What Are Faith-based Organizations (FBOs)?

The faith-based organizations represented in the Model Practices Framework all have a history of working on health disparities in their communities. They work locally but also value being connected to a larger network of partners. Some are led by health professionals who are persons of faith adept at respectfully navigating the terrain of different cultural and religious environments. Others are led by religious leaders who understand health and wholeness as a part of their organization’s mission.

All of them recognize their role in the public sphere as an important component of their responsibilities. They quite often function as intermediaries brokering organizational relationships.

A number of the lead organizations are faith-based health systems committed to reaching out to faith- and community-based organizations to ensure greater access to health resources for particular populations.

Some are smaller nonprofits with a mission and commitment to addressing the needs of the underserved. One is a federally qualified health center that has developed strong relationships with faith-based partners such as a Buddhist center and a network of congregations where large immigrant populations worship.

Reaching out to faith-based partners requires an appreciation for the diversity of the religious landscape in the United States, the variety of religious institutional structures, and an understanding of the likely players in the public sphere.