Saturday, August 22, 2009

Michigan Amends Faith Based Office's Charter To Reflect Federal Changes

On Thursday, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm announced that she had issued Executive Order 2009-41 to make changes in the document governing the state's office that reaches out to faith-based organizations. The changes to Executive Order 2005-6 are intended to mirror changes made at the federal level by the Obama administration. Michigan's office is now called the Governor's Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. The executive order also adds the following to the functions previously outlined for the office:
3. Ensure that services paid for with state and federal funds are provided in a manner consistent with fundamental constitutional commitments guaranteeing the equal protection of the laws and the free exercise of religion and prohibiting laws respecting an establishment of religion.

4. Promote effective training for persons providing federally funded social services in faith-based and neighborhood organizations.

5. Promote the better use of program evaluation and research, in order to ensure that organizations deliver services as specified in grant agreements, contracts, memoranda or understanding, and other arrangements.