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! Faith Groups Urge Action on Sunsetting Children's Health Program

Religious leaders have urged swift action on a compromise bill announced by Senate and House
negotiators to extend a key health insurance program for children before it expires at the end of
the week, but President Bush continues to threaten to veto the measure. The State Children's
Health Insurance Program – known by its SCHIP or "S-chip" acronym – is a national program
designed for families who earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid, yet cannot afford to buy
private insurance. The specifics vary by state but in general, the program provides coverage for
doctor visits, immunizations, hospitalizations, and emergency room visits. Seen by advocates as
a lynchpin in efforts to extend health care to the uninsured, absent extension, SCHIP is now set to
expire September 30.

The House and Senate each passed legislation to extend and modify SCHIP before they left
Washington for August recess. But these measures differed in significant respects, and negotiators
have been at work since Congress' return earlier this month on a compromise measure that could
secure support from the Bush Administration, or pass by margins large enough to withstand the
President's threatened veto.

Click here to read more by Roundtable Correspondent David Wright.

New! Seven in Ten Congregations Provide Health Services, Survey Says

Religious institutions have long been credited with offering a wide range of health-care services,
including direct medical care, education to prevent illness, and advocacy aimed at changing
health policies. Now a survey proves that credit is well-deserved. Among more than 6,000
congregations responding to a survey by the National Council of Churches USA, a full 70 percent
report providing direct medical services, 65 percent report offering health education programs, and
35 percent say they are engaged in advocacy work. With an estimated 47 million Americans lacking
health insurance, NCC officials said the information would be valuable to religious leaders, health
officials and policy makers looking to fill holes in the national health care system.

Click here to read more by Roundtable Correspondent Claire Hughes.

New! Faith-Based Groups Receive One-Third of Addiction Service Vouchers

Three years after the inception of a government pilot program to provide vouchers for substance abuse
treatment, religious organizations have become significant players in providing recovery support and
clinical services, according to government figures released last week. One-third of federal voucher
money through the Access to Recovery (ATR) program has been paid to faith-based organizations,
which account for 22 percent of recovery support services and 31 percent of clinical treatment services
provided through the program, according to figures provided by the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services (HHS).

HHS also announced the award of $96 million in new three-year grants to provide people seeking drug
and alcohol treatment with vouchers to pay for services and $2 million for an independent evaluation of
the program. The grants will go to 18 states, five tribal organizations and the District of Columbia. The
first round of funding in 2004 went to 14 states and one tribal organization. In the newest round of
funding, 13 of the grants will go to new recipients, while 11 grants are renewals. Grants to four states –
Idaho, New Jersey, Florida, and Wyoming – will not be renewed.

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

Click here for the Roundtable's Resource page on Vouchers and Indirect Financing of Faith-Based
Social Services.

New! An Interview with Susan Foster of CASA on Addiction and Spirituality

Susan E. Foster is the vice president and director of policy research and analysis at the National Center
on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University. She is responsible for research and
policy analysis on the impact of substance abuse on America's systems and populations. Projects under
her direction include studies on the link between substance abuse and spirituality or religious practice,
which she talked about with the Roundtable.

Click here to read the interview.

New! School Vouchers Promoted at White House Event on Hispanic Youth

A White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives conference on Youth and Education in
the Hispanic Community on Monday emphasized President George W. Bush's push for school choice
and his belief that private faith-based and community organizations are needed to help minority students
overcome low graduation rates and poor reading and math skills. States have expanded their school
choice programs over the last decade, according to U.S. Department of Education Secretary Margaret
Spellings, who spoke to about 800 participants attending the conference. As of August, there were 24
programs in 13 States providing financial assistance in the form of vouchers, tax credits, and tax
deductions compared to seven such programs 10 years ago.

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

Click here for the Roundtable's Resource page on Vouchers and Indirect Financing of Faith-Based
Social Services.

Save the Date! Roundtable 2007 Conference Set for Dec. 5 in Washington, D.C.

The Roundtable's annual update on the state of faith-based social services is set for Wednesday,
December 5, in Washington D.C. The program will run from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the National
Press Club at 529 14th St. NW.

Watch for more information in future newsletters.

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 United States Agency for
International Development.

