Role Of Faith-based Organizations Research Articles

The Role of Faith-based Organisations in Childhood Malaria Management among Mothers of Under-five Children in Osogbo, Nigeria

Malaria remains a major health challenge in Nigeria despite efforts at reducing its prevalence. Previous studies on malaria focused mainly on the biomedical aspects. However, little is known about the role of faith-based organisations in malaria management. Health Belief Model (HBM) provided the framework explaining mothers understanding of malaria illness, while exploratory and descriptive designs were utilized. The study was conducted among selected mothers of under-five children in Osogbo using the qualitative method comprising twelve focus group discussions (FGDs); six among mothers 15-35years (three each among literates and non-literates); six among mothers 35years and above (three each among literates and non-literates mothers). Qualitative data were content analysed. Malaria treatment behaviour of the mothers was a complex process, assisted by faith-based organisations through the provision of insecticides treated net (ITNs), awareness campaigns, routine immunization of pregnant mothers, and more. However, hording militated against the effective use of ITNs by mothers in malaria management. This finding corroborates common understanding that faith-based organisations play important role in malaria management by actually providing biomedically accepted resources which led to the reduction of mosquito spread, hence increases the chances of the survival of both children and mothers. Therefore, increased collaboration between government and faith-based organisations is needed to improve malaria management facilities and avail mothers with appropriate education on malaria management strategies to reduce complications from malaria.

Addressing the Inequality of Disasters: The Role of Faith-based Organizations in Disaster Response and Recovery

Disasters have a significant global impact every year and disproportionally effect vulnerable populations. Disaster response efforts are often inequitable leaving already vulnerable populations at risk. These inequities in disaster response represent a social justice concern for congregations and congregational social workers and must be considered in future disaster recovery efforts. As churches and faith organizations provide essential disaster response and recovery services, this article outlines a model for increased inequity in provision of disaster response and recovery efforts. A case illustration using the COVID-19 pandemic is provided for further exploration of the equitable disaster response model in the context of congregations and congregational social work.

The Role of Faith-Based Organizations in Improving Vaccination Confidence & Addressing Vaccination Disparities to Help Improve Vaccine Uptake: A Systematic Review.

The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the importance of vaccination to support individual health across the life-course, with vaccination playing a central strategy role in mitigating transmission and disease. This required unprecedented mobilization and coordination across all sectors to meet people where they are, enable equitable access, and build vaccination confidence. A literature search was conducted with combinations of the keywords and variations of vaccination and faith-based organizations (FBOs). Search inclusion criteria were: (1) FBO programs that supported public health emergency efforts, including vaccination efforts as the primary outcome; and (2) articles written in English language. A total of 37 articles met inclusion criteria (n = 26 focused on general public health campaigns, n = 11 focused on vaccination efforts). The findings related to public health campaigns fell into four themes: FBO's ability to (1) tailor public health campaigns; (2) mitigate barriers; (3) establish trust; and (4) disseminate and sustain efforts. The findings related to vaccine uptake efforts fell into three themes: (1) pre-pandemic influenza and HPV vaccination efforts, (2) addressing vaccine disparities in minority communities, and (3) enabling COVID-19 vaccination. This review demonstrated that FBOs have a vital role in both public health campaigns and vaccination initiatives to support high vaccine uptake and confidence.

From Grassroots to the UN — The Role of Faith in Climate Action

The role of faith-based organizations, as well as secular organizations engaging with faith actors, has gained significant momentum. Faith actors have been not only internalizing the spiritual connections to the environment, but also contributing to policy discussions at international conventions through the United Nations (UN) and other multilateral organizations. Climate change is one of the most pressing issues facing the world today, and it is an issue that requires a global response. While governments and policymakers have a crucial role to play, the issue of climate change is also the one that touches on the values and beliefs of individuals, communities, and faith groups. In this paper, we will explore the role that faith and religion can play in addressing climate change at the grassroots level and within the UN, using the Faith for Earth Initiative as a global example and the Green Anglicans movement in Southern Africa at the local level. Both local and global actions are necessary to achieve the aspirations of the people in fighting climate change, adapting to its impact, and bringing the voices of ethics and values to environmental policymaking as these actions are inseparable. At the local level, impacts of global decisions are felt but also implemented and in turn such practices can inform global decision-making. This paper demonstrates the lessons learnt, challenges, and opportunities for such local and global engagements.

