RD182 - Report of the Virginia Faith-Based and Community Initiative


Executive Summary:
Section 63.2-703 of the Code of Virginia charges the Department of Social Services (Department) with providing leadership and coordination for Virginia’s Faith-Based and Community Initiative (VFBCI) and to report on a regular basis to the Governor and the General Assembly on the fulfillment of the Department’s responsibilities.

The Virginia General Assembly developed the foundation for the Virginia Faith-Based and Community Initiative through a 2000 Joint Resolution and then codified the Department’s responsibilities for the Initiative in 2002. The mission of the VFBCI is to work across state agency lines and with local government to:

• Promote partnerships between public agencies and community and faith-based groups to meet local needs;

• Provide training and technical assistance to help community-based organizations build their capacity to provide effective services;

• Expand the state's pool of effective service providers;

• Coordinate offers of assistance from Virginia’s faith community at the time of emergencies or natural disasters.

Since the Initiative began over 3000 representatives of community and faith-based organizations have received training and technical assistance to strengthen the effectiveness of their organizations in delivering services in their local communities and new partnerships have been established across the Commonwealth to help those in need. Printed technical assistance materials on capacity building, resource identification, board development, strategic planning and grant writing have been revised and expanded to include the most current resources available.

In 2006, as an outgrowth of Virginia’s response to Hurricane Katrina and other disasters, Governor Tim Kaine and the General Assembly designated the Department as the state agency responsible for coordinating assistance with the faith community - materials, temporary housing, or volunteer manpower - during emergencies and disasters.

The VFBCI website was enhanced in 2006-2007 to enable community and faith-based organizations to register on-line to assist during an emergency or disaster. This permits advance planning and coordination with state and local emergency management agencies. The statewide events calendar lists training opportunities and activities of interest to community-based organizations. The searchable on-line resource directory provides a list of services and resources offered by Virginia’s faith-based and community organizations.

Partnerships between public agencies and community and faith-based groups have grown during 2006-2007. Multiple partnerships with grass roots organizations, both formal and informal, were reported in a recent survey of local social services and community action agencies. The outreach and activities of the VFBCI has been instrumental in fostering a culture of collaboration with community and faith-based organizations and integrating that commitment to collaboration throughout the Virginia Social Services System. This has strengthened the Department’s ability to address local needs across the Commonwealth.