The Faith Factor and Social Welfare: Evidence, Practice, Policy comprises case studies and impact evaluations on the important work done by faith-based organizations (FBOs) in the United States to address a wide range of issues, including prisoner reentry, high-risk youth behaviors, family fragmentation, and homelessness. Byron Johnson, Alfreda Alvarez Wubbenhorst, and William Wubbenhorst have designed this textbook as a learning tool and framework for understanding key components of FBO programs and ministries.The setting of each featured FBO initiative and the social impact made within its community is examined and explained, followed by a description of the organization: its origins and motivations, how and why it was formed, and analysis of the results and outcomes associated with its work. The authors then assess the potential future possibilities drawn from these observations and from examples of collaboration among government agencies, philanthropic organizations, and FBOs, and make recommendations on how these partnerships could be developed, deepened, and replicated. Discussion points and research topics are also included at the end of each case study. A resource for undergraduate and graduate classes in theological seminaries, schools of social work, sociology, public health, public and nonprofit management, education, and public policy, this textbook is also ideal for implementing a variety of leadership development classes focused on community organizing, family strengthening, and other domestic mission and ministry efforts.
Byron Johnson is the Director of the Institute for Studies of Religion and Distinguished Professor of the Social Sciences at Baylor University. Alfreda Alvarez-Wubbenhorst is is a nonresident fellow at the Institute for Studies of Religion, Baylor University, and cofounder of Harvest Home Institute, LLC, an organization dedicated to helping faith-based and community-based organizations develop strategies and implement best practices for service to their communities. William Wubbenhorst is the former Associate Commissioner for the Family and Youth Services Bureau and currently a nonresident scholar at the Institute for Studies of Religion, Baylor University.
1 Volunteerism and Community Engagement with the Faith Community 2 Building Community Capacity Through Government Funding: The Compassion Capital Fund 3 Intermediary Organizations -- Bridging Government and Community Stakeholders 4 Assessing the Effectiveness of Prison-Based and Prisoner Reentry Ministries 5 Family Strengthening and Healthy Marriage for Ex-Offenders 6 Family Fragmentation: Addressing Family Homelessness, Runaway and Homeless Youth, and Child Welfare 7 Faith-Based Responses to Homelessness 8 Faith-Based and Community Organization Collaborations with Public Schools 9 Youth Mentoring and Development 10 Youth Violence Prevention and Reduction 11 Rethinking Evidence: Evaluating Faith-Based and Community-Based Programs 12 Rethinking Public Policy and the Engagement of Faith-Based Organizations: Observations and Recommendations
