In response to a recent call for research on the effectiveness of faith-based organizations, this article synthesizes how effectiveness has been defined and measured in evaluation research of faith-based programs. Although evidence indicates that religion can have a positive impact on individuals' well-being, no prior comprehensive review exists of the literature on the effectiveness of faith-based social service programs. Adopting the systematic review method, the authors explore how researchers have conceptualized and operationalized effectiveness and faith. The authors identify trends and limitations across studies and conclude with implications for researchers and practitioners interested in examining and delivering faith-based social services.
Berrien, J., McRoberts, O., & Winship, C. (2000). Religion and the Boston miracle: The effect of Black ministry on youth violence. In M. J. Bane, B. Coffin, & R. Thiemann (Eds.), Who will provide? The changing role of religion in American social welfare (pp. 266-285). Boulder, CO: Westview.
2.
Bicknese, A. T. (1999). The teen challenge drug treatment program in comparative perspective. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL.
3.
Branch, A. Y. (2002). Faith and action: Implementation of the national faith-based initiative for high risk youth. Philadelphia: Public/ Private Ventures. Retrieved on December 10, 2004, from http://www.ppv.org
4.
Bravender, T., & Knight, J. R. (1998). Recent patterns of use and associated risks of illicit drug use in adolescents. Current Opinions in Pediatrics, 10, 344–349.
5.
Brudenell, I. (2003). Parish nursing: Nurturing body, mind, spirit, and community. Public Health Nursing, 20(2), 85-94.
6.
Campbell, D., Glunt, E., Bockman, S., Sirotnik, B. W., & Little, J. (2003, March). Evaluating the California community and faith-base initiative. Paper presented at the 2003 Spring Research Forum of the Independent Sector, Bethesda, MD.
7.
Campbell, M., Motsinger, B., Ingram, A., Jewell, D., Makarushka, C., Beatty, B., et al. (2000). The North Carolina Black churches united for better health project: Intervention and process evaluation. Health Education and Behavior, 27, 241–253.
8.
Chase-Ziolek, M., & Gruca, J. (2000). Clients' perceptions of distinctive aspects in nursing care received within the congregational setting. Journal of Community Health Nursing, 17, 171–183.
9.
Chaves, M. (1999). Religious congregations and welfare reform: Who will take advantage of “charitable choice”?American Sociological Review, 64, 836–846.
10.
Cnaan, R. (1999). The newer deal: Social work and religion in part-nership. New York: Columbia University Press.
11.
Cnaan, R. A., & Boddie, S. C. (2002). Charitable choice and faith-based welfare: A call for social work. Social Work, 47, 224–235.
12.
DeHaven, M. J., Hunter, I. B., Wilder, L., Walton, J. W., & Berry, J. (2004). Health programs in faith-based organizations: Are they effective?American Journal of Public Health, 94, 1030–1036.
13.
DiIulio, J. J. (2002). Reasons for objective hope in the two faith factors: Foreword. In B. R. Johnson, R. B. Tompkins, & D. Webb (Eds.), Objective hope. Assessing the effectiveness of faith-based organizations: A review of the literature (pp. 5–6). Philadelphia: Center for Research on Religion and Urban Civil Society, Manhattan Institute.
14.
Evans, T. D., Cullen, F., Burton, V., Dunaway, R. G., Payne, G., & Kethineni, S. (1996). Religion, social bonds and delinquency. Deviant Behavior, 17, 43–70.
15.
Farley, C. (2004, February). Amachi in brief. Public Private Ventures (P/PV) In Brief, (1), 1–4.
16.
Fischer, R. L. (2003, March). The devil is in the details: Implementing outcome measurement in faith-based organizations. Paper presented at the 2003 Spring Research Forum of the Independent Sector, Bethesda, MD.
17.
Florida Department of Corrections. (2000, September). Comparing Tomoka Correctional Institution's faith-based dorm (Kairos Horizons) with non-participants. Tallahassee, FL: Bureau of Research and Data Analysis.
18.
Fox, S. A., Stein, J. A., Gonzalez, R. E., Farrenkopf, M., & Dellinger, A. (1998). A trial to increase mammography utilization among Los Angeles Hispanic women. Journal of Health for the Poor and Underserved, 9, 309–321.
19.
Hangley, B., & McClanahan, W. S. (2002). Mustering the armies of compassion in Philadelphia: An analysis of one year of literacy programming in faith-based institutions. Philadelphia: Public/Private Ventures. Retrieved on December 10, 2004, from http://www.ppv.org
20.
Hatry, H., Van Houten, T., Plantz, M., & Greenway, M. (1996). Measuring program outcomes: A practical approach. Alexandria, VA: United Way of America.
21.
Hood, D. E. (2000). Redemption and recovery: An ethnographic comparison of two drug rehabilitation programs, a faith community and a therapeutic community. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, the City University of New York.
22.
Jang, S. J., & Johnson, B. R. (2001). Neighborhood disorder, individual religiosity, and adolescent use of illicit drugs: A test of multi-level hypotheses. Criminology, 39, 109–144.
23.
