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"America is rich
materially, but there remains too much poverty and despair
amidst abundance. Government can rally a military, but
it cannot put hope in our hearts or a sense of purpose
in our lives."
President Bush
(Pictured is the President's
visit to a faith-based
program in New Jersey)
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Faith-Based
& Community Initiatives: Rallying the Armies of Compassion
En Español
The
Problem
Our
Nation has a long and honorable commitment to assisting individuals,
families, and communities who have not fully shared in Americas
growing prosperity. Yet despite a multitude of programs and renewed
commitments by the Federal and state governments to battle social
distress, too many of our neighbors still suffer poverty and
despair amidst our abundance.
Consider:
- As
many as 15 million young people are at risk of not reaching
productive adulthood -- falling prey to crime, drugs and other
problems that make it difficult to obtain an education, successfully
enter the workforce, or otherwise contribute to society;
- More
than 2 million children have a father or mother in prison or jail;
- More
than half a million children are in foster care, and more than one
fifth of those children are awaiting adoption;
- In
1997, more than one million babies were born to unwed mothers,
many of whom are children themselves; and
- More
than one out of six American families with children live on an
annual income of $17,000 or less.
Millions
of Americans are enslaved to drugs or alcohol. Hundreds of thousands
live on the streets. And despite the many successes of
welfare reform, too many families remain dependent and
many of those who have left the rolls can barely make ends meet.
A
great and prosperous nation can and must do better. Americans are
a deeply compassionate people and will not tolerate indifference
toward the poor. But they also want compassionate results, not just
compassionate intentions.
Welfare
Reform
The American people support a vital role for government, but they
also want to see their Federal dollars making a real difference
in the lives of the disadvantaged. Americans believe our society
must find ways to provide healing and renewal. And they believe
that government should help the needy achieve independence and personal
responsibility.
To
achieve these goals, Federal assistance must become more effective
and more tailored to local needs. We must not only devolve Federal
support to state and local governments where appropriate, but also move
support out to neighborhood healers and helpers who need it most. Traditional social
programs are often too bureaucratic, inflexible, and impersonal
to meet the acute and complex needs of the poor. Reforms must make
the Federal Government a partner with faith-based and community
caregivers that are close to the needs of people and trusted
by those who hurt. These organizations perform everyday miracles, boast uncommon successes,
but they are outmanned and outflanked.
We must identify and strengethen these quiet heros, both
sacred and secular that are achieving great civic
results.
Building
on Success
This Administration proposes a different role for government in
social policy a fresh start and a bold new approach. We will
realign Federal policy and programs to better mobilize, empower, and
collaborate with grassroots and nonprofit groups. We will reinforce
and support programs that work and increase their scale.
We must also commit ourselves to spark an outpouring of private
giving from individuals, corporations, foundations and
others to the armies of compassion that labor daily
to strengthen families and communities.
We
must continue to ask: What are the Federal Governments social responsibilities?
How much of our Federal budget should be allocated to social programs? These are vital
questions. Yet equally vital is the question of how the Federal
Government should fulfill its social task. In social policy, the
independent sector secular and religiously-affiliated providers,
civic groups, foundations and other grant-givers has long
been an indispensable and valued partner of government.
We seek to add to, not take away
from, their good work.
We
will focus on expanding the role in social services of faith-based
and other community-serving groups that have traditionally been
distant from government. We do so not because of favoritism or because
they are the only important organizations, but because they frequently
have been neglected or excluded in Federal policy. Our aim is equal
opportunity for such groups, a level playing field, a fair chance
for them to participate if their programs are successful. We will
encourage Federal agencies to become more hospitable
to grassroots and small-scale programs, both sacred and secular,
because they have unique strengths that government cant duplicate.
The
Federal Government must continue to play a prominent role in addressing
poverty and social distress. But that role must move beyond funding
traditional, weathered programs, and instead helping the helpers
who live in the hearts of distressed neighborhoods. Americans deserve a
rich mix of options because when it comes to conquering addiction,
poverty, recidivism, and other social ills, one size does not fit
all.
The Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
The Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives has the lead
responsibility to promote the President's agenda to strengthen and expand
grassroots and faith-based services. The Office works with federal
agencies, Congress, and state and local governments to promote policy,
legal, and regulatory changes. It also works with private philanthropies,
the nonprofit sector, businesses, America's many faith communities, and
neighborhood groups to encourage, inform, and strengthen a renewed
commitment to community service.
Centers for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
The President has established Centers for Faith-Based and Community
Initiatives in five major cabinet agencies to promote the administration's
faith-based and community agenda by changing how the federal government
operates. These Centers will evaluate policies, funding programs, and
agency communications and technical assistance strategies to ensure that
they emphasize effectiveness and hospitality to faith-based and
community-based organizations.
Centers for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives --
- Health and Human Services
- Housing and Urban Development
- Justice
- Education
- Labor
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