Working with Faith-Based Organizations:

Frequently Asked Questions

By Eduardo Hernández-Alarcón, Ph.D. and Mark Yanick, M.A.

CADCA’s National Coalition Institute frequently receives requests for technical assistance and training from community coalitions planning to work with the faith community and from faith-based organizations (fbos) that wish to form community coalitions. Fortunately, a number of resources are available for these groups as they seek to address a broad range of substance abuse issues.

Community coalitions and fbos can look to CADCA for a variety of resources. First, they may request technical assistance by emailing training@cadca.org, or seek out Institute training opportunities. Second, they may consider attending CADCA’s National Forum which has consistently offered workshops on core competencies for coalitions as well as topics specific to the faith community. In addition, CADCA’s Mid-Year Training Institute features in-depth instruction on core competencies which are invaluable for community coalitions. For more information about either or both of those events, go to www.cadca.org. Finally, CADCA is entering into a collaborative relationship with the National Guard and University of Kansas to develop a National Training Initiative. This Initiative will provide intensive training for coalitions on Core Competencies at training sites throughout the country.

General Resources:

CADCA produced two Strategizers in 2003 which provide excellent information for community coalitions and the faith community.

Strategizer #45 Research Findings on Coalitions and the Faith Community conveniently summarizes some of the significant studies regarding faith, spirituality, and religion and positive behavioral health outcomes.

Strategizer #46 Partners for the Greater Good: Programs and Collaboration between Coalitions and the Faith Community highlights how several leading CADCA coalitions have successfully partnered with fbos in their communities. This STRATEGIZER contains some very practical information about types of programs that can be replicated.

To order CADCA’s Strategizers visit cadca.org/shopcart or call 800-542-2322 ext 257 or download the PDF for free in the member-only section of CADCA's website.

The federal government also has materials that are useful for the faith community and coalitions wishing to work with fbos. A good place to start is the web site of the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. This web site will provide you with information about funding availability within the various agencies of DHHS, upcoming events, publications, and the web page of the Compassion Capital Fund (CCF). The CCF “helps faith-based and community organizations increase their effectiveness and enhance their ability to provide social services to those most in need.” It administers two grant programs, a Targeted Capacity Building Program which has funded various “intermediary” organizations to provide training and technical assistance to cbos and fbos and a Demonstration Program which funds mini-grants in the $50,000 range. It also supports a National Resource Center which has a free electronic newsletter that has valuable information on capacity-building for fbos.

Community coalitions should also be aware of the resources of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration which has a web area devoted to its faith-based and community initiatives. On this site, coalitions can find information about SAMSHA training on grant-writing and technical assistance for grass-roots fbos and cbos, download SAMHSA’s Grant-writing Manual (which is quite useful) and get information about its Charitable Choice provisions. SAMHSA’s National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (www.health.org) has a few publications of interest, principally "Core Competencies for Clergy and Other Pastoral Ministers".

There are a few non-profit organizations with websites that also have general information that may be of value. The Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy operated by the Rockefeller Institute of Government of the State University of New York at Albany will help you keep abreast of developments relating to the faith initiative, recent court cases, conferences and other events. This group has paid special attention to the Charitable Choice regulations (which cover all SAMSHA programs) and has a resource area with articles that can be downloaded.

Finally, the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives along with the Faith-Based Centers at several federal departments have important resources. The White House site provides information about grants, conferences, technical assistance, and guidance documents. Over the past two years the White House Center has sponsored large regional conferences in different regions of the country. Generally, these free conferences are limited to the first 1500 people who register and provide a good overview of issues for fbos who want to partner with the federal government.


FAQ #1. Are there any special federal funds for faith-based organizations?

The Administration stated early on that it wanted to “level the playing field” and encourage fbos to apply to provide services, but did not create large pots of dollars for them. (see the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives “Unlevel Playing Field” report). One exception is the Compassion Capital Fund which is located at the Dept. of Health and Human Services. As noted above, the CCF has been providing two types of funds: larger grants for organizations to provide training and technical assistance and mini-grants of $50,000 dollars. One category for the mini-grants this past funding cycle was At Risk Youth.

Most community coalitions seeking to incorporate faith-based organizations or faith-based organizations seeking to form community coalitions should look to the Drug Free Communities Support Program. This initiative funds over 600 anti-drug coalitions throughout the country and provides support up to $100,000 for five years (declining amounts of money after year one). Faith-based organizations are eligible applicants for this initiative and the faith community it listed as one of the 12 required community sectors. Look for additional grants to be available in the next fiscal year.

Finally, SAMHSA lists all the funding announcements on its web page. At present, most SAMHSA funding initiatives go directly to states. It behooves community coalitions to develop a solid understanding of how their state may provide funding for local cbos/ fbos. This will help you determine how you can get involved with your state in order to be considered as a potential “subrecipient” of federal funds.

FAQ #2. I need some help with strategic planning for the faith community.

CADCA recommends that all coalitions have a solid strategic plan with measurable outcomes as a blueprint for action. CADCA Strategizer #39 Coalition Building 103: Strategic Planning offers valuable information about the development of a strategic plan. Community coalitions and fbos should also become familiar with the Community Tool Box developed and maintained by the University of Kansas. It has a lengthy section entitled “Developing a Strategic Plan, Organization Structure, and Training System” with excellent materials.

SAMHSA has a Prevention Platform which contains a five step Strategic Prevention Framework, an evidence-based approach to community mobilization. The five Centers for the Application of Prevention Science operated by SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Prevention also have good resources for strategic planning. For example the WESTCAPT has a 7 step “Building a Successful Prevention Program” section which can been downloaded.

Research on the faith community cites the lack of capacity as a main obstacle for many fbos. They are often unaware of evidence-based strategic planning processes, the need for measurable outcomes, and the whole important area of evaluation. One critical issue that should be addressed up front is the role of faith in prevention programming. See a brief article by the Hartford Institute for Religion Research entitled “What is the ‘faith’ in Faith-Based Social Services?” for a description of two basic approaches: environmental and active. Having a clear strategic plan which addresses these questions may help coalitions avoid serious disagreements about the role of faith-based organizations at a later time.


FAQ No. 3. I am a faith-based organization and I want to start a community coalition.

Faith-based organizations should carefully survey their communities prior to making a decision to start a new coalition. There may be an existing coalition that is willing/ anxious to find a place for you:

Contact CADCA (1800-54-CADCA) to find out if a member coalition exists in your community.

Visit the Web site of Drug-Free Communities Support Program Grantees for the location of over 600 community coalitions.

The Weed and Seed Program also supports numerous community coalitions throughout the country.

You may also wish to consult your state or local or alcohol and drug program office and ask for the name and location of coalitions in your community.

If you decide the environment is right to start your own coalition, you can download a CADCA Starter Package and/or contact the National Coalition Institute at training@cadca.org. CADCA’s Strategizer #29, Coalitions 101: Getting Started also offers some valuable information on how to start a coalition.

Eduardo Hernández-Alarcón, Ph.D. is the Deputy Director, Dissemination and Coalition Relations at CADCA’s National Coalition Institute and former Associate Director of the DHHS Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. You may contact him at ehernandez@cadca.org.