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.

Focus on "Beneficiary Choice"

New! Feds Promote Vouchers, other "Choices" to Advance Faith Initiative

"Beneficiary choice" is a vehicle the Bush Administration has used to advance the Faith-Based and
Community Initiative, established in 2001 to allow more overtly religious organizations to deliver
government services. The federal government has introduced a host of such programs since 2004, when
it launched its Access to Recovery voucher program to allow alcoholics and addicts to receive
government-funded treatment services from both religious and secular providers. Addressing services
ranging from job training for ex-offenders to mentoring at-risk children, the programs allow greater latitude
for government money to indirectly finance grassroots service providers, including those that include
religious content in their programs. Some beneficiary choice programs use vouchers or certificates as a
mechanism to channel the money; others allow the government to contract with religious and secular
providers that receive payment after a client chooses a program.

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

New! Pilot Program Puts Faith in New Models of Service Choice

Seeking to expand on the voucher concept, the U.S. Department of Labor launched a beneficiary choice
pilot program last year, awarding $5 million in grants to five coordinating agencies charged with educating
service beneficiaries in how to select programs from a menu of approved religious and secular providers.
The service in this case is job training programs for ex-offenders, but the pilot program is meant to serve
as a potential blueprint for other agencies looking to adopt the beneficiary choice model. In this case,
there are no actual vouchers to redeem. Instead, the coordinating agency arranges for ex-prisoners to
visit organizations that they select, and pays organizations as they provide services for the client.  

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

For more on vouchers and other forms of indirect government financing of social services, click here
for a Roundtable Resource Page.

New! McCain's Veep Pick a Supporter of Faith-Based Efforts

Since Republican presidential hopeful John McCain announced on Aug. 28 his choice of Alaska
Gov. Sarah Palin as running mate, political pundits have been consumed in debate over her ability to
be the country's second-in-command. In an election year when both parties are reaching out to
religious voters, much has already been said about Palin's appeal to conservative Christians, as an
evangelical, pro-life mother of five children. The Roundtable has also previously reported on the first-
term governor's interest in advancing the work of the state's Office of Faith-Based and Community
Initiatives, which was established by her predecessor. While Palin has been governor, the state office
has worked toward building the capacity of faith-based organizations through a $500,000 federal grant
through the Compassion Capital Fund. Palin's 2007 proposed budget also caused some controversy,
when she recommended eliminating $1.5 million in social service block grants for three Alaska
communities, and instead give the state faith-based office almost the same amount of money to
distribute throughout the state. That proposal was ultimately dropped.

Click here to read a previous Roundtable story on efforts to promote faith-based initiatives in Alaska
and other states.

Click here to read an Anchorage Daily News story on Palin's 2007 budget proposal.

New! Faith on the Democrats' Convention Agenda

Last week's Democratic National Convention in Denver also highlighted religious belief, with a
"Faith in Action" Panel that included discussion of such topics as poverty, health care, the minimum
wage, treatment of illegal immigrants, and even funding for arts and music programs at schools. The
federal Faith-Based and Community Initiative – and Sen. Barack Obama's plans to continue it with
some key changes – were discussed by Rabbi David Saperstein of the Religious Action Center of
Reform Judaism, and John DiIulio, a University of Pennsylvania professor who was the first director
of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives under President George W. Bush.

Click here for a Roundup of news stories on the Faith in Action panel.

Click here for a previous Roundtable article on Sen. Obama's proposed faith-based plan.

New! Nonprofits and Volunteers Respond to Hurricane Gustav

Once again, a Gulf Coast hurricane has drawn attention to the key role that faith-based organizations
play in preparing for and recovering from disasters. A few days after the 3^rd anniversary of Hurricane
Katrina, whose destruction is still being felt in New Orleans and other communities, the country watched
as Hurricane Gustav temporarily threatened a re-run. Though Gustav's weaker-than-expected landing
caused a collective sigh of relief, the storm still submerged large swaths of the Gulf Coast Monday –
and set faith-based organizations into action. At the Republican National Convention Monday, speakers
turned their attention to Gustav, too, and referenced the work being done by charities and volunteers.

Click here for a Roundup of new stories on faith-based organizations' response to the hurricane.

Click here for a current Roundtable interview on the Greater New Orleans Faith-Based Initiative.

Click here for a Roundtable Resource Page on Faith-Based Organizations in Disaster Response.

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 and 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

Youngsters Enlisted In Albany Anti-Gun Bid
Times Union.com (New York)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8740

At Home, At Long Last
St. Petersburg Times (Florida)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8741

Community Group Gets Development Director; Drug Rehabilitation Ministry Successful
Times-Picayune (New Orleans)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8742

Skatepark to Expand
Journal and Courier (Lafayette, Indiana)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8743

New Construction Will Help Humble Dreams Come True
The Virginian-Pilot(Norfolk, VA.)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8744

Faith-Based Initiative; Westerville Church Organizes Support and Opportunities For Job Hunters In Area
The Columbus Dispatch (Ohio)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8745

Free Backpacks Lighten Parents' Burden; School Supplies Are a Boon Amid Tough Economic Times
The Times Union (Albany, New York)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8746

White House 'Compassion In Action' Roundtable Highlights Successful State Service Strategies
Christian Newswire

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8747

Waukegan High Forms Faith-Based Council
Lake County News-Sun

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8748

Faith Based Summit In Mercer County
WVNS-TV (West Virginia)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8749

El Paso United Methodists Cross Border to Check On Juarez Friends
United Methodist News Service

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8750

Showing Faith in Schools
The News & Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8751

City Close To Resolving Federal Grant Dispute
The Macon Telegraph (Georgia)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8752

Touting Freedom of "No Religion"
The Seattle Times

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8753

Bush's Faith-Based Initiative Gave Obama's Former Church $1.5 Million
CBSNews.com

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8754

South Tucson Agency Suspends Services
Tucson Citizen (Arizona)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8755

Even In Tough Times, Charitable Donations Stay Strong
Religion News Service

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8756

Church Again Gives Needier Youngsters A Pack On The Back
Providence Journal-Bulletin (Rhode Island)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8757

Weekly Opinion Roundup - 9/2/2008
The Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/news_opinion_9_2_08.cfm