State faith-based and community initiatives offices

A majority of states, under Democratic as well as Republican governors, have established offices of faith-based and community initiatives, or appointed officials with the responsibility to be a liaison to faith-based and community-based organizations.

Many offices have been initiated by executive order, some by legislative action.  Some are located in the governor’s office, some in a social-service agency, some in separate nonprofit organization with ties to the government.  A few combine the new faith-based and community focus with the state’s previous state service commission.

The offices perform many tasks to build bridges, offer information, and spur creativity. They reach out to previously uninvolved organizations, provide information on the availability of government funds, offer capacity-building training, encourage private support for faith-based and secular charities, help to pilot new collaborative efforts, and educate faith-based organizations on their freedoms and responsibilities when they work with the government.  

Two key responsibilities are:  assisting the governor and agency heads to secure state compliance with the new federal standards; and leading a multi-agency effort to identify and remove barriers that hamper optimal partnerships between government and faith-based and community-based organizations.  To carry out these responsibilities, such offices should work in close cooperation with, and with the backing of, the governor’s office.  

The faith-based and community initiative is not a partisan matter.  Having the chief executive’s support is essential, but it is important to maintain a nonpartisan approach and to gain the active support of the legislature.