An update from the Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy, an independent research project
of the Rockefeller Institute of Government. The public policy research arm of the State University of New York.

New! Bill Offering Ex-Offenders a Second Chance Moves to President’s Desk

Three years after it was first introduced, a bill intended to reduce repeat offenses and improve former
prisoners’ chances for success in the community has passed Congress and is awaiting the President’s
signature. The Recidivism Reduction and Second Chance Act authorizes $165 million annually over two
years to support mentoring programs, substance abuse treatment, literacy classes, job training and other
assistance intended to help ex-offenders pursue productive, crime-free lives after their sentences are up.

The bill authorizes grant funding for fiscal years 2009 and 2010, for state and local governments to launch
or continue programs to improve ex-offenders’ return to society. It also allocates competitive grants to faith
-based and community nonprofits to offer programs that link ex-offenders with mentors or that help them
seek and keep jobs. The bill includes elements of the Bush Administration’s Prisoner Re-Entry Initiative (PRI),
launched in 2004, which connects ex-offenders with religious and secular nonprofits for mentoring and other
programs intended to help them make a successful transition to community life. The Administration has
highlighted PRI as a key feature of its Faith-Based and Community Initiative.

Click here to read more by Roundtable Correspondent Claire Hughes.

New! Bills Funding Human Services Advance Through Congress

Before departing for a two-week break, Congress last week advanced several major pieces of legislation to
provide money for human services – like nutrition programs and HIV/AIDS relief – that are often provided by
religious and other nonprofit organizations.

Although unable to craft a five-year bill to reauthorize farm, conservation, energy and nutrition programs that
would receive White House support, the House and Senate passed a one-month extension of the current farm
bill that includes money for food stamps and food aid. Also last week, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
approved a five-year $50 billion reauthorization of a global HIV/AIDS plan that is similar to a version the House
Foreign Affairs Committee passed on Feb. 27. Both versions repeal a requirement that one-third of funding for
HIV/AIDS prevention abroad be spent on programs that promote abstinence-only until marriage, with no mention
of condoms.

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. Departments of Health and Human Services, Interior, and 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 particular foreign countries.

Click here for the grants digest.

Roundtable Digest of Current Faith-Based News Stories

Evangelicals find the center
The Christian Science Monitor

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7954

Faith groups to help inmates being freed
The Associated Press

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7955

Immigrants as Neighbors in Need
The Washington Post

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7956

Progress Slows in Detection of New TB Cases
The New York Times

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7957

Senator Backs Televangelist Probe
The Associated Press

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7936

Evangelical liberals put priority on poverty, environment
Dayton Daily News

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7958

Putting at-risk youths to work
Daily Breeze (Torrance, California)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7959

Corbin to form UNITE committee
The Times-Tribune (Kentucky)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7960

White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives Director to Lead Delegation to Africa
Christian Newswire

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7961

Governor Riley Wants State And Faith Groups To Help Ex-Prisoners Avoid Return To Crime
States News Service

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7962

Author pushes faith-based approach to youth exercise
Chattanooga Times Free Press (Tennessee)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7914

Hill District ministers aid community
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (Pennsylvania)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7923

Mentor tells how to help prisoners' children:
Ex-mayor of Philadelphia speaks to Richmond-area aspiring Christian leaders
Richmond Times - Dispatch (Virginia)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7924

Ex-lawman's new calling: helping prisoners repent; Blending the pulpit, politics and prison service,
J. Allison DeFoor II forged a career that ultimately led him to minister to felons.
The Miami Herald

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7925

27 southern, western counties next up for privatized welfare
The Associated Press

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7915

Church & State A Two-Part Series: Where Is The Line?
Reading Eagle (Pennsylvania)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7916

Faith-based legacy
World Magazine

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7917

Community advocates making everything old New To You:
Mentors use shops to teach at-risk youths lessons in life, retail
Buffalo News (New York)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7926

Future unclear for Bush's Faith-Based Initiative
MediaTransparency

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7918

Health Care Marketplace; Charlotte Observer Examines Faith-Based Alternatives to Health Plans
Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7919

Faith in health care;
Medical leaders debate ways to measure effectiveness of religious affiliation
The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7920

Catholic Health Initiatives makes $10M investment
Denver Business Journal

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7921

Bush's faith-based initiative defies criticism, director says
The Washington Times

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7922

Pressure on gangs getting results
News & Record (Greensboro, NC)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7927

Six churches tapped for emotional fitness campaign
The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7928

Faith-based groups support water relief effort
Religion News Service

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7929

Faith-based nonprofit Power Cross aiming to help young boys
Statesville Record & Landmark (North Carolina)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7930

Faith-based community searches for crime solutions
News Channel 3 (Tennesse)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7931

Pastors join with JPSO in coalition; They target crime, social ills, blight
Times-Picayune (New Orleans)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7932

Angel Food Ministries Highlighted at White House Compassion in Action
Mass Media Distribution

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7933

White House 'Compassion in Action' Roundtable Highlights Partnerships with
Faith-Based and Community Organizations to Combat Hunger at Home and Abroad
Christian Newswire

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7934

Lecture delves into separation of church, state
La Crosse Tribune (Wisconsin)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7938

Religious lobbyists fight mining on state's peaks
The Tennessean

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7949

U.N. agency and ag states vie for food fund
The Politico

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7937

CSG Justice Center Lauds Senate's Passage of Second Chance Act;
President Expected to Sign into Law
PR Newswire

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7952

Pastors asked to immerse immigrants;
The feds enlist churches to help newcomers learn U.S. history, government and English.
Orlando Sentinel (Florida)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7939

Lease for Oxnard women's alcohol and drug treatment center authorized
Ventura County Star (California)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7940

Organizers Defend Environmental Statement
EthicsDaily.com

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7941

Interfaith discussions connect communities
The Williams Daily (Massachusetts)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7942

Rev. Jim Wallis searches for old-time justice
Christian Science Monitor

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7943

L.A. pastor joins immigration war; Bill's author taken aback by
IndyStar.com

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7944

Atheist objects to $1 million for burned-out church
chicagotribune.com

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7945

Faith-based groups offerhealth 'assurance' plans
The Charlotte Observer

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7946

Federal obesity fight comes to cit
Charleston Gazette (West Virginia)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7947

Fresh Start ministry receives $1,000 grant
The Reporter (Fond du Lac, Wisconsin)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7948

Workshop focues on fund development for faith-based organizations
University of Wisconsin-Superior

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7951

Weekly Opinion Roundup - 3/18/2008
The Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/news_opinion_3_18_08.cfm