07-30-2003, 05:16 AM
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Veteran Member
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Northern Virginia, USA
Posts: 1,112
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Proven programs lose funding in favor of 'faith based' programs
Many agencies lose grants from AmeriCorps program (free registration required)
Quote:
The federal agency that oversees AmeriCorps, a national community service project, is financing a new program run by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence while cutting all funding for several existing programs, including the Rhode Island Children's Crusade.
The Corporation for National and Community Service, the parent agency for AmeriCorps, has awarded $324,000 to the diocese, which will pay 32 AmeriCorps volunteers to work on literacy skills with preschoolers in the diocese's four daycare centers.
The Rhode Island Mentoring Partnership, part of the Chamber Education Foundation, will receive $256,000 to expand existing mentoring programs in local schools and community organizations. It hopes to double the number of mentors in Rhode Island, from 2,200 to 4,000, by the end of next year.
Some local organizations, however, are troubled that established AmeriCorps recipients, such as City Year Rhode Island, have lost their financing even though they have a record of success.
"I think it's appalling," said Janice O'Donnell, executive director of the Providence Children's Museum, an AmeriCorps recipient. "These are proven programs. They are up and running."
The Corporation for National and Community Service could not be reached for comment yesterday. However, President Bush has made no secret of his support for faith-based organizations, especially in the arena of public education.
"The federal government decided to fund new programs at the expense of existing ones," said Nicole Boothman-Shepard, executive director of the Rhode Island Service Alliance, the state agency that channels AmeriCorps money to local nonprofits.
She said she could understand the federal government's decision to shift money to new organizations if the existing programs hadn't been so successful.
"Many of our programs that had been funded for nine years were not funded this year," she said. "They had really developed an outstanding infrastructure."
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