Hearing Minority Voices: Institutional Discrimination Towards LGBTQ in Disaster and Recovery

Within the themes of CASCADE NET, this paper focusses on less heard voices and the need to develop new social spaces. Disaster vulnerability identifies diversity in society through a lens of constraints to solutions, on such bases as demography, socio-economic status, cultural, ethnic and gendered minorities within society, and marginalized groups as well as physical proximity to a hazard. The focus of disaster risk reduction is on building resilience through the strengths and capacities in society, but it has a tendency to homogenize characteristics of resilience to the community level, thereby flattening and hiding diversity. LGBTQ people are largely ignored as minority groups with specific information needs. Specific response and recovery processes and actors exacerbate the vulnerability of the LGBTQ minority, especially in evacuation, support, counselling, and rehousing. The role of faith-based organizations (FBO) in providing these services during disaster relief and recovery is examined in this paper. This paper identifies and critiques the attitudes and practices of some FBO towards LGBTQ groups in their provision of disaster relief services.

Towards a reconstructed society: Hope for a better today and tomorrow in a world of unstable economic systems and increasing poverty, with a focus on Zambia

The social value of this article is a demonstration of the impact of the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative on Zambia and how, in response, faith-based organisations had attempted to influence public economic policy for the betterment of 80% of Zambians who lived under the ‘poverty datum line’ and spent one U.S. dollar a day per capita by 2002, when compared to almost a decade earlier, and who experienced a reduction in life expectancy from 54 years in the late 1980s to 37 years in 2002. The knowledge gap which this article sought to narrow is a lack of adequate reflections on the role of faith-based organisations in addressing economic instability and increasing poverty among majority citizens. The methods used were mainly qualitative in nature, which examined both primary and secondary sources of data. The findings were that the situation of adverse social dislocation of the majority was unlikely to be any better in and beyond 2002. Experience showed that in the year 2005, the socio-economic situation of the majority was still pathetic.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This article sought to highlight the specific role which faith-based organisations played in the orientation of the state towards a ‘reconstructed society’ in Zambia. The paper challenged the view that socio-economic development matters are a preserve of development experts and politicians only. Instead, the paper argued that the path towards economic stability and prosperity called for the involvement of all stakeholders, including faith-based organisations.

Perceived Impact of Conflicts and Survival of Children in Benue State: The Role of Faith-Based Organisations

Perceived Impact of Conflicts and Survival of Children in Benue State: The Role of Faith-Based Organisations

THE RELIGION-DEVELOPMENT DOMAIN OF WAHANA VISI INDONESIA CONCERNING CHILD EDUCATION IN ALOR – EAST NUSA TENGGARA

This study tries to explain the role of faith-based organizations in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Indonesia by showing the role of Wahana Visi Indonesia in education. Claiming themselves as Christian Faith-Based Organization that works according to the Christian Faith (Iman Kristen), WVI has huge impact on the sustainable development in Indonesia, including the education. By focusing this study to the case of Wahana Visi Indonesia (WVI), author aims to explain profoundly the effect religious actor has in development, particularly child education in Alor – East Nusa Tenggara. This study uses qualitative methods and literature study as an approach, in which authors did one-on-one interview as data collection technique, and examine through critical analysis to develop initial understanding in specified areas: religion and development and education. On the ground of major role of WVI as faith-based organization in the issue of SDGs, the author will discuss it accordingly in two main analysis as follows, the nexus of faith and development in Wahana Visi Indonesia in education field. Secondly, the author will examine the encounter and engagement that happened between religious actors (national and international), International Organizations, religious-affiliated schools and churches to understand how FBO operates in international development to achieve more effective and efficient in developing advocacy within religious-civil-society in Indonesia. Final result showed that religious is transformational, seen from the dynamic in three levels (macro-level, meso-level, micro-level) which outlined the progress of Wahana Visi Indonesia in intensifying child education in Alor – East Nusa Tenggara. The study concludes that Wahana Visi Indonesia as Faith-Based Organizations has successfully aligned ‘Christian Faith’ without the aim of proselytization in the realm of Child Education, as it works as catalyst of development for which it has influenced people-centered development regarding child education. It proves that WVI is catalyst to development, and study case of Alor – East Nusa Tenggara is an evidence how ‘faith’, ‘dialogue’ and ‘networks in religion-development domain’ has successfully made significant contribution in improving child education.

