In 2006, members of the Better Care Network formed the FBO outreach committee in order to promote better practice within the faith-based orphan care community. This committee formalized in 2008 and is now known as the Faith to Action Initiative.
The Faith to Action Initiative brings together Christian faith-based organizations, churches, and individuals seeking to respond to the needs of orphans and other vulnerable children in Sub-Saharan Africa. The core focus of the Initiative's work is to promote approaches to orphan care that uphold the value of family and community in the life of a child.
The Faith to Action Initiative began as the BCN Faith-Based Organization (FBO) Committee. The overarching aim of the BCN FBO Committee was to dialogue with churches, organizations, and leaders in the faith community for the purpose of promoting better practices in regards to orphans and vulnerable children (OVC), including gathering information about orphan and vulnerable children (OVC) responses already underway, to encourage increased OVC support in general, and promote better care practices.
The BCN FBO Outreach Committee’s core group comprised of four members of the Better Care Network Advisory Group: Kerry Olson, Firelight Foundation; Diana Aubourg Millner, Save Africa’s Children; Mary Dallao, Family Health International; and Steve Haas, World Vision USA as well as Jon Singletary, professor of Social Work at Baylor University and John Derrick, Training Specialist with Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s Global Missions. John Williamson of the Displaced Children and Orphans Fund, Aaron Greenberg of the Better Care Network and UNICEF and Jennifer Delaney of Global Action for Children also participated in an advisory capacity.The Committee has since evolved into its own entity - the Faith to Action Initiative - and BCN Director Florence Martin is a member of its Leadership Council.
Recommended Resources:
A Continuum of Care for Orphans and Vulnerable Children
Children, Orphanages, and Families: a Summary of Research to Help Guide Faith-based Action
Key Research on Orphanages and Family Care: An Annotated Bibliography
Community and Family Models of Care for Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Africa
Where they operate
Organization Type
Main Areas of Work
What They Do
The Faith to Action Initiative serves as a resource for Christian groups, churches, and individuals seeking to respond to the needs of orphans and vulnerable children in Africa and around the world. They offer practical tools and resources, inspiring stories and examples, and up-to-date information on key strategies and research to help guide action. They seek to engage and equip churches and individuals through their website, publications, conference workshops and webinars.
Organization Resources
The Short-Term Missions: Guidance to Support Orphans and Vulnerable Children is a comprehensive resource that provides guidance and better practice standards for short-term missions to ensure positive outcomes for vulnerable children, their families, and their communities.
Le présent Manuel d’orientation fournit des informations et des outils utiles pour les églises, les organisations confessionnelles, les donateurs et autres acteurs qui font passer la garde des enfants du placement en institution au placement en famille.
The Transitioning to Family Care for Children Tool Kit is an online resource developed by the Faith to Action Initiative for churches, faith-based organizations, donors, and others seeking to transition their care and support of children away from a residential model of care (e.g., institutions, orphanages, children’s homes, group homes) to care within families.
Transitioning to Family Care for Children: A Guidance Manual aims to provide practical guidance and tools for churches, faith-based organizations, donors, and others who are transitioning care for children away from residential care to care within families.
Este Manual de Orientación provee información y herramientas útiles para iglesias, organizaciones religiosas, donantes y otros que persiguen transferir el cuidado de niños que son atendidos en residencias al cuidado en una familia.
This webinar from Faith to Action Initiative presents key strategies for expanding the capacity of families to care for orphans and vulnerable children.
This series of podcasts from Faith to Action Initiative features the audio from past Faith to Action webinars, including a webinar on The Continuum of Care.
This webinar looks at the range of alternative care for children who have been separated from parental care and emphasizes family care.
A Continuum of Care provides an overview of a range of alternative care options for children who have been separated from parental care.
Esta guía es la tercera publicación en una serie producida por the Faith to Action Initiative (Iniciativa de Fe en Acción) para proporcionar a las iglesias, a las organizaciones basadas en la fe, e individuos de fe con información para ayudar a guiar la “mejor práctica”. La guía proporciona una visión general de una gama de opciones de cuidado alternativo para los niños que han sido separados del cuidado parental.
