The following resources are intended to equip Christians in social work to be better able to educate and support churches, congregations, denominations and faith-based organizations regarding a robust range of anti-poverty strategies . . .

. . . so that churches, congregations, denominations and faith-based organizations can play a more active, vital role in joining broader community and societal efforts to combat poverty locally, domestically, and around the world.

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 I. Root Causes of/Contributors to Poverty

   A. Environmental and Structural (Macro)

• Racial Contributors to Poverty

• http://www.racialequitytools.org/home: Racial Equity Tools is designed to support individuals and groups working to achieve racial equity. This site offers tools, research, tips, curricula and ideas for people who want to increase their own understanding and to help those working toward justice at every level – in systems, organizations, communities and the culture at large.
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  B. Personal/Behavioral (Micro)

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II. Local and Domestic Interventions

  A. Interventions at the Community/State/National Level (Macro)

• Interventions Providing Improved Access to a Range of Direct Services (Food; Shelter; Health Care, etc.) in Neighborhoods/States/Regions

  • http://www.episcopalchurch.org/library/office/jubilee-ministries: A network of over 600 Jubilee Ministries, which are centers that empower the poor and oppressed in their communities by providing direct services, such as food, shelter, and healthcare, and also by advocating for human rights. (Episcopal)
  • http://catholiccharitiesusa.org/our-solutions/programs/: CCUSA believes that it is unacceptable in a nation as bountiful as ours that children, adults, and senior citizens experience food insecurity that puts their physical, mental and developmental health at risk. We support local Catholic Charities agencies across the country in their work to provide programs and services to families, children, and single adults struggling to afford food to eat. (Roman Catholic)
  • www.afm-ags.org/welfare: Through a collection of programs, the Apostolic Faith Mission Welfare Council concentrates on the needs of children, the aged, people living with HIV & Aids and people living with substance abuse. The Council also works with local churches and other non-profit driven organizations to develop and manage such programs within their communities. (Apostolic Faith Mission)

• Interventions Addressing Systemic Employment Issues

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  Interventions Addressing Housing Issues

• Interventions Focusing on Education/Literacy/Training/Skill Building

• Interventions Providing Increased Access to Personal Income/Loans/Assets through Sources Other Than Traditional Employment, and/or Access to Financial Services

• Interventions Addressing Healthcare Issues/Epidemic Diseases

• Interventions Addressing Systemic Economic, Governmental, and Debt Issues (including Inefficient or Corrupt Government, Unfair Laws, Treaties, Policies, and Regulations that Contribute to Poverty)

• http://catholiccharitiesusa.org/our-solutions/programs/: Poverty does not occur in a vacuum. In its work, CCUSA highlights the linkages between complex social issues and poverty in America, illustrating the interconnected nature of many social ills including a focus on climate change, human trafficking, and racial equality and diversity (Roman Catholic)
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• Interventions Focused on Addressing Human Rights Issues (esp. Economic Systems which Exclude Freedom and Opportunities for Marginalized Populations, Gender Inequality, etc.)

• Interventions Supporting Improved Infrastructure (such as roads), Innovations (such as higher yield crops),  and Information Technology (such as access to the Internet)

  B. Interventions at the Individual/Family Level (Micro)

• Interventions Increasing Access to Nutritious Food/Safe Water

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• Interventions Addressing Unemployment or Underemployment

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  Interventions Addressing Housing

• http://catholiccharitiesusa.org/our-solutions/programs/: Housing counselors in Catholic Charities agencies are trained to provide rental, homeless prevention, mortgage delinquency and reverse mortgage counseling, and other services. Housing counseling sub-agencies are the national “go to” agencies for services to the homeless and those in danger of homelessness. (Roman Catholic)
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• Interventions Focusing on Education/Literacy/Training/Skill Building

• http://catholiccharitiesusa.org/our-solutions/programs/: Supportive relationships and role models are essential to helping youth stay in school. With this in mind, CCUSA has developed a network of 41 local agencies in 38 states providing youth mentoring. The purpose of this program is to prevent delinquency, truancy, drug use, gang involvement, teen pregnancy and other high-risk activities while improving school performance. (Roman Catholic)
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• Interventions Providing Increased Access to Personal Income/Loans/Assets through Sources Other Than Traditional Employment, and/or Access to Financial Services

• http://catholiccharitiesusa.org/our-solutions/programs/: Asset building is an anti-poverty strategy that helps low-income people move toward greater self-sufficiency by accumulating savings and purchasing long-term assets. Helping people purchase an asset, as opposed to simply increasing their income, provides stability that may allow them to escape the cycle of poverty. (Roman Catholic)
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• Interventions Addressing Access to Healthcare/Medicine