The Role of Faith-Based Organizations in Counter-Radicalization in Nigeria: The Case of Boko Haram

This article examines the role of faith-based organizations (FBOs) in counter-radicalization in Nigeria, with emphasis on the Boko Haram terrorist group operating in northeast Nigeria and the greater Lake Chad region. A qualitative methodological approach is employed that makes use of primary and secondary documents, key informant and stakeholder interviews, and focus group discussions with critical religious actors and organizations. The findings of the article suggest that FBOs play a critical role in the disengagement and deradicalization process of countering the ideological and radical messages of Boko Haram. However, challenges such as the lack of effective stakeholder involvement in the various initiatives by the state in counterterrorism, fear of reprisal and attacks, lack of unison by various FBOs and clerics in countering these negative messages, and the inability of relevant stakeholders in addressing structural factors such as poverty, social and economic exclusion, and unemployment that give rise to radicalization amongst other challenges, have impeded the effectiveness of the FBO sector in its counter-radicalization efforts in Nigeria. To address these challenges, the article proposes a bottom-up approach to counterterrorism that provides room for the multi-sectoral involvement of major stakeholders, especially FBOs, to complement pre-existing initiatives and other measures to counter the negative weaponization of religion by radical and rogue clerics, and also to prevent Boko Haram from expanding its frontiers.

Lesbian and Bisexual Women’s Experience of Emergency Management

As climate change exacerbates exposure to disasters, a growing body of scholarship provides evidence that some groups experience significant barriers in accessing and participating in emergency services. This article reports on the findings of an exploratory, qualitative study involving in-depth interviews with four lesbian or bisexual women in Australia. The aim of the study is to better understand the degree to which emergency services’ policies, programs and procedures accommodate diversity and the needs of lesbian and bisexual women as ‘clients’ and paid staff or volunteers. Results are organised under five key categories: language; discrimination; sector acknowledgment; the role of faith-based organisations; and ways forward. The data is presented through the women’s voices and documents their lived experiences of discrimination. The study provides an opportunity to consider how discrimination against sexual and gender identity diverse minorities (LGBT people) intersects with, as it draws on, discrimination against women, increasing lesbian and bisexual women’s experiences of marginalisation as emergency sector clients, employees and volunteers. It also provides an opportunity to address the effects of systemic discrimination in the organisation and delivery of emergency services, promoting a more diverse and inclusive emergency sector.

Curating Spaces of Hope: Exploring the Potential for Intra-Communities’ Dialogue (ICD) and Faith-Based Organisations, in a Post-COVID Society

During this paper I will consider the role of Faith-Based Organisations (FBOs) in connecting and resourcing communities through partnerships with the public sector, and the potential for partnerships of these kinds to inform curation of new spaces of hope, engagement, and practice, in a post-COVID society, using intra-communities dialogue. First, I will explore intra-communities dialogue (ICD). I will present ICD as the process of mapping and listening to shared matters of concern and socio-material practices that emerge from secular and religious actants who share and shape the same postsecular public spaces. Second, I will argue that to use ICD a new understanding of FBOs is required. Therefore, I will consider the deficit of understanding of FBOs within the literatures and propose a synthesis of different typologies of FBOs through the production of a new paradigm of FBOs, called Spaces of Hope. Third, I will use Spaces of Hope to open up the socio-material nuances of space within three FBOs, Mustard Seed, Beacon Community and Old Town Church (OTC) and address four matters of concern for FBOs: different practices, different spheres, different scales and different beliefs. This will show how Spaces of Hope can resource and support ICD within and between FBOs. Finally, in light of the capacity of Spaces of Hope to engage in ICD and map postsecular spaces, I will conclude by questioning how Spaces of Hope might support postsecular partnerships through ICD within a post-COVID society.

