More Americans are living longer lives. For some, arthritis, diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer's, heart disease, or other long-term health conditions accompany longer lives. While insurance and government programs provide some assistance, family members provide the majority of care.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJ) through Faith in Action is supporting community efforts to help meet this challenge with volunteer caregivers. These efforts have helped to build over 1,100 interfaith volunteer caregiving programs across the country. The Foundation is committed to expanding this network by supporting the development of 2,000 more Faith in Action coalitions.

Not only does RWJ provide start-up grants of $35,000, it offers new coalitions significant technical support and advice on how to develop successful, sustainable caregiving programs that can serve their communities for many years to come.

Grants are made to coalitions established by faith congregations (including churches, temples, synagogues, mosques, and other groups with religious missions), as well as by other volunteer organizations or social or health service provider agencies that can demonstrate the participation of faith denominations in the proposed program.

The Area Agency on Aging of Texoma, Texas under the leadership of Janis Thompson has received and implemented a Faith in Action grant. Through the program, volunteers help with tasks such as friendly visits, transportation, respite care, light chores, shopping and errands, paper work and escorting care recipients to the doctor's office to assist in understanding doctor's orders.

Carolyn Ragans is a volunteer with the Alzheimer's Respite Care Program, a Faith in Action coalition of 13 congregations, in Orlando, Florida. Carolyn visited with Martin and Edith Feuerstein once a week, giving Martin a much-needed breather in his daily routine of caring for his ailing wife. Since Edith moved to a nursing home, Martin and Carolyn still get together for lunch. Says Martin, "Now that I'm all by myself, and I don't have much company, Carolyn is a big help when she talks to me. I don't think anybody could be nicer."

LeRoy Grube, 82, volunteers twice a week as a driver for the meals-on-wheels program in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, through a Faith in Action program that includes eight faith congregations. LeRoy explains, "The people who get these meals - you can't imagine how happy they are when I walk up to the door. I feel it's a necessity and I enjoy doing it."

Faith in Action coalitions bring together religious congregations of many faiths, and other community organizations such as Area Agencies on Aging (AAA), senior centers, and hospitals, in a common mission to provide volunteer care to their neighbors in need. The programs provide volunteer services, care, and companionship to people of all ages and faiths who are homebound because of long-term health problems, as well as respite to family caregivers. Faith in Action coalitions recruit, train, and mobilize volunteers; form governing boards; hire directors to organize, manage, and promote the program's work; and raise the funds necessary to grow and sustain their programs over time. If a governing board is already in existence, as is the case with an AAA, a special advisory board is established.

Coalitions must serve a geographic area with a population of at least 20,000. Under special circumstances, exceptions may be made to fund coalitions serving smaller populations.

Coalitions recruit volunteers from all walks of life. A commitment to helping others is the most important requirement for Faith in Action volunteers --formal ties with religious organizations in the community are not required to become a volunteer. In keeping with the interfaith nature of the program, proselytizing is not permitted.

Many faith congregations already reach out to people in need. However, Faith in Action coalitions can greatly strengthen these efforts by providing:

1. Ongoing assistance in organizing outreach to the homebound,
2. Training for group leaders who oversee this outreach ministry,
3. Training for volunteers serving the homebound,
4. Help with locating home-bound people who have lost touch with their community,
5. Help with recruiting volunteers from both inside and outside the congregation,
6. Linkage to medical and social services in the community,
7. Additional services like insurance coverage for volunteers and workshops on bereavement, depression, and other topics.

The organization that receives the grant must employ a full-time program director who works with religious institutions, develops relationships with community organizations, and manages the recruitment, training, and other activities necessary to support Faith in Action volunteers.

The recipient must also plan to secure additional resources over and above the Foundation's start-up funds (including in-kind support for such items as office space and furniture) during the program's first 18 months of operation.

The Foundation will give special consideration to proposed programs designed to reach low-income or underserved communities. In addition, applicants are encouraged to involve volunteers of all ages and from all walks of life.

Grants of $35,000 each for a 30-month period are awarded in two phases. The first is an initial payment of $25,000 to support the first 18 months of the program. Release of the final $10,000 payment is dependent upon the program's progress during the first year, including evidence of funding from sources other than the Foundation that can help sustain the program on a permanent basis.

Foundation funds can be used toward the salary of the coalition program director, for basic operating expenses in setting up the Faith in Action program coordinating office, for specific communications activities, and other program development activities. Foundation funds may not be used for capital improvements, purchase of vehicles, or other large equipment purchases.

For an application packet contact:

Faith in Action Program
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
PO Box 2316
Princeton NJ 08543-2316

Or call, fax, or e-mail your request to:

• phone (toll free): 1-877-324-8411
• fax: 845-735-1269
• grants@interfaithcare.org

Applications will be reviewed on a four-month cycle. Submission deadlines for 2001 are:

February 1st , June 1st and October 1st. Decisions regarding funding requests will usually be made within 90 days after the submission deadline.

To help you determine whether your program is eligible for consideration, or to guide you on any aspect of planning and running a Faith in Action program, please contact

Phyllis Cunningham, Director of Program Development

• phone (toll free): 1-877-324-8411
• fax: 845-735-1269
• grants@interfaithcare.org

Additional information on the program, including answers to frequently asked questions, can be found on the Faith in Action Web site at www.interfaithcare.org .