Inside The Federal Centers for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships

Over the next few weeks, I’d like to introduce you to some folks whose work is key to facilitating faith-based and neighborhood partnerships with the Federal Government. These individuals serve as Directors of Centers for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships within various Federal agencies. From the work that is being done to address hunger with local groups by Max Finberg at the Department of Agriculture Center, to efforts by Rev. E. Terri LaVelle to reduce homelessness among veterans as the Director at the Veterans Affairs Center, these introductions will provide a snapshot of how the White House is working with Federal agencies to empower local organizations.

As important as these Federal Centers are to the work of the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, relatively few people know about the work of the Centers or how they interact with our office. Here are a few facts about these offices:

• Centers are located within 11 Federal agencies, along with a strategic advisor at the Corporation for National and Community Service.
• The White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships serves in a coordinating role for each Center. Each Center is led by a Director who works within the Department as well as with the White House.
• Each Center works to connect its Federal agency to local faith-based and neighborhood organizations.
• These Centers are close partners on the four policy goals of the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships as well as on agency-specific priorities, like disaster response and after-school programming.

This structure is unique, and enables our Office to collaborate better across government, as well as with community groups throughout the country.

In the coming weeks, we will be highlighting our Centers and the fantastic work they are doing throughout the Federal Government.  You can connect with these Center Directors on our website.

Joshua Dubois is the Director of the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships

The Work of the Office: White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships

President Obama announced the creation of the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships on the 17th day of the President’s new Administration. Since then, our Office has been pretty busy! I thought it'd be helpful to give you a little context on what we've been up to.

• Our office is situated within the Domestic Policy Council. This placement allows our office to have close interaction with governmental leadership on issues of importance to nonprofit organizations, from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to the President’s Budget.
• The President has tasked this office with focusing on four special priorities: involving faith-based and neighborhood groups in the economic recovery, promoting responsible fatherhood, fostering interfaith cooperation and building common ground to reduce unintended pregnancies and the need for abortion, along with the White House Council on Women and Girls.
• The Office also coordinates the President's Advisory Council on Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships. This Advisory Council is a group of 25 leaders from both faith-based and non-sectarian organizations, each serving 1-year terms. The Advisory Council forms recommendations on how the Federal Government can more effectively partner with faith-based and neighborhood organizations.
• The White House Office also coordinates and works with 11 Centers and 1 Strategic Advisor placed in Departments throughout government to implement the President’s priorities for this office. Each Center works to connect its own agency to local faith-based and neighborhood organizations. For example, our Center at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) connects local organizations and groups preparing to respond to disaster situations to the ongoing activities at DHS and FEMA. Our Center at the Department of Education works to connect that Department with local organizations to provide after-school programs. So each Center is an important link between the federal government and local neighborhood organizations.

Our Office has been active on numerous fronts, from coordinating President Obama’s fatherhood initiative  to working with the National Security Council on President Obama’s ‘New Beginnings’ speech given in Cairo, Egypt to Muslim communities around the world. We also engage faith-based and neighborhood organizations on a range of issues, from the upcoming 2010 Census through our office at the Department of Commerce to foreclosure counseling at the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Our job is to make sure that the Federal Government is coming into responsible interaction with local nonprofit organizations. We look forward to working with you on these priorities!