How faith-based organizations perceive their role in community development: An exploratory study

ABSTRACT This paper examines the research and conceptual literature about the role of faith-based organizations in community development. For the most part, there are relatively few community development studies about faith-based community development groups. This qualitative study explores two research explorations: First, how do Christian faith-based community development organizations in Kentucky perceive and employ the concepts of solidarity and agency (capacity building) in their work. Second, how do they perceive their role in the context of a systems approach to community development as measured through the Community Capitals Framework (CCF) which includes the application of seven capitals in planning and implementation: Natural, cultural, human, social, political, financial and built capitals. While the organizations in our research initiative employ many of these major concepts we learned they do not have an explicit understanding of these approaches. This study also suggests there are also spiritual and emancipatory capitals which merit further investigation as part of a systems approach. The article includes several recommendations about strengthening the potency of faith-based community development organizations through a more explicit understanding of the concepts of solidarity and agency and the community capitals framework and potential partnerships with government and other non-governmental organizations.

The Role of Faith-based Organizations (FBOs) in the Rehabilitation of Offenders

Since time immemorial, religion has been, and is, a part of society that provides a moral compass and stability in society. It regulates human behavior so that there is conformity to norms and values that are upheld by society. Deviation from these norms and values is subject to sanction, which results in incarceration. At the turn of the 20th century, a more proactive step has been taken for the rehabilitation of those who have come into conflict with the law. The many secular programs that were implemented in the rehabilitation of prisoners 1 provided little to the desired effect, which is highlighted by looking at the rate of recidivism. In this context, the role of religion became increasingly recognized as a way to rehabilitate prisoners. In some instances, faith-based programs have been integrated into secular programs, while in other instances, faith-based organizations (FBOs) volunteer to independently provide their service. Irrespective of the approach used, there is sufficient evidence to support the view that faith-based programs have a positive effect on the rehabilitation of prisoners and helps to reduce recidivism.

Filling the Gaps: The Role of Faith-Based Organizations in Addressing the Health Needs of Today's Latino Communities.

Research on the acceptability of faith-based health promotion programs by Latino communities in the Bible Belt is limited. This study examined the needs, barriers, and facilitators related to such programs in Memphis, TN. Thirty Latino community members and ten faith leaders participated in focus groups and in-depth interviews, respectively. Health needs identified included diet, dental care, and screenings, while barriers included cost, education, lack of prevention-seeking behaviors, and need for Spanish language services. Faith leaders were aware of more health resources than community members. Despite being receptive and acknowledging the need for faith-based programs aimed at prevention and filling healthcare gaps, concerns regarding the influence of religious doctrine on health interventions were expressed by members of both groups. Faith leaders, practitioners, and community members must work together to overcome barriers related to trust and health behavior norms.

Church Leaders’ Views of Obesity Prevention Efforts for Children and Youth

ObjectiveTo examine church leaders’ views on the role of faith-based organizations in promoting healthy eating and physical activity in children. DesignQualitative research using semi-structured in-depth interviews. SettingSouth Carolina. ParticipantsLeaders (n = 26) from United Methodist churches (n = 20). Phenomenon of InterestPerceptions of health promotion efforts for children in faith-based settings, including primary health concerns, perceived opportunities, partnerships, and the relationship of these efforts to the overall church mission. AnalysisInterviews were transcribed verbatim and coded using a constant comparative method. ResultsFive themes emerged related to (1) multiple concerns about health issues facing children; (2) existing church structures influencing health behaviors; (3) potential partnerships to address children's health; (4) importance of role models; and (5) the need for a tailored approach. Conclusions and ImplicationsChurch leaders viewed childhood health behaviors as an important area of concern for the church and identified links between physical and spiritual health. They identified multiple existing and potential organizational and community structures as important in improving healthy eating and physical activity. Faith-based organizations can play an important role in developing and delivering health programming for children but desired assistance through partnerships with subject matter experts.

What Is Gained and What Is Lost by the Faith-based Organization (FBO) Term?

