Leveling the Playing Field   

On Jan. 29, President George W. Bush issued an executive order establishing Centers for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives in five federal agencies. Each center's first task is to conduct a survey of the agency's programs to determine how they may be made more accessible to faith-based and community groups. Christine Brooks, the new director of the U.S. Department of Education's center, recently shared some insights with Community Update.

What is the purpose of this new initiative?
We feel that faith-based organizations have been involved in the provision of social services for a long time. We want to be sure that they have a level playing field and are allowed the opportunity to compete with other grant applicants. I truly think that this program initiative is going to be a win-win for everybody, especially for those underserved people who need additional social services to keep from falling through the cracks.

Where have you seen already the success of faith-based and community partnerships?
For instance, through the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, we have examples of faith-based groups providing before- and after-school activities. And there are other places in the Department. Also, I feel fortunate to have worked in the District of Columbia where churches and other faith-based organizations have always been at the table for social service programs. The District has an excellent record of having the faith-based community involved. I think when all is said and done, we should certainly look at the District of Columbia for some of the models of how it works very well.

That's one of the things that we're trying to determine now with the survey that we're doing. The survey, which will be available later this year, takes a look at what's happening in the Department of Education and at a number of participating groups. At this time we're collecting our data and will be working on the analysis of it.

How can you encourage more community support for schools?
I think everybody sees that there's a real need for all people of goodwill to step up to the plate. And we don't have to do a lot to encourage it. I think the initiative is a good start to find out what's happening now and then to see where the gaps are. And so I think what's happening and where we want to go to provide more services will be evident in the report.

Before starting work at the Education Department, Brooks served as the state administrator for Community Services Block Grant Programs for the government of the District of Columbia. Previously a congressional fellow at the Brookings Institution, she has served in a number of positions with government agencies including the District of Columbia's Department of Human Services, the U.S. Department of Labor, and the state of Florida.

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Last updated—November 26, 2001 (eal)