Strengthening Federal Partnerships with Faith-based and Community Organizations

Strengthening Federal Partnerships with Faith-based and Community Organizations

August 5, 2015

By: Acacia Bamberg Salatti, Director, Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships

In 2010, a diverse group of faith and community leaders serving as members of the Advisory Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships came together to make recommendations to strengthen the social service partnerships that the government forms with nongovernmental providers, including strengthening these partnerships’ constitutional and legal footing. In response to the Advisory Council’s report entitled, New Era of Partnerships: Report of Recommendations to the President, President Obama issued Executive Order 13559. This Executive Order incorporated many of the Advisory Council’s recommendations and set forth a number of requirements for agencies that administer or award federal financial assistance for social service programs.
Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in coordination with multiple other federal agencies, issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that will amend the current regulations to align with Executive Order 13559. HHS’ proposed rule will strengthen partnerships between HHS and faith-based and other community organizations to provide social services to those in need.
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