3.3: Communities
Encourage the development of strong, healthy, and supportive communities. Other Information:
HHS is committed to encouraging the development of strong, healthy, and supportive communities. ACF, CDC, OD, OPHS, and SAMHSA
fund comprehensive community initiatives to help distressed communities address the most intractable problems. The Center
for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (CFBCI) works to develop the capacity of faith-based and community based organizations
to respond to community needs. In the performance indicator section at the end of this chapter, the Strategic Plan uses family
cohesiveness as a proxy for the strength of communities. Below is a sampling of the Department’s efforts related to faith-based
and community initiatives, capacity building, and comprehensive community initiatives. Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
HHS has made great strides in improving current faith-based and community partnerships, providing opportunities for new partnerships
with faith based and community organizations, and removing existing barriers to the inclusion of these groups in HHS programs.
Through the HHS CFBCI, technical assistance has been provided throughout the country to increase the capacity of faith-based
and community organizations working with vulnerable and needy populations. HHS has reached out and collaborated with religious
and neighborhood organizations that for decades have been bringing solutions to bear on some of the Nation’s most intractable
problems. CFBCI works with operating and staff divisions across the Department to eliminate barriers to the participation
of faith-based and other community organizations; these barriers include regulations, policies, and procedures. CFBCI also
works with operating and staff divisions to propose the development of innovative pilot and demonstration programs. Finally,
HHS staff have received training to understand how to reach out and partner with these organizations more effectively. Capacity-Building
Efforts: The Compassion Capital Fund advances the efforts of community and charitable organizations, including faith-based
organizations, to increase their effectiveness and enhance their ability to provide social services where needed. Grants support
intermediary organizations that provide training and technical assistance to grassroots organizations in accessing funding
sources, administering programs, expanding services, and replicating promising approaches. In addition, targeted capacity-building
minigrants help grassroots organizations more effectively deliver services to the most vulnerable populations including youth
at risk, persons experiencing homelessness, families transitioning from welfare to work, and prisoners reentering the community.
Comprehensive Community Initiatives: SAMHSA funds several comprehensive community mental health services grants for children
and youth with serious emotional disturbances and their families. Grants are used to implement a “systems of care” approach
to services, based on the recognition that the needs of children with serious mental health challenges can best be met within
their home, school, and community, and that families and youth should be the driving force in the transformation of their
own care. The grants will be used to provide a full array of mental health and support services organized on an individualized
basis into a coordinated network in order to meet the unique clinical and functional needs of each child and family. OD is
coordinating an interagency and interdepartmental 2-year seamless program, the Young Adult Program. This program promotes
integrated support systems spanning education, health, assistive technology, employment, transportation, and housing for young
adults 14 to 30 years with disabilities in six demonstration States through the National Governors Association and is documenting
outcomes through a process and impact evaluation.
Indicator(s):
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