experienced nonprofit organizations, and mentoring and other 'soft services" offered by churches and other faith-based and community-based organizations.

Other Special Programs. The Department of Labor funded a private organization to pilot how One Stop Career Centers can more effectively reach people needing workforce development help by connecting with faith-based and neighborhood groups. The Department of Health and Human Services has operated programs that utilize faith-based and secular grassroots groups to provide mentoring to children of prisoners, abstinence education to young people, marriage-strengthening help to couples, and help to young people tempted to get involved with criminal gangs.