View source for United States Center for Faith and Opportunity Initiatives


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'''Centers for Faith and Opportunity Initiatives''' are bodies within [[U.S. Federal government|U.S. federal government]] agencies giving religious groups more voice in government programs. The executive order on the "Establishment of a White House Faith and Opportunity Initiative" issued in May 2018 during the [[First presidency of Donald Trump|presidency of Donald Trump]] requires all executive departments to designate a Liaison for Faith and Opportunity Initiatives to coordinate with a new Advisor to the White House.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-establishment-white-house-faith-opportunity-initiative/|title=Executive Order on the Establishment of a White House Faith and Opportunity Initiative |access-date=2018-11-28|date=May 3, 2018|via=[[NARA|National Archives]]|work=[[whitehouse.gov]]|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/05/08/2018-09895/establishment-of-a-white-house-faith-and-opportunity-initiative | title = Establishment of a White House Faith and Opportunity Initiative | access-date = 2021-01-25 }}</ref>

In November 2018, [[Scott Lloyd (lawyer)|Scott Lloyd]] was appointed to the Center for Faith and Opportunity Initiatives of the [[United States Department of Health and Human Services]] (HHS). Lloyd, who had previously headed the [[Office of Refugee Resettlement]] at the HHS, is a noted opponent of [[abortion]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://thinkprogress.org/scott-lloyd-hhs-refugee-director-transfer-faith-and-opportunity-initiatives-e197001eff9f/|title=Scott Lloyd, ardent abortion foe, gets transferred to new faith-based role at Health Department|access-date=2018-11-28|language=en-US}}</ref>

On October 31, 2019, the White House confirmed that [[Paula White]], a televangelist, pastor, and author, would join the [[White House Office]] to advise Trump's Faith and Opportunity Initiative. She supported Trump during [[Donald Trump 2016 presidential campaign|his 2016 campaign]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/02/us/politics/paula-white-trump.html|title=Paula White, Newest White House Aide, Is a Uniquely Trumpian Pastor|last=Peters|first=Jeremy W.|date=2019-11-02|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-11-06|last2=Dias|first2=Elizabeth|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

In March 2021, the Biden administration announced a reconfiguration of the Faith and Opportunity Initiative, emphasizing an inclusive approach to religious and community-based partnerships. This followed President Biden’s executive order that broadened the scope of the initiative to involve a wider range of faith-based and secular organizations, promoting equity across government programs. The order also underscored the importance of addressing issues such as racial justice, climate change, and COVID-19 recovery through these collaborations.<ref>{{cite web |date=February 14, 2021 |title=Biden to Reestablish White House Faith Office with Melissa Rogers to Lead It |url=https://wordandway.org/2021/02/14/biden-to-reestablish-white-house-faith-office-with-melissa-rogers-to-lead-it/ |access-date=October 22, 2024 |website=Word&Way}}</ref>

Under this restructuring, Melissa Rogers was appointed as Executive Director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. Rogers previously held this position during the Obama administration and is known for her work on religious freedom and the separation of church and state.<ref>{{cite web |date=February 14, 2021 |title=FACT SHEET: President Biden Reestablishes the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/02/14/fact-sheet-president-biden-reestablishes-the-white-house-office-of-faith-based-and-neighborhood-partnerships/ |access-date=October 22, 2024 |website=The White House}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=February 16, 2021 |title=Biden Reopens Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships |url=https://ministrywatch.com/biden-reopens-office-of-faith-based-and-neighborhood-partnerships/ |access-date=October 22, 2024 |website=MinistryWatch}}</ref>

Additionally, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Center for Faith and Opportunity Initiatives continued to engage in outreach to religious and community organizations, focusing on vaccine distribution during the COVID-19 pandemic. This initiative aimed to increase vaccination rates by leveraging the trust and influence of faith-based groups.<ref>{{cite web |date=November 22, 2021 |title=HHS Provides $66.5 Million to Expand Community-Based Outreach Efforts to Increase COVID-19 Vaccinations |url=https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2021/11/22/hhs-provides-66-million-expand-community-based-outreach-efforts-increase-covid-19-vaccinations.html |access-date=October 22, 2024 |website=HHS.gov}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Partnering with Faith-Based Organizations to Improve Public Health and Vaccination Equity |url=https://www.apha.org/news-and-media/news-releases/apha-news-releases/partnering-with-faith-based-organizations-to-improve-public-health-and-vaccination-equity |access-date=October 22, 2024 |website=APHA}}</ref>

== References ==
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[[Category:Agencies of the United States government]]