The Implication of the Participation of Faith-based Organizations on Public Welfare Programs - Essay Example

here PUAD623 (WB1 or WB2) Topic: The Implication of the Participation of Faith-based Organizations on Public Welfare Programs on the Charitable Choice Provision The Bush administration in 2002 proclaimed several administrative programs to advance the participation of religious groups in federally sponsored social services initiatives. The programs involved an executive mandate broadening several of the most relevant features of charitable choice to federally sponsored social services initiatives, an important recommended adjustment in the policies directing the involvement of religious groups in the community development initiatives of the federal government. This study aims to determine the implication of the involvement of faith-based organizations in public welfare programs on the charitable choice provision. Source 1: Broyles, V. R. (2003). The Faith-Based Initiative, Charitable Choice and Protecting the Free Speech Rights of Faith-Based Organizations. Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy , 315+. Summary: This article discusses the free speech securities for the religious dialogue of faith-based social service practitioners and the issues of the Establishment Clause involved in direct subsidies of faith-based organizations (FBOs). It also provides particular policy proposals on ways to circumvent both perspective discrimination against government institution of religion and FBOs as the faith-based initiative progresses. Role: This article helps readers to understand the strategies that FBOs use in integrating religious perspectives on social problems such as juvenile delinquency, into their agendas and the religious speech limitations in federal agency parameters and Charitable Choice. This article will be particularly useful for the topic because it explains thoroughly the free speech securities granted to the FBOs for their sectarian social points of view in direct public subsidy. Source 2: Carlson, S. W. (2009). Faith-Based Initiative 2.0: The Bush Faith-Based and Community Initiative. Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy , 931+. Summary: This article discusses the criticisms on the faith-based initiative of George Bush. His critics claim that the faith-based initiative is not a well-thought-out public policy attempt, but rather a political strategy intended to gratify the voters from the Democratic Party and plundering Hispanic and African-American pastors. Role: This article systematically presents the claims of the critics regarding the faith-based initiative of Bush. The discussion will be useful for the topic since the article provides a clear explanation of the objective and legacy of the Bush initiative. Moreover, the article is from a peer reviewed scholarly journal. Source 3: Cnaan, R. A. & Boddie, S.C. (2002). Charitable Choice and Faith-Based Welfare: A Call for Social Work. Social Work , 224+. Summary: This article discusses the objectives of Charitable Choice. Primarily, it aims to persuade counties and states to boost the involvement of nonprofit agencies in the terms of federally sponsored welfare projects, with an emphasis on faith-based organizations; guarantee entitlement for FBOs as service providers on the same ground as other agencies; safeguard the religious quality and employment immunity standing of participating FBOs; and protect the religious liberty of participants. Role: This article clearly explains the extensive implications of Charitable Choice for society and for the profession of social work. It firmly argues that Charitable Choice should be studied as a vital welfare strategy that has the capability to boost the number of providers of faith-based social services and modify the form of social services in the United States. This article will be useful for the topic since it systematically presents an evaluation of the legislation, and findings concerning the importance and enforcement of the Charitable Choice provision. Source 4: Davis, D. (Ed.). (1999). Welfare Reform & Faith-Based Organizations. Waco, TX: J.M. Dawson Institute of Church-State Studies. Summary: This volume probes into the functioning of Charitable Choice or to talk about the origins of law. It is sufficient to mention that the Charitable Choice provision will make social service organizations that are faith-based entitled to federal block-grant subsidies wherever private civil social service organizations are qualified. Prior to the welfare law of 1996, merely those religiously associated organizations that were not persistently dogmatic were entitled to public funding. Role: As readers of this volume will observe, there is a significant attempt to balance the discussion between those who advocate Charitable Choice provision of the welfare reform law in 1996 and those who go up against it. Such balance is in accordance to the academic intention of some institutes to examine broadly the repercussions of the separation of the church and the state and of religious freedom. This book is relevant to the topic because it includes a discussion on the new law’s Charitable Choice provision that makes the persistently sectarian assessment doubtful, declaring openly that faith-based social service organizations can make an agreement with the government despite of how dogmatic the organizations are. Source 5: Glenn, C. L. (2000). The Ambiguous Embrace: Government and Faith-Based Schools and Social Agencies. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. Summary: The issue discussed in this book should be treated against the context of an interesting contradiction: by any realistic evaluation, the most religious democratic country in the West is the United States; but, as the consequence of court rulings since the 1960s, it too has the most accurate designation of the separation of church and state, even more accurate than that existing in France, the society that conjured up the concept of laïcisme. Role: However, the book unnecessarily investigates the explanations for this contradiction, or it goes into a philosophical discussion over its values. But the contradiction is very important in the present debates over the implication of the existence of faith-based organizations to the future of social policy in America. These discussions cannot be advanced in a productive manner unless the contradiction is considered and resolved in a politically reasonable way. This book is relevant to the topic because it discusses the philosophical and actual implications of faith-based organizations on the direction of American social policy. Source 6: Sager, R. (2007). The Importance of State Faith-Based Liaisons. Sociology of Religion , 97+. Summary: This article discusses that at present states are not obliged to put into effect any part of the faith-based initiative, other than to ascertain that FBOs will not be singled out in subsidy decisions. However, a number of states have dynamically implemented the initiative, and especially have preferred a neutral ground, depending on administrative modifications to persuade FBOs to demand and receive government subsidies. The most important, and now most widespread, approach for states to accomplish this has been to form the faith-based liaison (FBL) position. Role: This article clearly discusses that while the powers and responsibilities differ by state, in all instances they have the main duty of implementing the faith-based initiative in their own states. They are the chief point of interaction between government organizations and religious groups, trying to reconcile the believed gap between state administrations and FBOs that have not customarily been involved in offering social services. This article strongly indicates that the position itself, and the identities, backgrounds and dedications of individuals who occupy the FBL position, substantially influence the execution of the faith-based initiative in various states. This article is useful for the topic since it clearly emphasizes that significant role merits closer examination of both the position of FBL and the attributes of those that serve in the position. Source 7: Tangenberg, K. M. (2005). Faith-Based Human Services Initiatives: Considerations for Social Work Practice and Theory. Social Work , 197+. Summary: This article discusses the responses of social work to faith-based initiatives. It discusses frameworks and theories in line with ecosystems models, including faith-associated community organizing paradigms. Throughout the discussion, the concept ‘faith-based’ is applied merely in the background of faith-based services initiatives and associated guidelines. On the other hand, the concept ‘secular’ is used to projects and organizations with no religious connection or content. Role: This article convincingly argues that increased knowledge of the intricacy and diversity of faith-associated services is important to decisively oriented policy resolutions and social work practice. It also claims that the responses of social work to charitable choice provision have underlined key government obligation for social welfare, but also sustained the progress of local community networks of faith-associated and secular providers to address diverse human needs. This is article is particularly relevant to the topic because it includes a discussion of the consequences of faith-based initiatives on social work practice or more specifically on faith-related providers. Source 8: Wuthnow, R. & Evans, J.H. (eds.). (2002). The Quiet Hand of God: Faith-Based Activism and the Public Role of Mainline Protestantism. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. Summary: This book discusses the implications of the fusion of public life and religion on faith-based organizations. It narrates the development of religious clashes in Europe, and the role of the U.S. Constitution in guaranteeing religious freedom. It also includes a discussion of recent attempts of religious organizations to affect the electoral process or to acquire the ratification of legislation sympathetic to their perception of morality. Role: This volume intends to increase our awareness of the public position of mainline Protestantism and to persuade deliberation among leaders of mainline Protestants, scholars, and involved members of the general public on how to become involved more successfully in the major challenges that confront our nation at the beginning of the twenty-first century. This book will be relevant to the discussion about religious organizations which are entitled to receive public subsidy. Read More