Johnson, B. R. (1987). Religiosity and institutional deviance: The impact of religious variables upon inmate adjustment. Criminal Justice Review, 12, 21–30.
24.
Johnson, B. R. (2002). Assessing the impact of religious programs and prison on recidivism: An exploratory study. Texas Journal of Corrections, 28, 7–11.
25.
Johnson, B. R., & Larson, D. B. (2003, June). The innerchange freedom initiative: A preliminary evaluation for a faith-based prison program. Report from the Center for Research on Religion and Urban Civil Society, University of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Center for Research on Religion and Urban Civil Society.
26.
Johnson, B. R., Larson, D. B., Jang, S. J., & Li, S. D. (2001). The “ in-visible” institution' and Black youth crime: The church as an agency of local social control. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 29, 479–498.
27.
Johnson, B. R., Larson, D. B., & Pitts, T. (1997). Religious programs, institutional adjustment, and recidivism among former inmates in Prison Fellowship programs. Justice Quarterly, 14, 145–166.
28.
Johnson, B. R., Li, S. D., Larson, D. B., & McCullough, M. (2000). Religion and delinquency: A systematic review of the literature. Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, 16, 32–52.
29.
Johnson, B. R., Tompkins, R. B., & Webb, D. (2002). Objective hope. Assessing the effectiveness of faith-based organizations: A review of the literature. Philadelphia: Manhattan Institute, Center for Research on Religion and Urban Civil Society.
30.
Johnson, C. L. (2000). The Imani project: Challenging missionary Baptist men to mentor adolescent African-American males. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Drew University, NJ.
31.
Jucovy, L. (2003). Amachi: Mentoring children of prisoners in Philadelphia. Philadelphia: Public/Private Ventures and Branch Associates. Retrieved December 10, 2004, from http://www.ppv.org/ppv/publications/publications.asp?search_id=3
32.
Kennedy, S. S., & Bielefeld, W. (2003). Charitable choice: First results from three states. Indianapolis, IN: Center for Urban Policy and the Environment.
33.
Kim, S. (2001). Faith-based service delivery: A case study at ground zero. Journal of City and State, 2, 41–52.
34.
Larson, D. B., Pastro, L. E., Lyons, J. S., & Anthony, E. (1992). The systematic review: An innovative approach to reviewing research. Washington, DC: U.S.Department of Health and Human Services.
35.
Midgley, J. (1997). Social welfare in global context. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
36.
Modesto, K. F. (2003, March). Taken on faith? Preliminary findings of an outcomes evaluation of a faith-based welfare to work program. Paper presented at the 2003 Spring Research Forum of the Independent Sector, Bethesda, MD.
37.
Monette, D. R., Sullivan, T. J., & DeJong, C. R. (2005). Applied social work research: A tool for the human services (6th ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.
38.
Monsma, S. V., & Soper, J. C. (2003, September). What works: Comparing the effectiveness of welfare-to-work programs in Los Angeles. Philadelphia, PA: Center for Research on Religion and Urban Civil Society.
39.
O'Connor, T., Su, Y., Ryan, P., Parikh, C., & Alexander, E. (1997). Detroit transition of prisoners: Final evaluation report. Washington, DC: Prison Fellowship Ministries.
40.
Pipes, P. F., & Ebaugh, H. R. (2002). Faith-based coalitions, social services, and government funding. Sociology of Religion, 63, 49–68.
41.
Ragan, M. (2004). Faith-based vs. secular: Using administrative data to compare the performance of faith-affiliated and other social service providers. The Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy, VOL. Retrieved on May 9, 2005, from http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/docs/research/Benchmarking_report_12-23-04.pdf
42.
Rapp, C.A., & Poertner, J. (1992). Social administration: A client-centered approach. New York: Longman.
43.
Smith, E. D. (1992). Hypertension management with church-based education: A pilot study. Journal of the National Black Nurses Association, 6, 19–28.
44.
Thomas, S., Quinn, S., Billingsley, A., & Caldwell, C. (1994). The characteristics of northern Black churches with community health outreach programs. American Journal of Public Health, 84, 575–579.
45.
Thompson, R. D. (1994). Teen challenge of Chattanooga, Tennessee: Survey of alumni. Springfield, MI: Teen Challenge of Chattanooga.
46.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2002, June). The compassionate capital fund and the faith- and community-based initiative. HHS Fact Sheet. Washington, DC: Author. Retrieved on December 10, 2004, at http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/faith/pr060502a.htm
47.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2004, August). News release. Retrieved on January 26, 2005, from http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2004pres/20040803b.html
48.
Winship, C., & Reynolds, A. (2003, March). Faith, practice, and transformation: A theory-based evaluation of faith-based teen programs. Paper presented at the 2003 Spring Research Forum of the Independent Sector, Bethesda, MD.
49.
Wuthnow, R., Hackett, C., & Hsu, B. Y. (2004). The effectiveness and trustworthiness of faith-based and other service organizations: A study of recipients' perceptions. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 43, 1–17.
50.
Young, M. C., Gartner, J., O'Connor, T., Larson, D. B., & Wright, K. (1995). Long-term recidivism among federal inmates trained as volunteer prison ministers. Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 22, 97–118.
