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Compassion in Action
Opportunities
What's New
Resources
"Let us think of education as the means of developing our greatest abilities, because in each of us there is a private hope and dream which, fulfilled, can be translated into benefit for everyone and greater strength for our nation."
- John F. Kennedy
Compassion in Action
The Fishing School
For 20 years Tom Lewis patrolled the streets of the nation's capital as a District of Columbia police officer. He saw the grandeur of the monuments and the brightness of the Capitol dome, but he also saw the crime and poverty that plague the city's residents. He saw some people living in the shadows of these universal symbols of freedom who were, as he put it, "...trapped in tombs of illiteracy, hopelessness, and addictions." He was especially moved by the plight of the children he encountered.
Instead of settling into a restful retirement, Lewis embarked on his most ambitious effort yet to protect and serve his community. With the support of his family, Lewis established the Fishing School—an after-school program in which children receive guidance that enables them to become self-sufficient adults.
When the Fishing School opened its doors in 1990, five children regularly attended the after school program. Today 125 children are enrolled in this year-round safe-haven that is a model of how faith-based and community organizations can support the nation's mission of ensuring that no child is left behind.
An approved provider of supplemental educational services (SES) for Washington, D.C., public schools since 2003, the Fishing School is currently serving 19 children under its program. The Fishing School's formula for success is a curriculum that combines self-esteem and personal motivation training with academic tutoring.
Jackie Walls, executive director of the Fishing School, points to a dedicated staff of 11 employees and 30 volunteers who bring this curriculum to life for the students. "We have a diverse staff that brings experience from the community, the business world and the public school system. And they believe in the children just like Mr. Lewis does."
Despite a courageous battle against cancer, which has kept him away from his true life's calling more days than he would like, Lewis only sees bright days ahead. The school has already expanded to two sites within the city, and he expects to see many more children flourish with the guidance of the staff.
"There is nothing quite like seeing a child smile," he said. And thanks to the Fishing School, more children in the nation's capital will be smiling—smiling even brighter than the Capitol dome on a starry night.
Producing Real Results for Americans in Need
Recent data from a review of programs at the Departments of Heath and Human Services (HHS), Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Justice, Labor, Education, and Agriculture and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) showed:
To help Americans in need, in Fiscal Year (FY) 2004, $2 billion in competitive grants across seven federal agencies were awarded to faith-based organizations -- 10.3 percent of the total funding awarded through 151 programs and 17 program areas. This is up from last year when $1.17 billion was awarded in grants to faith-based groups across five agencies. In one year, HHS, HUD, Justice, Labor, and Education saw a 20 percent increase in the number of grants to faith-based organizations with 334 more grants awarded, and a 14 percent increase in the amount awarded to faith-based organizations -- an increase of $164 million.
When given a level playing field, faith-based groups can compete successfully with other social service organizations. The number of first-time faith-based grantees across the same five federal agencies was 331 in FY 2004 -- representing a 20 percent increase from FY 2003.
Due to the president's leadership, more faith-based organizations are participating in the federal grants process. HHS programs represented the majority of available funding included in the report. HHS saw an 88 percent increase in the number of awards to faith-based organizations since FY 2002 -- from 483 to 908. Since FY 2002, first-time HHS grants to faith-based groups have more than doubled.
PDF (3.6MB), White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, Washington, D.C., March 1, 2005 Opportunities
Funds to Help Faith-based and Community Organizations Build Capacity, Serve the Needy
U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Mike Leavitt announced on April 29, 2005, that $31,900,000 is available from the Compassion Capital Fund (CCF). The funds are designed to help faith-based and community groups build capacity and serve those in need.
"The Compassion Capital Fund strengthens what President Bush calls the 'armies of compassion' with the necessary resources to help those most in need," Secretary Leavitt said. "These funds will help faith-based and community groups build the capacity to serve the poor, the hungry, the homeless, at-risk youth, rural communities and to strengthen marriage across the nation."
Secretary Leavitt's announcement pertains to two sets of funds. The first set of $16.9 million, from the CCF Demonstration Program, is available to up to 17 intermediary organizations to provide technical assistance and sub-awards. These intermediary organizations serve as a bridge between the federal government and faith-based and community organizations. The second set of $15 million, from the CCF Targeted Capacity Building Program, is available to 300 faith-based and community organizations for capacity-building, to address the needs of at-risk youths and the homeless, to provide voluntary marriage education and preparation services, and to offer social services to those living in rural communities.
"This funding will strengthen children and families from the grassroots up," said Dr. Wade F. Horn, HHS assistant secretary for children and families. "With this initiative, President Bush is forming strong partnerships between the federal government and community and faith-based organizations to deliver effective and compassionate services to those in need."
The CCF was created by President Bush in 2002 as a special initiative to help faith-based and community organizations improve their effectiveness, enhance their ability to provide social services and emulate model social service programs.
Drug Free Communities Support Mentoring Program Grant
The Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will award as many as 39 grants under its $2.9-million Drug-Free Communities Support Mentoring Program.
