New Source for Research and Analysis of Faith-Based Social Services

The Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy has tracked government partnerships with religious charities since 2002, a year after President George W. Bush launched the Faith-Based and Community Initiative. Over the past seven years, the Roundtable’s team of experts has taken pride in conducting research and providing analysis on policy and legal developments, trends in funding, and the scope and effectiveness of services provided by faith-based organizations, among other things. We have also attempted to keep you abreast through this weekly e-newsletter of significant developments concerning faith-based social services – be they legal decisions, legislative advances, funding opportunities, or just interesting news. We hope we have served you well as a useful resource in your work to develop sound policies, inform the public about these issues, or provide effective services to the needy.

Beginning in January 2009, the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life will continue the Roundtable's work, focusing on research and analysis of faith-based social services. Archives of much of the work currently found through the Roundtable's website will remain available through the Pew Forum's website. Those archives will include analyses of legal developments, original research, and news articles produced by the Roundtable's staff.

This is the last e-newsletter that you will receive from the Roundtable. Unless you request otherwise, your contact information will automatically be transferred to the Pew Forum, and you will receive its weekly update of news happening at the intersection of religion and public affairs. If you would prefer that we not share your contact information with the Pew Forum, please click here and let us know by December 24. To learn more about the Pew Forum’s policy regarding the privacy and protection of your contact information, click here.

New! Bush Administration Makes Final Push for Religious Hiring Rights at HHS, Labor

With only a few weeks remaining in President George W. Bush’s term, his administration is preparing new guidelines that would help religious organizations that hire only employees of their own faith to bypass prohibitions on public funding. The new guidelines are based on a legal opinion released by the U.S. Justice Department in October that determined a Christian group could be exempted from employment nondiscrimination laws in a federal social service program, according to sources within the Administration and faith-based organizations who are familiar with the recommendations. The guidelines, being prepared by U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), offer advice to religious organizations seeking exemptions from hiring nondiscrimination rules through social service programs administered by those departments – including Head Start early education and Workforce Investment Act grants. Congress has consistently blocked the Administration’s efforts to advance religious hiring rights in those programs by expressly prohibiting them.

Click here to read more by Roundtable Washington Correspondent Anne Farris.

Weekly Digest of Federal Grants with Faith-Based and Community Organization Eligibility

The grant opportunities this week for community and faith-based organizations are through programs administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of Justice, and by the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Potential applicants should be aware that some grant programs require specific technical expertise, or experience in foreign countries.

Click here for the grants digest.

Roundtable Digest of Current Faith-Based News Stories

Richmond Anti-Gang Program Shows Success
Media General

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9260

Some Nonprofits Struggle To Meet Needs
Bismarck Tribune

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9261

Newburgh Launches Strong Neighborhoods/Strong Families Initiative
Mid-Hudson News

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9262

Car Title Loans in Line for Scrutiny
The Free Lance-Star (Fredericksburg, Virginia)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9263

More Mouths to Feed At Kosher Pantry in West Hartford
Courant.com (Hartford, Connecticut)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9264

Report Lauds Bush's Faith-Based Ventures, Seeks Reforms from Obama
Catholic News Service

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9265

Panel Examines Ways to Help Freed Inmates
The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City, OK)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9266

Shelters Offer Women in Need Holiday Havens
The Lebanon Daily News (Pennsylvania)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9267

Proposed Bill Could Help Ailing Private Schools;
Planned Catholic Closings in Elizabeth Stir Interest in Scholarship Measure
The Star-Ledger (Newark, New Jersey)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9268

Katy Churches Participate In Ike Recovery Efforts
The Houston Chronicle

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9269

Program Helps Poor, Addicted Reclaim Lives
Times-Picayune (New Orleans)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9270

Prison Ministry Taps Community Volunteers
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pennsylvania)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9271

Homeless Men, Women and Kids Could Use Help
Courier-Post (Cherry Hill, New Jersey)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9272

Faith-Based Group Launches 'I Need Africa' Campaign
The Christian Post

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9273

From Canned Goods to Fresh, Food Banks Adapt
The New York Times

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9274

Faith-Based Groups May Lose Funding
Marketplace

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9275

Economy Is Wild Card in Faith-Based Debate
The Jewish Week

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9276

Religious Leaders in Postville Call for Lawmakers to Visit
Radio Iowa News

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9277

Possible Obama Appointee Has Faith-Based Earmark Problem
The Michigan Messenger

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9278

County Discusses Aid to Homeless; Charities Look For Ways to Help
SoMDnews.com (Maryland)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9279

Florence School District 1 Leaders, Mentors Discuss Faith-Based Initiative
Florence Morning News (South Carolina)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9280

Levy Area Gets Mentoring Program
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (Little Rock)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9282

Paying It Forward
Beaver County Times (Pennsylvania)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9283

Groups Apply For Anti-Gang Money
Statesville Record & Landmark (North Carolina)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9284

Army of the Faithful; Salvation Army Charges into Busy Charity Season
Times-News (Twin Falls, Idaho)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9285

Church Donations Fall Off
National Public Radio (NPR)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9281

Weekly Opinion Roundup - 12/16/2008
The Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/news_opinion_12_16_08.cfm

The Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy promotes informed debate on the issue of publicly funded faith-based social service. Supported by The Pew Charitable Trusts, the Roundtable provides independent, non-partisan research on the scope and scale of faith-based social services, their effectiveness, how public resources are being used in providing such services, and the legal and regulatory issues involved. The Roundtable's comprehensive web site makes this research and related information easily available. It can be accessed by clicking here:
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