News and Events
White House Faith-Based and Community Initiatives Regional Conference, Dallas, TX - October 3, 2008
The White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives will be hosting a regional conference on October 3 in Dallas, Texas. This conference will place special emphasis on opportunities for partnership at the state and local level, ranging from funding provided through grants and contracts, to non-financial partnerships like mutual-referral relationships with local government agencies, to government services that can supplement the aid nonprofits provide to their clients. The event is designed to connect effective social service organizations with knowledge and resources that can strengthen and expand the services they offer to the people they serve. The conference is free, but pre-registration is required. Registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Registration deadline is 5:00 pm EST on Tuesday September 23, 2008.
We strongly encourage you to register online.
For more information please call 202-456-6708, visit www.fbci.gov, or send an e-mail to fbci@dtihq.com.
Texas Legal Services Center Provides Assistance
The Texas Legal Services Center is a non-profit organization providing assistance to all Texans, especially those of modest means. One of their current projects is to inform Texans about the Earned Income Tax Credit and I Can E-file, a tax-filing website that can be accessed from any computer and is free to all. Additionally, the Texas Legal Services Center sponsors several programs that would directly benefit clients of charitable, faith-based, and community based organizations, such as the Legal Hotline for Older Texans; the Victims Initiative for Counseling, Advocacy and the Restoration of the Southwest (VICARS), which provides direct legal assistance to victims of identity theft and financial fraud in Texas; Texas Health Law, which provides assistance with healthcare access and payments; and the Texas Law Help, which provides free online resources and low-cost civil legal assistance.
Please contact the Texas Legal Services Center at 512-477-6000 with any questions.
Collaborating with Faith- and Community-Based Organizations: Lessons Learned from 12 Workforce Investment Boards
The Department of Labor (DOL) has posted online Mathematica's final report
Collaborating with Faith- and Community-Based Organizations:
Lessons Learned from 12 Workforce Investment Boards, by D. Paulsell, et al. (May 15, 2007) ETAOP 2007-16.
Lessons learned include:
- FBCOs can leverage other community resources to meet clients' needs.
- One-stop centers and FBCOs have different organizational cultures, which must be bridged before partnerships begin.
- Partnering with intermediary organizations - which have experience with both One-stop centers and FBCOs - will facilitate successful relationships.
- Designing a liaison for client referrals at the One-stop center or co-locating FBCO staff at the One-stop helped build strong relationships between the two.
Nonprofit Resource Center (NPRC) Grants- & Nonprofit Management- related Training
The Nonprofit Resource Center of Texas,
in San Antonio, is offering the following grants- and nonprofit management-related training in 2008:
- Basics of Grant Proposal Writing: January 24, March 20, August 14, October 16
- Proposal Writing Basics: February 27
- Interpreting Nonprofit Financials & Basic Cash Flow Management: February 28, April 19, August 9
- Applying for Federal Grants: April 12
- Dialogue with Donors 2007: May 14
- Building a Donor Base: Fund Raising beyond Grant Proposals: July 25
- Doing It All in Fundraising: How to Devise and Execute a Comprehensive Fundraising Program: September 20
- Staying on Top of the Efficiency Curve: Strategies for Managing an Efficient Organization: November 29
Online Classes in Grant Writing & Nonprofit Management
Starting on March 19, 2008, the following online classes in grant writing and nonprofit management will be offered
through Ed2Go:
- Creating Your Own Nonprofit
- Introduction to Nonprofit Management
- Marketing Your Nonprofit
- Wow, What a Great Event!
- A to Z Grant writing
- Get Grants!
- Writing Effective Grant Proposals
- Advanced Grant Proposal Writing
- Becoming a Grant Writing Consultant
Search the Federal Register
Texas State Grants
Get Involved
The Texas Workforce Commission has established a
Bulletin Board
to enhance communication networking among local workforce development boards, faith-based and
non-profit community-based organizations, service providers and the public who are interested in
workforce development and support services.
These services may include: job-search, job-readiness, job-skills training programs;
Literacy, General Educational Development (GED) and English as a Second Language (ESL)
programs; food, shelter, and clothing; social services and referral; child care and
transportation; and counseling services among others.
Faith-based and non-profit community-based organizations may enter their name, address, telephone
number, and services available to be posted on a Bulletin Board. This information will be
available to the public, boards and workforce service providers searching for organizations
offering workforce and support services in their areas.
Charitable Choice Bulletin Board
Charitable Choice Basics and History
"What is Charitable Choice?" at the US Department of Health & Human Services
Personal Responsibility Act
Charitable Choice originated with the introduction of Sec. 104 in the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, H.R. 3734. The
purpose of Sec. 104 is to allow states to contract with charitable, religious or private organizations, when they (the state) enter into purchase
of service agreements or voucher arrangements with non-governmental organizations under Temporary Assistance for Needy
Families (TANF). Charitable Choice also applies to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and to the food stamp and Medicaid
programs to the extent that the state uses contracts or vouchers with non-governmental providers.
Faith In Action Report (PDF)
Former Governor Bush created a Faith-Based Task Force in May 1996 to (1) survey Texas' legal and regulatory landscape to
identify obstacles to faith-based groups, and (2) recommend ways Texas can create an environment in which these groups can
thrive, free of regulations that dilute the "faith factor." The former Governor's Faith-Based Task Force was comprised
of 16 clergy and volunteer leaders from across Texas. This diverse body – diverse theologically, denominationally, ethnically
and geographically – met throughout 1996 and presented a written report, Faith in Action and recommendations to Governor
Bush on December 17, 1996.
Governor's Executive Order - GWB 96-10
In December 1996, the Governor issued an Executive Order directing state agencies to begin aggressive implementation of the
landmark "charitable choice" provision of the federal welfare law, which invites private and religious charities to deliver
welfare services – while at the same time guarding the religious integrity of participating groups and religious freedom of
beneficiaries. The Texas Workforce Commission, along with the local workforce development boards has actively executed the provisions set forth
by the Governor in Executive Order (GWB 96-10) through partnerships with faith-based and community-based organizations.
Charitable Choice 101 - An Introduction
Center for Public Justice: A Guide to Charitable Choice
Other Resources
State of Texas
OneStar Foundation
Texas Legislature Online – HB 2017
Federal Government
White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
Provides the federal government/administration's primary site for Faith-based organizations (FBOs) and Community-based organizations (CBOs) information,
including current federal policies favoring FBO/CBO involvement, links to key federal agencies, grant opportunities, and guidance on effective
joint activities and building partnerships.
The US Department of Labor's Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
Provides information specific to the US Department of Labor and federal workforce-related connections and opportunities for FBOs/CBOs.
The Center for Faith-Based & Community Initiatives
Federal Legislation
Enter keywords "Charitable Choice" to search for legislation on this topic.
The Personal
Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, H.R. 3734, 104th Congress, 2d Session, P.L. 104-193
Establishes the use of Charitable Choice.
Faith-Based Reports
The DOL Center for Faith-based and Community Initiatives has posted four reports:
Related Sites
GAO report: Charitable Choice Federal Guidance on
Statutory Provisions Could Improve Consistency of Implementation (PDF)
Charitable Choice at the Center for Public Justice
Center for Public Justice: Faith & Community Liaisons
Faith-Based & Community Initiatives