The grants will finance community-based anti-drug coalitions, with a focus on adult mentoring programs for children and youths. Potential applicants must meet the same eligibility requirements for the Drug-Free Communities Support Program's coalition grants. Coalitions must be at least 5 years old and have demonstrated their effectiveness in delivering alcohol and other drug abuse programs. The maximum grant size is $75,000, and the application deadline is May 31. For more information, contact Ivette Ruiz at (240) 276-1511.
Community Food and Nutrition Program
HHS's Administration for Children and Families recently announced funding for Community Services Block Grants through its Community Food and Nutrition Program. The program supports food assistance activities targeted to low-income people. Funded activities include coordinating private and public food assistance resources, identifying sponsors for child nutrition programs, conducting child nutrition programs in unserved or underserved areas, developing innovative approaches to meet the nutrition needs of low-income people, outreach, and providing information to local officials that administer other food programs.
The application deadline is June 17.
Department of Justice Operation Weed and Seed: Competitive Sites
The U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Justice recently announced a funding opportunity through its Operation Weed and Seed program. The program partners law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to "weed out" violent crime and drug abuse, while organizations "seed" areas with prevention, intervention and treatment services, and neighborhood revitalization activities.
Successful applicants may apply for a grant under this program to maintain their best programs, plan and implement their own Weed and Seed strategy and serve as an example for other sites. Interested applicants should note that sites should have at least one Safe Haven (a multi-service center where a variety of youth and adult services are coordinated). Successful applicants are also expected to participate in evaluations as well as arrange for a qualified partner to analyze their site's crime problems and evaluate the site's strategy and programs.
The application deadline is September 15.
Supplemental Educational Services
Under President George W. Bush's No Child Left Behind Act, faith-based and community organizations are eligible to receive federal funds to provide extra academic help to students in certain schools that need improvement. These supplemental educational services are additional academic instruction designed to increase the academic achievement of students in low-performing schools. Services must be provided outside of the regular school day and may include tutoring, remediation and other educational interventions. The following states have set deadlines to apply to become an approved provider:
West Virginia—May 13
MSWord 97KWashington (state)—May 16
MSWord 221KWashington, D.C.—May 19
South Carolina — May 20
Pennsylvania—May 20
Florida—May 20
PDF 40KArizona—May 26
Tennessee—May 31
Wisconsin—June 1
Kansas—June 1
Georgia—June 2
Michigan—June 3
Vermont—June 17
Information about other states
Technical Assistance Workshops in Illinois and Louisiana
The U.S. Department of Education's Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives is holding a series of free technical assistance workshops for organizations interested in becoming approved providers of supplemental services under No Child Left Behind. Workshops are scheduled for:
Springfield, Illinois—May 18
Chicago, Illinois—May 19
New Orleans, Louisiana—June 2
Informational Conferences for the Prisoner Re-entry Initiative
The U.S. Department of Labor recently announced $19.8 million dollars to fund faith-based and community organizations that can help transition released prisoners into employment.
Interested organizations are invited to attend one of three informational conferences:
Los Angeles, California -- May 12
Dallas, Texas -- May 19
Washington, D.C. -- May 26
For more information, call (301) 589-2547.
Become a Peer Reviewer
The U.S. Department of Education continually seeks qualified people to evaluate grant applications. If you have experience and expertise in a particular field of education, you could become a peer reviewer.
Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools 2005 National Conference
August 15-17—Washington, DC
What's New
Secretary Spellings Asks Private Schools to Become SES Providers
Shortly after taking on her new job, U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings met with private school leaders and encouraged them to reach out to children in public schools by providing supplemental educational services through the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB).
Under NCLB, federally funded supplemental services, such as summer-school programs and after-school tutoring, are available to students in low-income families who attend public schools that have been labeled by the state as "in need of improvement" for two or more years. Parents select the provider of services from a list of providers approved by the state. Private schools, along with other faith-based and community organizations, are eligible and encouraged to apply to provide this help.
The secretary met with Catholic school officials and representatives of the Council for American Private Education (CAPE) and relayed her respect for the role played by private schools in American education. She also asked for their help. "I want to ask you to offer your services for this important cause. The president and I hope you will consider becoming providers of supplemental educational services." She added, "Thousands of students in your communities could benefit from the knowledge and skill of your teachers. We will provide federal funds. We just need you to open your doors ...just as you have always done for children in need."
Excerpts from President Bush's February 28, 2005, remarks to the National Governors Association at the White House
"And, finally, I urge you to continue to take advantage of the faith-based initiative. I believe that the best way to cure many of society's ills is to surround them with love, and faith-based groups exist purely because they want to love somebody, or do love somebody. And we're working really hard to make sure that federal money is accessible on a competitive basis to our faith-based programs around the country.
I've traveled our country a lot, and I found these just fantastic institutions that are changing America one soul at a time, and I urge you, if you don't have an office, to set up a faith-based office and take advantage of the fantastic opportunity available that we're trying to make available to the faith community.
