Our Mission

The Task Force provides assistance to faith- and community-based organizations in identifying funding opportunities within the Federal government for which they are eligible to apply. The DOJ administers programs to provide assistance to victims of crime, prisoners and ex-offenders, and women who suffer domestic violence. In addition, the DOJ has initiatives to target gang violence and at-risk youth.

Please feel free to contact us with your questions:

U.S. Department of Justice
Office of the Deputy Attorney General
Task Force for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
950 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20002
(P) 202.514.2987
(F) 202.616.9627
E-mail: FBCI@usdoj.gov

New

The Faith-Based and Community Initiative (FBCI) signifies a shift in how government partners with faith-based and community organizations (FBCOs) to address human services needs. The FBCI also demonstrates how public and private entities can join together for the common good. Since 2001, the FBCI has focused on expanding innovative partnerships with nonprofit-sector partners and engaging private-sector coinvestors. In conjunction with the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives' national conference entitled "Innovations in Effective Compassion," this Web site (http://innovationincompassion.hhs.gov/) serves as a clearinghouse for research and evaluation that describe how the government has become more open to partnering with new FBCOs while also strengthening existing partnerships with well-established nonprofit organizations to address some of the country's most complex social problems.

New for State Administrators

Want to learn more about the rules that apply in your relations with faith-based organizations--and do so in an interactive and fast way? Then why not take our State Administrator's Tutorial "More Than Rules: How Equal Treatment of Faith-Based NGOs Can Expand Services to America's Needy"?

In fifteen minutes or less you will learn about the department's Equal Treatment Regulations, the differences between direct and indirect funding (and the different rules that apply to each), and how to more effectively create a level playing field in your dealings with faith-based organizations. The tutorial is done in a question-and-answer format and gives explanations of all topics covered. So what are you waiting for? Start the tutorial, and let the learning begin!

Have you ever thought about becoming a peer reviewer of grants/contracts put out by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)?

Every year DOJ gives out millions of dollars in grants/contracts to state and local governments, Indian tribes, profit and non-profit organizations, including faith-based and other community organizations, and other groups. You learn about many of these grant/contract opportunities through the e-mail blasts we send you. But what you may not know is that the overwhelming majority of applications for this grant/contract money must be reviewed by peer reviewers. Who are peer reviewers? Just regular citizens like you with an interest/expertise in the area a particular grant pertains to.

Grant/contract-making agencies at DOJ include the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the Community Capacity Development Office, the Office on Violence Against Women, the Bureau of Prisons, and Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). Among the grants/contracts that must be reviewed every year include those for residential reentry services for ex-offenders, stopping/assisting with the effects of domestic violence and child abuse, helping victims of crime and their families, preventing gang-related violence, and giving our youth positive life choices.

If you are chosen as a grant/contract reviewer for a program at DOJ, the government will pay for your travel, lodging, and meal expenses and provide you with a stipend for your help. (Note: Most reviews are held in Washington, DC.)

So, if you have an interest in becoming a grant/contract reviewer, please send me (Rob Siedlecki; contact information below) a copy of your resume and your areas of experience (i.e., working with youth, ex-offenders, victims of domestic violence, victims of crime, etc.). We will then submit your name to our reviewer database for consideration.

Please feel free to contact me any time at (202) 514-2987 or Robert.Siedlecki@usdoj.gov if you have any questions or we can help in any way.

The Department of Justice invites you to register with the National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS)

NCJRS is a federally funded resource offering criminal justice and drug policy information to support research, policy, and program development. By registering with NCJRS, you can remain informed about new publications, grants and funding opportunities, and other news and announcements. Once registered, you will receive:

• JUSTINFO: a bi-weekly electronic newsletter that includes links to full text.
• E-mail notifications: Periodic messages about new publications and resources that match your specific areas of interests.
• Publications: periodic mailings of select publications that match your interest.
• The Justice Resource Update: A quarterly publication that highlights NCJRS Partner Agency announcements.

To learn more about NCJRS, visit: http://www.ncjrs.gov/whatsncjrs.html

If you have questions about JUSTINFO or other NCJRS services, please contact us online at http://www.ncjrs.gov/app/qa/submitquestion.aspx or call 800-851-3420.

Additional justice and substance abuse policy information is also available online at http://www.ncjrs.gov.