Source 5: Glenn, C. L. (2000). The Ambiguous Embrace: Government and Faith-Based Schools and Social Agencies. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

Summary: The issue discussed in this book should be treated against the context of an interesting contradiction: by any realistic evaluation, the most religious democratic country in the West is the United States; but, as the consequence of court rulings since the 1960s, it too has the most accurate designation of the separation of church and state, even more, accurate than that existing in France, the society that conjured up the concept of laïcisme.

Role: However, the book unnecessarily investigates the explanations for this contradiction, or it goes into a philosophical discussion over its values. But the contradiction is very important in the present debates over the implication of the existence of faith-based organizations to the future of social policy in America. These discussions cannot be advanced in a productive manner unless the contradiction is considered and resolved in a politically reasonable way. This book is relevant to the topic because it discusses the philosophical and actual implications of faith-based organizations on the direction of American social policy.               

Source 6: Sager, R. (2007). The Importance of State Faith-Based Liaisons. Sociology of Religion, 97+.

Summary: This article discusses that at present states are not obliged to put into effect any part of the faith-based initiative, other than to ascertain that FBOs will not be singled out in subsidy decisions. However, a number of states have dynamically implemented the initiative, and especially have preferred a neutral ground, depending on administrative modifications to persuade FBOs to demand and receive government subsidies. The most important, and now most widespread, approach for states to accomplish this has been to form the faith-based liaison (FBL) position.       

Role: This article clearly discusses that while the powers and responsibilities differ by state, in all instances they have the main duty of implementing the faith-based initiative in their own states. They are the chief point of interaction between government organizations and religious groups, trying to reconcile the believed gap between state administrations and FBOs that have not customarily been involved in offering social services. This article strongly indicates that the position itself, and the identities, backgrounds, and dedications of individuals who occupy the FBL position, substantially influence the execution of the faith-based initiative in various states. This article is useful for the topic since it clearly emphasizes that a significant role merits a closer examination of both the position of FBL and the attributes of those that serve in the position.

Source 7: Tangenberg, K. M. (2005). Faith-Based Human Services Initiatives: Considerations for Social Work Practice and Theory. Social Work, 197+.

Summary: This article discusses the responses of social work to faith-based initiatives. It discusses frameworks and theories in line with ecosystem models, including faith-associated community organizing paradigms. Throughout the discussion, the concept ‘faith-based’ is applied merely in the background of faith-based services initiatives and associated guidelines. On the other hand, the concept ‘secular’ is used in projects and organizations with no religious connection or content.  

Role: This article convincingly argues that increased knowledge of the intricacy and diversity of faith-associated services is important to decisively oriented policy resolutions and social work practice. It also claims that the responses of social work to charitable choice provision have underlined key government obligation for social welfare, but also sustained the progress of local community networks of faith-associated and secular providers to address diverse human needs. This is article is particularly relevant to the topic because it includes a discussion of the consequences of faith-based initiatives on social work practice or more specifically on faith-related providers.  

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