Governor Jan Brewer Starts Faith-Based and Non-Profit Services Task Force

Press Release

Governor Jan Brewer today established a 20-member ArizonaSERVES Task Force to help connect faith-based and non-profit organizations with opportunities to assist vulnerable populations in Arizona who have been impacted by economic hardship.

"As my Administration confronts a decline in roughly 40 percent of state revenues, and a necessary restructuring of state government, it is important that our families and communities unite together with us to help our most vulnerable citizens," said Governor Brewer. "Arizona is blessed by a
vigorous and energetic network of people who show their commitment to their communities and to their faith by working on behalf of those in need. This task force will help connect these groups."

The ArizonaSERVES Task Force will help coordinate volunteer efforts statewide, and will identify additional needs and strategies to promote outreach and maximize existing resources to serve the community.

The Governor signed an Executive Order establishing the ArizonaSERVES Task Force, which will include fourteen representatives from faith-based and community organizations, the Directors or designees from the Arizona Departments of Economic Security, Health Services and Transportation,
a representative from the Arizona Coalition for Military Families and representatives from an urban and a rural regional planning organization.

The website, www.ArizonaSERVES.gov will connect faith-based and non-profit organizations with existing agencies and programs to address five specific areas of need that have been affected by the budget crisis.

* Foster care participation.
* Free or reduced-cost child care services for low-income working families.
* Supervised visitation for families involved with Child Protective Services.
* Elder independence and grandparents raising their grandchildren.
* Transportation to populations that are underserved.

"The Department is pleased to be a part of this Task Force and looks forward to the opportunities it will create to further our goals to strengthen individuals and families, increase self-sufficiency and develop the capacity of communities," said DES Director Neal Young.

For more information on how faith-based and community organizations can submit an application for membership to the Task Force, please contact Governor Brewer's Office of Boards and Commissions at www.azgovernor.gov/bc/.

Source