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

Click here for the grant digest, compiled by Roundtable Correspondent Allison Sarnoff with Lisa Montiel.

Roundtable Digest of Current Faith-Based News Stories

SC prisons gets 24,000 copies of Christian self-help book
The Associated Press

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7144

Faith-based program aims to revive troubled neighborhood
Chi-Town Daily News (Illinois)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7143

Pasadena church wants apology from IRS
Los Angeles Times (California)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7109

Care center a blessing for stressed parents
The Chronicle-Telegram (Ohio)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7100

Any age is the right age for assisted living at Wedgewood
LubbockOnline (Texas)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7101

Learning through service
Laconia Citizen (New Hampshire)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7102

'Generous hearts' come together for Catholic Charities
Chicago Tribune (Illinois)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7103

Faith-based organization still rebuilding from Rita
The Port Arthur News (Texas)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7104

Women's rehab facility prepares 'clients' for reintegration in society
Killeen Daily Herald (Texas)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7105

Church nurses aim to fill in U.S. health care gaps
Yahoo News

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7106

Class readies state prison inmates for life outside
The Missoulian (Montana)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7107

Summit's goal is to promote healthy marriages
The Wichita Eagle (Kansas)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7108

Critics Right and Left Protest Book Removals
The New York Times (New York)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7110

No to abstinence funds: Calling Bush's teen education program on sex a failure,
New York state will forgo $3.7 million in federal aid
Albany Times Union (New York)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7111

Ky. opens own faith-based service office: Program is modeled on White House plan
Louisville Courier-Journal (Kentucky)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7112

SIPAD's new spin: Organization teams up with area schools, churches
Twin Falls Times-News (Idaho)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7113

Ministry interrupted
Kingston Daily Freeman (New York)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7114

Connecting veterans for support, fellowship
Mount Vernon News (Ohio)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7115

Fletcher's timing questioned on faith-based initiative meeting
The Cincinnati Enquirer (Ohio)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7099

AZ wins federal grant to fund meth recovery programs
Arizona Capitol Times (Arizona)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7116

Fletcher says meeting with faith-based groups not political
Lexington Herald-Leader (Kentucky)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7117

EPA awards Saginaw agency funds to fight lead poisoning
The Saginaw News (Michigan)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7120

Coast clergy oppose housing funds transfer to port
The Associated Press State & Local Wire

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7121

John Edwards: working-class values and a closely held faith:
While Christian beliefs help gird his antipoverty campaign,
he believes that politicians who identify closely with one religion cannot be inclusive.
The Christian Science Monitor

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7122

'When it gets hopeless for any woman, there we'll be'
The State (South Carolina)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7128

Commissioner relaunches anti-crime campaign
The Miami Herald (Florida)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7129

Homeless face struggle for survival: Minister continues mission to serve forgotten residents
Tri-Town News (New Jersey)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7130

New program helps elder immigrants, adult children find services
San Francisco Chronicle (California)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7131

Lending a hand; Shelter is a place to stay for homeless women
Idaho Falls Post Register (Idaho)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7132

A New Place For Teens To Deal With Pain
WCCO-TV (Minnesota)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7133

Through the cracks: Shelter's rules change; mom of 2 evicted
Chambersburg Public Opinion (Pennsylvania)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7134

County programs impact repeat offenders: Recidivism targeted
Lake County News-Sun (Illinois)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7135

A First for Jewish Inmates in a Texas Prison: High Holy Days Plus Sukkot
Chabad Lubavitch Global Network

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7136

Judge: Ten Commandments display can stay
The Boston Globe (Massachusetts)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7137

Insurer Rejects UCC Church Because of Gay Stance
Religion News Service

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7138

Churches play a healthcare role
Scripps Howard News Service

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7123

Mayor's Office, HUD lead financial seminar
Financial News and Daily Record (Florida)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7124

Muslims Say Charity is Pinched by U.S. Oversight
Religion News Service

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7125

Churches Weigh Whether to Join Sanctuary Movement
Religion News Service

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7126

Interfaith-pledge to survive a week on poverty fare
Baltimore Sun (Maryland)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7127

Military Sued Over Religious Freedom
The Associated Press

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7139

Weekly Opinion Roundup - 9/25/2007
The Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/news_opinion_9_25_07.cfm