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Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
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"My community and faith-based initiative recognizes the true strength of this country is in the hearts and souls of our citizens; that we recognize that oftentimes there's -- a change of heart will change behavior and governments can't change hearts. This community and faith-based initiative is a vital part of this administration's program to help save lives.”
President George W. Bush
2004 National Urban League Conference
Detroit, Michigan
July 23, 2004 |
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Welcome
Welcome to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (CFBCI). President George W. Bush established the Center by executive order on June 1, 2004, to help faith-based and community groups compete for funding on a level playing field with other organizations.
On these pages, we are providing information, resources and tools you will need to accomplish your organization's objectives. We are honored to support our veterans’ goals and needs and to help them achieve their desired outcomes. Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to serve you.
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What's New.....
White House Conferences
2008 Conference dates:
Oct 3 in Dallas, TX at the Westin Park Central, Highway 635 and Coit Road, 12720 Merit Drive, Dallas, TX, (972) 385-3000. Online registration to open soon. For more information www.westin.com/parkcentral.
Registration is on a first-come, first serve basis so visit www.fbci.gov to register online. If you are unable to register online please e-mail fbci@dtihq.com or fax a request to 703-299-4589.
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Background
Faith-based organizations have been a cornerstone of community assistance to those in need throughout America ’s history. Federal policies and regulations have kept them at arms length when it comes to sharing federal social service funds. Though some agency regulations specifically prohibit faith-based organizations from applying for federal funds, the general problem is more subtle - a perception by these groups that their participation is simply not welcome.
Executive Order 13342, (PDF format) signed by President Bush on June 1, 2004, directed that VA establish a Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. As a direct result of that, we are working to remove administrative and regulatory barriers and to develop innovative programs and initiatives that foster partnerships between VA and faith-based and community organizations.
Regulatory Guidance (PDF format) - VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program final rule for religious organizations: This regulation revises provisions that apply to religious organizations that receive VA funds under VA’s Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program to ensure that VA activities under this program are open to all qualified organizations, regardless of their religious character, to clearly establish the proper uses to which funds may be put, and the conditions for the receipt of such funding. Consistent with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the rule removes the regulatory prohibition against religious organizations making employment decisions on a religious basis.
We hope this website helps faith-based and community organizations learn about the benefits, programs and resources VA offers to help them meet those needs. If you have any questions about VA’s Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, please contact us by email at VAFBCI@va.gov or by phone at (202) 461-7689.
Mission
The mission of the Center is to coordinate Department of Veterans Affairs efforts to eliminate regulatory, contracting, and other programmatic obstacles to the participation of faith-based and other community organizations in the provision of social and community services to veterans. The Center empowers faith-based and other community organizations to apply for federal social service grants. The Center supplies information and training, but it does not make the decisions about which groups will be funded. Those decisions are made through procedures established by each grant program, generally involving a competitive process. No grant funding is set aside for faith-based organizations. Instead, the Faith-Based and Community Initiative creates a level-playing field for faith-based as well as other community organizations so that they can work with the government to meet the needs of America's communities.
Overview
The aim of the VA FBCI is to engage faith-based and other community-based organizations in VA's mission "To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan." We are committed to helping fulfill President Bush's vision of mobilizing the armies of compassion to strengthen America 's communities.
Faith-based and other grassroots groups are renewing America's communities every day. They provide publicly important services and offer invaluable help to those who need it most.
For this reason, VA seeks to work more closely with and engage faith-based and community organizations to help us serve veterans.
Therefore, the objective of the Center is to incorporate faith-based and other community organizations in VA programs and initiatives to the greatest extent possible.
From our Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program to our Voluntary Service, we have many different opportunities across the country to become involved in the VA and serve veterans. Our opportunities and partnerships to become involved in the VA delivery of veterans service can be accomplished through our 162 VA hospitals, more than 850+ community and facility-based clinics, 43 domiciliaries, 206 Vet Centers, 57 regional offices, and 120 national cemeteries and 33 other cemeterial installations.
For more information, please contact VA’s Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives:
810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1140
Washington, DC 20420
Phone: (202) 461-7689
E-mail: vafbci@va.gov
White House FBCI Links:
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