| I have spoken with several people asking for my | | | | Capital Mini-Grant Program which awarded $50,000 |
| opinion or analysis on the new office of Faith Based | | | | grants to small nonprofits specifically for "capacity |
| and Neighborhood Partnerships, what President | | | | building." I am expecting that this program will either be |
| Obama has changed from the President Bush | | | | cut or significantly modified to focus more on direct |
| established program, and how I think it will effect | | | | services. I believe the office may focus more on the |
| faith-based organizations who wish to accept federal | | | | Communities Empowering Youth and the |
| grant funding. | | | | Demonstration Grants. These are larger grants given |
| First, and most significantly, President Obama did NOT | | | | to larger organizations. |
| strike out the Bush Executive Order allowing religious | | | | Look for a change in focus. The Bush program |
| organizations to consider religious belief and affiliation in | | | | focused mostly on organization and building up |
| their hiring practices even when using federal monies. | | | | organizations so that they would then have a greater |
| He did not exactly endorse the policy, but rather said | | | | capacity to be able to serve more youth, families, and |
| that the issue would be considered on a case by case | | | | individuals. I expect President Obama to focus more on |
| basis and may be revisited if it seems that the Justice | | | | direct services to youth and to require that more of |
| Department is finding ongoing concerns. | | | | the funding g toward direct services rather than |
| Second, President Obama did not change much else | | | | administrative or capacity building activities. |
| about the program either! He changed some language, | | | | Look for a change in emphasis. President Obama has |
| and he added in some sections to make it clear that | | | | made it clear that a priority concern will be to support |
| there must remain no establishment or endorsement | | | | women, to address teen pregnancy, and to reduce the |
| of religion. But this language was already in place. | | | | need for abortion. He has also stated an emphasis on |
| President Obama just made it more prominent. | | | | getting young men into well-paying jobs and |
| With the structure and organization remaining fairly | | | | encouraging responsible fatherhood. This will likely |
| consistent, what should faith-based groups be looking | | | | come about through a focus on job training programs, |
| for in the re-launch of the faith-based initiatives? | | | | pregnancy centers, and fatherhood initiatives. But do |
| Look for changes in implementation. The signature | | | | not expect many abstinence-only programs to secure |
| program of the Bush program was the Compassion | | | | funding! |