Abstract The growing interest in the role of faith-based organizations (FBOs) in promoting social development is welcome, but the article nevertheless questions the value of the broad term FBOs. The categorizations of FBOs do not bring adequate clarity. Four justifications for keeping the FBO term are analyzed: (i) highlighting the importance of religion and the size of FBOs; (ii) identifying characteristics of FBOs, specifically extensive networks and stronger local presence; (iii) surveillance of FBOs as potentially divisive actors; and (iv) necessary to map donations. Four justifications for scrapping the FBO term are also analyzed: (i) the term FBO might give connotations to religiously extremist movements – or to Western worldviews; (ii) the emphasis on the “devotedness” inherent in FBOs might directly and indirectly promote behavioral economics; (iii) both religion and FBOs might become “essentialized”; and (iv) research of FBOs is characterized by a lack of rigorous methodological, investigative approach.

The Role of Faith-Based Organizations and Faith Leaders in the 2014–2016 Ebola Epidemic in Liberia

Since the time of Christ, caring for the sick and the poor has been a core distinctive of authentic Christianity. The response of Christians during many of the great plagues of antiquity played an important role in the spread of Christianity. In modern history, response to epidemics have been professionalized and, to a certain extent, secularized. The 2014–2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa offers an important illustration of the role that faith leaders and faith-based organizations still play in providing a trusted link between communities and international relief workers. During the latter half of 2018, the world was faced with another outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is vital to build upon the lessons of prior epidemics as we support local efforts to prepare for, detect, and respond to inevitable future outbreaks.

Faith-Based Organisations and the Humanitarian Governance of Refugee Resettlement

This article investigates the role of faith-based organisations (FBOs) in refugee resettlement. Scholarly work on the role of FBOs in refugee resettlement remains limited and mostly focuses on FBOs' involvement in the resettlement policies of major resettling states. In contrast, this article draws on an understanding of refugee resettlement as humanitarian governance. Accordingly, refugee resettlement is an instrument of both care and control encompassing the discourses and practices of numerous governmental, intergovernmental and non-state actors at multiple levels. Approaching refugee resettlement as humanitarian governance means to unpack its power dynamics from the global to the local level. This article shows how FBOs contribute to these power dynamics. Its new perspective on the multifaceted role of FBOs in refugee resettlement aims to advance our understanding of refugee resettlement, to expand scholarship on the role of FBOs in immigration and refugee policy and to contribute to current debates on religion, policy and politics.

Introduction: social policies and social inequalities in contemporary Turkey

Turkey undertook a series of social policy reforms in the 2000s, including a large-scale transformation in health care, recalibration of its pension system, the introduction of a new industrial relations regime, reconstruction of its labour market, the launch of a wide range of social assistance programs and alterations in social care arrangements. This wide range of social policy changes and their impact on the patterns of social inequalities in Turkey has created a highly fruitful research agenda that has attracted the considerable interest of academics from different social science disciplines. This special issue contributes to this literature by offering a critical analysis of recent social policy changes and the changing patterns of social inequalities covering an impressive range of issues: social care, child labour, youth unemployment, young women's employment, the role of faith-based organizations in social welfare and the pension reform. This introduction to this special issue briefly reviews the history of social policy development in Turkey and scholarly debates on the direction of social policy changes in the last decade. Then the article examines contemporary policy trends and the patterns of social inequalities in three policy areas, namely, employment and income generation, education, and housing, which are also selected to reveal the changing character of social policy arrangements and to complement the comprehensive picture that this special issue sketches.

Non-state actors and education as a humanitarian response: role of faith-based organizations in education for Syrian refugees in Turkey

In the shadow of the Syrian conflict generating millions of displaced people, education provision for Syrian children has become one of the biggest challenges for Turkey. This paper sheds light on the role and rationale of faith-based humanitarian organizations in education provision for Syrian children in Turkey based on the interviews conducted with representatives of humanitarian organizations. The paper presents the wider socio-political context of Turkey to analyze the motivations of the Islamic humanitarian sector in exercising education facilities for a linguistically and culturally different population. In that context, this paper attempts to contribute to the fledgling literature on education as a humanitarian response from an institutional perspective.