You know, not every problem is going to be solved by a faith-based group, but at least you ought to include faith-based groups in the mix. It makes sense to me to make sure that taxpayers' money is accessible on a competitive basis. And it's all aimed -- the program is all aimed at helping change this country for the better."
Full text of President Bush's remarks
Governors' offices that have faith-based and community liaisons
Keeping The Funding And Standards: "The Choice Has To Be Both"
Excerpted from an editorial in the April 25, 2005, Wall Street Journal. The complete text of this article is available online. (paid subscription required)
"We've seen a lot covering education politics over the years. But we never thought we'd see the day when the nation's largest teachers' union opposed a federal law because it forced school districts to spend too much on education.
"Of course, the No Child Left Behind Act can't 'force' states to do anything, and the National Education Association's claim that the bill is an "unfunded mandate" strains credulity. Overall education spending rose to a record half-trillion dollars last year, and federal support for K-12 schooling has risen by nearly two-thirds since 2001. ... Nevertheless, the lawsuit filed last week by the NEA and eight school districts in Michigan, Texas and Vermont -- along with the suit that Connecticut is threatening -- illustrate the lengths to which the public education establishment will go to avoid accountability.
"Also last week, Utah's state Legislature passed a bill that orders state officials to ignore parts of NCLB. If Republican Governor Jon Huntsman signs the law, Utah could be kissing off $76 million in federal education funding. Utah has every right to reject the money, but this is also evidence that NCLB isn't forcing states to do anything they don't want to.
"But what's really going on here has less to do with money (or states' rights) and more to do with the fact that No Child Left Behind requires the public education blob to change its ways if it wants to continue receiving money from Washington.
"From the beginning, a major NCLB goal was to close the achievement gap and bring all students to proficiency in reading and math. This meant that fudging the numbers wasn't acceptable anymore. Therefore the law requires states to test annually in grades three through eight; disaggregate the results according to race, income, language and disability status; and publicize the findings. Students in failing schools can transfer to a better school and receive tutoring from outside the school system.
"This accountability and transparency is what NCLB's foes really fear. Utah doesn't disaggregate its data in accordance with the law, and Connecticut doesn't test annually. The money issue is a sideshow intended to distract attention from these facts. And let's be clear about whose educational under-performance these educators are trying to keep under wraps: poor kids, especially minority kids.
"For too long money has flowed to the states with no questions asked, even while millions of mostly poor and minority students have been herded through our worst schools and dumped into the workforce with a diploma they can barely read. NCLB was a bipartisan agreement that such education failure was no longer acceptable, and the political compromise traded more federal money in return for higher standards and more accountability. But now the critics want to keep the cash and drop the standards. The choice has to be both, or neither."
Making a Difference for America's Youths
The President and Mrs. Laura Bush recently announced that this fall Mrs. Bush will convene the first-ever "White House Conference on Helping America's Youth." The conference will promote public awareness of the various problems facing at-risk youths in our nation and bring together a variety of individuals and organizations to share examples of what is already working to make a difference in the lives of young Americans.
Fact Sheet: "Making a Difference for America's Youth"
Resources
Character Education Resource
The U.S. Department of Education is pleased to announce the creation of the Character Education and Civic Engagement Technical Assistance Center (CETAC). This center is an online resource for information on character education and civic engagement, as well as strategies that support academic goals and other reform efforts.
SchoolMatters
Parents and community leaders now have an online clearinghouse for education statistics, student achievement, and other information about schools. SchoolMatters, a subsidiary of Standard and Poor's, provides "one-stop shopping" for people interested in learning about student performance, school environments, community demographics, and spending, revenue, and taxes. Information is available for all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and is derived from state departments of education, the National Center for Education Statistics, the U.S. Census, and testing vendors.
Technology for Nonprofits
Techsoup, sponsored by CompuMentor—a San Francisco-based nonprofit organization, offers online resources for technology information and news. The group provides access to donated and discounted software and technology products.
Final Regulations
To view the final regulations implementing the policy that faith-based organizations should be able to compete on an equal footing with other organizations for funding by the U.S. Department of Education, please visit: http://www.ed.gov/policy/fund/reg/fbci-reg.html.
What Works Clearinghouse
The U.S. Department of Education's What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) collects, screens and identifies studies of the effectiveness of educational interventions (programs, products, practices, and policies).
The USA Freedom Corps Volunteer Network
The USA Freedom Corps Volunteer Network is the largest clearinghouse of volunteer opportunities ever created. Americans interested in finding opportunities to serve can search the database by area of interest and geographic location. Since the Volunteer Network was created in 2002, more than 935,000 searches have been conducted.
Please note that this message contains websites created and maintained by organizations other than the U.S. Department of Education. They are provided for the user's convenience. The U.S. Department of Education does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this outside information. Further, the inclusion of links or pointers to particular items in hypertext is not intended to reflect their importance, nor is it intended to endorse any views expressed, or products or services offered, on these outside sites, or the organizations sponsoring the sites.
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Last Modified: 08/26/2008
