RD278 - Report on the Virginia Faith-based and Community Initiative - October 2015


Executive Summary:
Section 63.2-703 of the Code of Virginia charges the Department of Social Services (DSS) with providing leadership and coordination for Virginia's Faith-Based and Community Initiative (FBCI) and to report on a regular basis to the Governor and the General Assembly on the fulfillment of DSS' responsibilities. The following report documents the efforts and results achieved through the collaborative efforts of DSS staff and the volunteer members of the FBCI Advisory Council from July 2013 - June 2015 to meet the goals established by the General Assembly to:

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

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

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

• Coordinate offers of assistance from Virginia's faith-based and community organizations during emergencies or natural disasters.

Major FBCI activities and outcomes achieved during this report period include:

• Increased the knowledge and awareness of community and faith organizations across Virginia through the promotion of Volunteer Virginia, a monthly e-newsletter sent to 5,000 faith-based and community partners. Several forms of social media are also utilized for communication;

• Responded with technical assistance to nearly 1,000 inquiries about grant writing, training, and fund development resources;

• Delivered several workshops at the Virginia Conference on Volunteerism and Service specifically designed to increase the capacity of community and faith-based organizations and foster collaboration; and

• Maintained strong working relationships with the Department of Emergency Management and voluntary organizations to plan for and respond to disasters.

The accomplishments and activities of the Virginia Faith-Based and Community Initiative have helped to improve services and meet significant needs of citizens across the Commonwealth.