White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives was one of President Bush's first official acts as President. The Office was tasked at its inception with leading a "determined attack on need" by strengthening and expanding the role of faith-based and community organizations in addressing the nation's social problems. The President envisions a faith-friendly public square where faith-based organizations can compete equally with other groups to provide government or privately-funded services.   President Bush also created Centers for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives in seven Federal agencies - the United States Departments of Justice, Agriculture, Labor, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and Education and the Agency for International Development - to promote the Initiative.

United States Department of Health and Human Services Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (CFBCI) mission is to create an environment within the Department (HHS) that welcomes the participation of faith-based and community-based organizations as valued and essential partners assisting Americans in need. The CFBCI's mission is part of the Department's focus on improving human services for our country's neediest citizens. This Center leads the Department's efforts to better utilize faith-based and community-based organizations in providing effective human services.

United States Department of Labor Center for Faith-Based and Community Intiatives' (CFBCI) mission is to empower faith-based and community organizations as they help their neighbors enter, succeed, and thrive in the workforce. CFBCI targets those organizations who are trusted institutions providing valuable services, but who may not be collaborating or partnering with government programs.

Housing and Urban Development Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives' aim is to engage faith-based and other community-based organizations in HUD's mission to help all Americans realize the dream of a decent and affordable place to live.  In particular we seek to engage faith-based and community-based organizations to help us: (1) Prevent and effectively treat homelessness, (2) Provide affordable housing opportunities, (3) Equip public housing residents to secure permanent housing and become self-sufficient, (4) Prepare individuals for homeownership.

United States Department of Justice Task Force for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives'  purpose is to promote good works by neighbors, particularly in the areas of juvenile delinquency, prisoners and their families, victims of crime, domestic violence, and drug addiction/treatment/prevention. It is doing so by identifying and eliminating barriers to the participation of faith-based and community-based organizations in grants funded by the Department of Justice, highlighting best practices, helping bring innovative programs to the attention of the nation, and providing information to assist Faith-based and Community-based groups in having an equal opportunity to compete for grants.

United States Department of Education Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives' goal is to break down existing barriers and empower faith-based and community groups, enlisting them in support of the Department's mission to ensure equal access to education and to promote educational excellence for all Americans.  From after-school programs to weekend computer labs, from early reading to family literacy, there are many opportunities for faith-based and community organizations to help ensure that no child is left behind.

FaithBasedandCommunityInitiatives.org aggregates and disseminates information about the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (OFBCI). Their Vision is to educate and assist new and existing Faith-Based and Community Initiatives to apply and qualify for competitive Federal Funding.  Please note that FBCI.org is an informational website and not the White House Office and  is not affiliated with OFBCI in any manner.

North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center Communities of Faith Initiative launched the Communities of Faith Initiative in 1993. The purpose of the initiative was to build an alliance among the most prevalent, powerful institutions in rural communities - rural churches - to support those most in need. Under the Communities of Faith umbrella, the Rural Center conducted several projects, the most important of which were the Church Child Care Initiative and the Work First Job Retention and Follow-Up Model Program.

North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center Faith Partnerships, Inc.  grew out of a highly successful eight-year project of the Rural Center called the Communities of Faith Initiative.

Charitable Choice  is Progressive Social Policy Promoting the Public Trust by Stanley Carlson-Thies and John J. DiIulio Jr.

ASPA Article

"Religious Organizations Still Wary of Charitable Choice" -- an article by the American Society for Public Administration -- discusses preliminary findings of "Faith-Based Social Service Provision under Charitable Choice: A Study of Implementation in Three States," that show that many religious organizations continue to be wary of partnering with government, or continue to have difficulty entering the system.

Governor's Faith Based Health Initiative was established in march 2002 to to develop partnerships with the medical and faith communities to increase access to health promotion and disease prevention services through church based screening, monitoring and referral services for residents of North Carolina.

OMB Executive Report "Faith-Based Initiatives Moves Forward at Agencies,": With Republicans taking control of the Senate, President Bush's stalled proposal to increase federal funding of faith-based organizations likely moves to the front burner. In the meantime, however, the administration is moving forward with administrative reforms of agency grant programs. (November, 2002)