School Of Social Work Receives $2 Million Grant

Baylor University's School of Social Work has received a grant of more than $2 million for its part in a larger $6 million initiative from The Pew Charitable Trusts. Through the Faith and Service Technical Education Network (FASTEN), the School of Social Work, in partnership with the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC), will study how urban congregations and faith-based organizations (FBOs) are making a difference in the lives of families and communities facing poverty.
"Poverty is not only a problem of not enough money to meet basic needs; it also figures prominently in problems such as unemployment, welfare dependence, illiteracy, gang violence, substance abuse and teen pregnancy," said Dr. Diana Garland, chair of the School of Social Work. "We will look for the effective ways that small to mid-sized congregations and FBOs tackle these problems."
Under the initiative, the School of Social Work also will study how congregations and FBOs collaborate with other organizations and funders, including government, and will help smaller congregations and organizations put evaluation tools in place to document the difference they are making in people's lives. The NCPC will take this research and make it available to congregations and FBOs nationwide through the development of training workshops and practical guides. FBOs targeted for study will represent diverse faith perspectives.
"We are delighted to work in partnership with Baylor University's School of Social Work," said John A. Calhoun, president and CEO of NCPC. "A school of Baylor's caliber will greatly help our joint mission to find ways to bring effective, faith-based services to those most in need."
The Pew Charitable Trusts support nonprofit activities in the areas of culture, education, the environment, health and human services, public policy and religion. Based in Philadelphia, the Trusts make strategic investments to help organizations and citizens develop practical solutions to difficult problems. In 2001, with approximately $4.3 billion in assets, the Trusts committed more than $230 million to 175 nonprofit organizations.
For more information about the program, contact Garland at (254) 710-6223. For more information about The Pew Charitable Trusts, visit its web site at http://www.pewtrusts.com .