  C. Interventions Addressing Acute, Major Crises - Environmental, Extreme Weather, etc.

• http://catholiccharitiesusa.org/our-solutions/programs/: Catholic Charities USA’s Disaster Operations coordinates the Catholic Church’s response to disasters in the United States and grants relief funds to local Catholic Charities agencies to support their relief efforts. (Roman Catholic)
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   D. General Training/Grant Provision/Other

• http://www.episcopalchurch.org/form/justice-and-advocacy-fellowships: By offering one- and two-year Justice and Advocacy Fellowships, provide financial support for service-oriented, professional development, and education for persons committed to directly engaging poverty alleviation and environmental stewardship  (Episcopal)
• http://www.episcopalchurch.org/video/everyone-everywhere-2011-asset-based-community-development-workshop and http://www.episcopalchurch.org/notice/denver-colorado-episcopal-church-awarded-asset-based-community-development-pilot-program-gran): Providing training and  funding pilots/projects focused on Asset-Based Community Development (Episcopal)
• http://www.episcopalchurch.org/search/site/congregational%20ministries: Collaboration with diocesan and congregational ministries across the country (Episcopal)
• http://catholiccharitiesusa.org/our-solutions/programs/: CCUSA supports innovative social service programs being run by agencies throughout its network through grants and award programs.  Whether it’s a new twist on providing a traditional service, or completely new ideas for reducing poverty in America, CCUSA member agencies are pioneering new methods to improve social services and make them more responsive to the needs of the people they serve. (Roman Catholic)
• http://www.episcopalchurch.org/posts/publicaffairs/jubilee-ministry-grants-awarded-episcopal-church-programs-and-mission-work: Annual block-grant programs for the development (or enrichment) of local ministry (for example, in 2014, Jubilee Grants totaling $49,965 were distributed to 11 dioceses) (Episcopal)

   

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III. Global and International Interventions

  A. Interventions at the Community/Country Level (Macro)

• Interventions Addressing Food Security Issues (General Access to Nutritious Food and Clean Water in Countries/Neighborhoods/Regions)

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• Interventions Addressing Systemic Employment Issues

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  Interventions Addressing Housing Issues/Landlessness Issues

• Interventions Focusing on Education/Literacy/Training/Skill Building

• Interventions Providing Increased Access to Personal Income/Loans/Assets through Sources Other Than Traditional Employment, and/or Access to Financial Services

• Interventions Addressing Healthcare Issues/Epidemic Diseases

• Interventions Addressing Systemic Economic, Governmental, and Debt Issues (including Inefficient or Corrupt Government, Unfair Laws, Treaties, Policies, and Regulations that Contribute to Poverty)

• Interventions Focused on Addressing Human Rights Issues (esp. Economic Systems which Exclude Freedom and Opportunities for Marginalized Populations, Gender Inequality, etc.)

• Interventions Supporting Improved Infrastructure (such as roads), Innovations (higher yield crops),  and Information Technology (such as cell phone technology)

  B. Interventions at the Individual/Family Level (Micro)

• Interventions Increasing Access to Nutritious Food/Safe Water

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• Interventions Addressing Unemployment or Underemployment

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  Interventions Addressing Housing/Access to Land

• Interventions Focusing on Education/Literacy/Training/Skill Building

• Interventions Providing Increased Access to Personal Income/Loans/Assets through Sources Other Than Traditional Employment, and/or Access to Financial Services

• Interventions Addressing Access to Healthcare/Medicine

  C. Interventions Addressing Acute, Major Crises - Environmental, Extreme Weather, etc.

• http://compassionservices.org/: Compassion Services International (CSI) is a  nonprofit humanitarian organization headquartered in Saint Charles, Missouri. CSI focuses on disaster relief, medical aid and humanitarian relief in the United States and around the world.  CSI believes in providing for the physical needs of those suffering while sharing the love of Jesus. However, CSI does not discriminate when offering assistance to those in need. CSI knows that each disaster and situation is different. There are times to go and times to give. CSI focuses on disaster relief, medical aid and various humanitarian relief efforts depending on the specific need. (United Pentecostal Church)

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  D. Training/Other

• http://www.episcopalchurch.org/page/global-justice: In 2006, The Episcopal Church's General Convention declared the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to be the top mission priority of The Episcopal Church. The ONE Episcopalian Campaign represents a partnership between The Episcopal Church and the ONE Campaign(link is external), striving together to end extreme global poverty and achieve the eight MDGs set by the United Nations and affirmed by every nation in the world. (Episcopal)

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