Call it the little-known agency that could: the Governor's Council on Faith and Community Service Initiatives. Perhaps the least known among the many departments and agencies in state government,  the idea was begun by an executive order in 2005 when Gov. Tim Pawlenty said that the faith community was "effective … when it comes to helping those in need. ... We must become a partner instead of a barrier to providing services." It's one of those invisible offices that do important work in the community.

Lee Buckley, the special adviser to Pawlenty who runs the one-person Faith and Community Service Initiatives office, left the employ of Northwest Airlines, where she was a top corporate labor-relations executive, to take on the assignment. Months ago, however, Ms. Buckley learned from Pawlenty and his advisers that the office would be closed as part of the state's plan to address record deficits; she demurred, saying that she "would work for this agency for no pay."

It now appears that the monies designated from the federal stimulus package aimed at sustaining key state and local programs may be used to keep the office afloat.

Leveraging volunteers and dollars
In its fourth year, the work of the council has been all about leveraging volunteers and dollars to meet social needs of Minnesotans who are not effectively reached by government programs. The council has fostered, Buckley says, "increasing access to existing funding resources and reducing barriers to the delivery of needed services."

Two priorities from the beginning have been disabled veterans and inmates and their families. The council and its advisory board has connected with hundreds of faith and community organizations over the years, additionally addressing a wide range of issues ranging from gang prevention, youth mentoring and the development of a service provider database to advancing  a community preparation program for the pandemic flu and promotion of  the U.S. Census 2010 efforts. 

Since the council's inception, more than 200 grassroots Minnesota groups have successfully applied for and received some $3.5 million — a record $1.6 million alone in 2007 — from the federal "Compassionate Capital Fund" to deliver services and to provide technical support and training to volunteers.

The Governor's Council on Faith Based and Community Service website was developed to share valuable information regarding funding opportunities, available training workshops, seminars and technical support. There is also a link to programs within the federal government.

Minnesota Faith-Based and Community Forum
I learned more about one of the council's priority concerns at its annual forum, held last week at the Progressive Baptist Church Family Life Center. The council, in co-sponsorship with the Minnesota Department of Corrections, this year addressed the re-entry issues affecting ex-offenders and their families. The daylong gathering was a showcase for private and public programs and collaborative models, nearly all of them emphasizing the importance of vigilant citizen mentoring as part of the integration process for released prisoners.

There are about 17,000 inmates in jails and prisons in Minnesota and some 140,000 on community supervision in one form or another. Minnesota Corrections Commissioner Joan Fabian, one of the forum keynoters, reported that her 43 years of service in corrections had taught her that "a majority of offenders can and do change for the better." She commended the faith community for many years of being involved in helping offenders on re-entry issues. 

As part of its mission in "engaging, supporting and acknowledging" faith based and community organizations in Minnesota, the council recognized Minnesota nonprofit and government programs as "Best Practice" award recipients. Among them were the St. Paul Council of Churches for an interfaith youth initiative, the Jordan New Life Hub in North Minneapolis for its support of 1,000 families seeking economic self-sufficiency, the Pine River Backus Family Center for its work in drug prevention and family support, Q Health Connections for its mental and physical health outreach to distressed veterans, and, YouthCARE for its 30 years of successful multicultural youth leadership development and employment programs, including Camp Sunrise, a partnership with Xcel Energy.  

Forum attendees also received a report on the Obama administration's new White House Office for Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, building upon a model begun in 2001 during the Bush administration. You can read about the office and its director's visit to Minneapolis here.

Chuck Slocum is president of The Williston Group, a management consulting firm. He attended the forum and has volunteered in a number of faith-based community programs. He can be reached at chuck@willistongroup.com.